used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading RECONSTRUCTION I Grimshaw remained at the Manor for about half an hour after Wilverley had left.
accumulationnounUS /əˌkjuːmjəˈleɪʃən/
an increase by natural growth or addition
From this reading An enormous quantity of rubbish had been destroyed, the accumulation of generations.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading RECONSTRUCTION I Grimshaw remained at the Manor for about half an hour after Wilverley had left.
in addition
From this reading It appeared, also, that dry-rot in the ancient timbers had caused much anxiety and expense.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading RECONSTRUCTION I Grimshaw remained at the Manor for about half an hour after Wilverley had left.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading It appeared, also, that dry-rot in the ancient timbers had caused much anxiety and expense.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It appeared, also, that dry-rot in the ancient timbers had caused much anxiety and expense.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading It appeared, also, that dry-rot in the ancient timbers had caused much anxiety and expense.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It appeared, also, that dry-rot in the ancient timbers had caused much anxiety and expense.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading RECONSTRUCTION I Grimshaw remained at the Manor for about half an hour after Wilverley had left.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading An enormous quantity of rubbish had been destroyed, the accumulation of generations.
blessingnounUS /ˈblesɪŋ/
the formal act of approving
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading It appeared, also, that dry-rot in the ancient timbers had caused much anxiety and expense.
spoiled or ruined or demolished
From this reading An enormous quantity of rubbish had been destroyed, the accumulation of generations.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/
A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
dry-rotverb
affect or be affected with dry rot
From this reading It appeared, also, that dry-rot in the ancient timbers had caused much anxiety and expense.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading An enormous quantity of rubbish had been destroyed, the accumulation of generations.
expensenounUS /ɪkˈspens/
amounts paid for goods and services that may be currently tax deductible (as opposed to capital expenditures)
From this reading It appeared, also, that dry-rot in the ancient timbers had caused much anxiety and expense.
start firing a weapon
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading RECONSTRUCTION I Grimshaw remained at the Manor for about half an hour after Wilverley had left.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
generationsnounUS /ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “generation” — all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading An enormous quantity of rubbish had been destroyed, the accumulation of generations.
Grimshaw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RECONSTRUCTION I Grimshaw remained at the Manor for about half an hour after Wilverley had left.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading RECONSTRUCTION I Grimshaw remained at the Manor for about half an hour after Wilverley had left.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading RECONSTRUCTION I Grimshaw remained at the Manor for about half an hour after Wilverley had left.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading RECONSTRUCTION I Grimshaw remained at the Manor for about half an hour after Wilverley had left.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading RECONSTRUCTION I Grimshaw remained at the Manor for about half an hour after Wilverley had left.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading And an immense roof had leaked persistently.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It appeared, also, that dry-rot in the ancient timbers had caused much anxiety and expense.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
leakedverbUS /liːkt/
past form of “leak” — tell anonymously
From this reading And an immense roof had leaked persistently.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading RECONSTRUCTION I Grimshaw remained at the Manor for about half an hour after Wilverley had left.
ManornounUS /ˈmænər/
the mansion of a lord or wealthy person
From this reading RECONSTRUCTION I Grimshaw remained at the Manor for about half an hour after Wilverley had left.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It appeared, also, that dry-rot in the ancient timbers had caused much anxiety and expense.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
persistentlyadverbUS /pərˈsɪstəntli/
in a persistent manner
From this reading And an immense roof had leaked persistently.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
quantitynounUS /ˈkwɑːntəti/
how much there is or how many there are of something that you can quantify
From this reading An enormous quantity of rubbish had been destroyed, the accumulation of generations.
RECONSTRUCTIONnounUS /ˌriːkənˈstrʌkʃən/
the period after the American Civil War when the southern states were reorganized and reintegrated into the Union; 1865-1877
From this reading RECONSTRUCTION I Grimshaw remained at the Manor for about half an hour after Wilverley had left.
past form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading RECONSTRUCTION I Grimshaw remained at the Manor for about half an hour after Wilverley had left.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading And an immense roof had leaked persistently.
rubbishnounUS /ˈrʌbɪʃ/
worthless material that is to be disposed of
From this reading An enormous quantity of rubbish had been destroyed, the accumulation of generations.
Selina's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RECONSTRUCTION I Grimshaw remained at the Manor for about half an hour after Wilverley had left.
timbersnounUS /ˈtɪmbərz/
plural of “timber” — the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading It appeared, also, that dry-rot in the ancient timbers had caused much anxiety and expense.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To his astonishment he discovered that the fire, from the point of view of Lady Selina’s servants, was regarded as a blessing in disguise.
Wilverley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RECONSTRUCTION I Grimshaw remained at the Manor for about half an hour after Wilverley had left.
