used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Lady Mary thanked him with a beaming smile, but the Fair Geraldine could not suppress a slight laugh.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “Would I had an opportunity of proving its efficacy!” exclaimed the Earl of Surrey.
ancestornounUS /ˈænsestər/
someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
approvedadjectiveUS /əˈpruːvd/
established by authority; given authoritative approval
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
beamingadjectiveUS /ˈbiːmɪŋ/
cheerful and bright
From this reading The Lady Mary thanked him with a beaming smile, but the Fair Geraldine could not suppress a slight laugh.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Lady Mary thanked him with a beaming smile, but the Fair Geraldine could not suppress a slight laugh.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The Lady Mary thanked him with a beaming smile, but the Fair Geraldine could not suppress a slight laugh.
deliverancenounUS /dɪˈlɪvərəns/
recovery or preservation from loss or danger
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
demonnounUS /ˈdiːmən/
an evil supernatural being
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount
From this reading “Would I had an opportunity of proving its efficacy!” exclaimed the Earl of Surrey.
efficacynounUS /ˈefɪkæsi/
capacity or power to produce a desired effect
From this reading “Would I had an opportunity of proving its efficacy!” exclaimed the Earl of Surrey.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading “Would I had an opportunity of proving its efficacy!” exclaimed the Earl of Surrey.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading The Lady Mary thanked him with a beaming smile, but the Fair Geraldine could not suppress a slight laugh.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
flatteringadjectiveUS /ˈflætərɪŋ/
showing or representing to advantage
From this reading “Your grace is highly flattering,” she said.
FlorencenounUS /ˈflɔːrəns/
a city in central Italy on the Arno; provincial capital of Tuscany; center of the Italian Renaissance from 14th to 16th centuries
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
Geraldi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
Geraldine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Lady Mary thanked him with a beaming smile, but the Fair Geraldine could not suppress a slight laugh.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading “Your grace is highly flattering,” she said.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading “Your grace is highly flattering,” she said.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Lady Mary thanked him with a beaming smile, but the Fair Geraldine could not suppress a slight laugh.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Your grace is highly flattering,” she said.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading “Would I had an opportunity of proving its efficacy!” exclaimed the Earl of Surrey.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The Lady Mary thanked him with a beaming smile, but the Fair Geraldine could not suppress a slight laugh.
the sound of laughing
From this reading The Lady Mary thanked him with a beaming smile, but the Fair Geraldine could not suppress a slight laugh.
Luigi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading The Lady Mary thanked him with a beaming smile, but the Fair Geraldine could not suppress a slight laugh.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
monknounUS /mʌŋk/
a male religious living in a cloister and devoting himself to contemplation and prayer and work
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
used to form the superlative
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Lady Mary thanked him with a beaming smile, but the Fair Geraldine could not suppress a slight laugh.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
many times at short intervals
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading “Would I had an opportunity of proving its efficacy!” exclaimed the Earl of Surrey.
owedverbUS /oʊd/
past form of “owe” — be obliged to pay or repay
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
provingverbUS /ˈpruːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “prove” — be shown or be found to be
From this reading “Would I had an opportunity of proving its efficacy!” exclaimed the Earl of Surrey.
puritynounUS /ˈpjʊrəti/
being undiluted or unmixed with extraneous material
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
reliancenounUS /rɪˈlaɪəns/
certainty based on past experience
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
relicnounUS /ˈrelɪk/
an antiquity that has survived from the distant past
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Your grace is highly flattering,” she said.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Your grace is highly flattering,” she said.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading The Lady Mary thanked him with a beaming smile, but the Fair Geraldine could not suppress a slight laugh.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The Lady Mary thanked him with a beaming smile, but the Fair Geraldine could not suppress a slight laugh.
sorelyadverbUS /ˈsɔːrli/
to a great degree
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
suppressverbUS /səˈpres/
bring under control by force or authority
From this reading The Lady Mary thanked him with a beaming smile, but the Fair Geraldine could not suppress a slight laugh.
SurreynounUS /ˈsɜːri/
a county in southeastern England on the Thames
From this reading “Would I had an opportunity of proving its efficacy!” exclaimed the Earl of Surrey.
temptedverbUS /ˈtemptɪd/
past form of “tempt” — dispose or incline or entice to
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
past form of “thank” — express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading The Lady Mary thanked him with a beaming smile, but the Fair Geraldine could not suppress a slight laugh.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Lady Mary thanked him with a beaming smile, but the Fair Geraldine could not suppress a slight laugh.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “But, with all faith in beauty and purity, I should place most reliance in a relic I possess--the virtue of which has often been approved against evil spirits.
which person or people
From this reading It was given by a monk--who had been sorely tempted by a demon, and who owed his deliverance to it--to my ancestor, Luigi Geraldi of Florence; and from him it descended to me.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Lady Mary thanked him with a beaming smile, but the Fair Geraldine could not suppress a slight laugh.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Would I had an opportunity of proving its efficacy!” exclaimed the Earl of Surrey.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Your grace is highly flattering,” she said.
