used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
(sentence connectors) because of the reason given
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
third-person singular of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The flowers were set out with that masculine ignorance of such matters which brings a smile--not wholly of mirth--to a woman's face.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The little-used drawing-room was brought under the notice of the housekeeper for that woman's touch which makes a drawing-room what it is.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
Cantourne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
a legal document signed and sealed and delivered to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it
From this reading The life unlived, the deed undone, the tear Unshed.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The flowers were set out with that masculine ignorance of such matters which brings a smile--not wholly of mirth--to a woman's face.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The little-used drawing-room was brought under the notice of the housekeeper for that woman's touch which makes a drawing-room what it is.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
where you live at a particular time
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
housekeepernounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpər/
a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household
From this reading The little-used drawing-room was brought under the notice of the housekeeper for that woman's touch which makes a drawing-room what it is.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
the lack of knowledge or education
From this reading The flowers were set out with that masculine ignorance of such matters which brings a smile--not wholly of mirth--to a woman's face.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The little-used drawing-room was brought under the notice of the housekeeper for that woman's touch which makes a drawing-room what it is.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The little-used drawing-room was brought under the notice of the housekeeper for that woman's touch which makes a drawing-room what it is.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
a polite name for any woman
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The life unlived, the deed undone, the tear Unshed.
little-used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little-used drawing-room was brought under the notice of the housekeeper for that woman's touch which makes a drawing-room what it is.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading The little-used drawing-room was brought under the notice of the housekeeper for that woman's touch which makes a drawing-room what it is.
masculineadjectiveUS /ˈmæskjələn/
of grammatical gender
From this reading The flowers were set out with that masculine ignorance of such matters which brings a smile--not wholly of mirth--to a woman's face.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The flowers were set out with that masculine ignorance of such matters which brings a smile--not wholly of mirth--to a woman's face.
mirthnounUS /mɜːrθ/
great merriment
From this reading The flowers were set out with that masculine ignorance of such matters which brings a smile--not wholly of mirth--to a woman's face.
not any; not one
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The flowers were set out with that masculine ignorance of such matters which brings a smile--not wholly of mirth--to a woman's face.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading The little-used drawing-room was brought under the notice of the housekeeper for that woman's touch which makes a drawing-room what it is.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The flowers were set out with that masculine ignorance of such matters which brings a smile--not wholly of mirth--to a woman's face.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
on the contrary
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
recollectionnounUS /ˌrekəˈlekʃən/
the ability to recall past occurrences
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The flowers were set out with that masculine ignorance of such matters which brings a smile--not wholly of mirth--to a woman's face.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
term of address for a man
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The flowers were set out with that masculine ignorance of such matters which brings a smile--not wholly of mirth--to a woman's face.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The flowers were set out with that masculine ignorance of such matters which brings a smile--not wholly of mirth--to a woman's face.
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading The life unlived, the deed undone, the tear Unshed.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The flowers were set out with that masculine ignorance of such matters which brings a smile--not wholly of mirth--to a woman's face.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The life unlived, the deed undone, the tear Unshed.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading The little-used drawing-room was brought under the notice of the housekeeper for that woman's touch which makes a drawing-room what it is.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The little-used drawing-room was brought under the notice of the housekeeper for that woman's touch which makes a drawing-room what it is.
undoneadjectiveUS /ənˈdʌn/
not done
From this reading The life unlived, the deed undone, the tear Unshed.
unlived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The life unlived, the deed undone, the tear Unshed.
Unshed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The life unlived, the deed undone, the tear Unshed.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The little-used drawing-room was brought under the notice of the housekeeper for that woman's touch which makes a drawing-room what it is.
at the time that
From this reading “I rather expect--Lady Cantourne,” said Sir John to his servants when he returned home, “any time between now and ten o'clock.”
in or at the place that
From this reading The butler, having a vivid recollection of an occasion when Lady Cantourne was shown into a drawing-room where there were no flowers, made his preparations accordingly.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The flowers were set out with that masculine ignorance of such matters which brings a smile--not wholly of mirth--to a woman's face.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The flowers were set out with that masculine ignorance of such matters which brings a smile--not wholly of mirth--to a woman's face.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The flowers were set out with that masculine ignorance of such matters which brings a smile--not wholly of mirth--to a woman's face.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The flowers were set out with that masculine ignorance of such matters which brings a smile--not wholly of mirth--to a woman's face.
