used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading Judge of the good heart of Emilia; an accident yesterday made it appear to advantage.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading Judge of the good heart of Emilia; an accident yesterday made it appear to advantage.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Judge of the good heart of Emilia; an accident yesterday made it appear to advantage.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Judge of the good heart of Emilia; an accident yesterday made it appear to advantage.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
cautionedverbUS /ˈkɑːʃənd/
past form of “caution” — warn strongly; put on guard
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
chinanounUS /ˈtʃaɪnə/
a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
china-closet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
having gaps or spaces
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
EmilianounUS /əˈmiːliə/
tropical African herbs
From this reading Judge of the good heart of Emilia; an accident yesterday made it appear to advantage.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
flower-pot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
set up or found
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Judge of the good heart of Emilia; an accident yesterday made it appear to advantage.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading She trembled, well knowing it was a jar of great value.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
harpsicord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Judge of the good heart of Emilia; an accident yesterday made it appear to advantage.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Judge of the good heart of Emilia; an accident yesterday made it appear to advantage.
jarverbUS /dʒɑːr/
be incompatible; be or come into conflict
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading Judge of the good heart of Emilia; an accident yesterday made it appear to advantage.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading She trembled, well knowing it was a jar of great value.
loitered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Judge of the good heart of Emilia; an accident yesterday made it appear to advantage.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Judge of the good heart of Emilia; an accident yesterday made it appear to advantage.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
parlournounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
shelfnounUS /ʃelf/
A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
not in physical motion
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Judge of the good heart of Emilia; an accident yesterday made it appear to advantage.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Judge of the good heart of Emilia; an accident yesterday made it appear to advantage.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading She trembled, well knowing it was a jar of great value.
tunenounUS /tuːn/
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading She trembled, well knowing it was a jar of great value.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading She trembled, well knowing it was a jar of great value.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She was in the parlour with Edward, playing on the harpsicord; after she had finished the tune, she went to look for a china flower-pot in a china-closet near the parlour.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She found what she wanted; but still loitered, looking at the china; and one jar she would reach from a high shelf, though Edward cautioned her: the consequence was, it fell out of her hand, and was dashed to pieces.
the day immediately before today
From this reading Judge of the good heart of Emilia; an accident yesterday made it appear to advantage.
