used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
allynounUS /ˈælaɪ/
a friendly nation
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was delicate in health, but reticent and resolute in character.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In truth, at nine years old, she was a bit of an enthusiast.
aviditynoun
a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something
From this reading She read with avidity religious biographies furnished by Miss Blomfield.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
biographiesnounUS /baɪˈɑːɡrəfiz/
plural of “biography” — an account of the series of events making up a person's life
From this reading She read with avidity religious biographies furnished by Miss Blomfield.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading In truth, at nine years old, she was a bit of an enthusiast.
Blomfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She read with avidity religious biographies furnished by Miss Blomfield.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She read with avidity religious biographies furnished by Miss Blomfield.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading She was delicate in health, but reticent and resolute in character.
charitableadjectiveUS /ˈtʃærətəbəl/
relating to or characterized by charity
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
convertverbUS /ˈkɑːnvərt/
change from one system to another or to a new plan or policy
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading She was delicate in health, but reticent and resolute in character.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading But our ideas were no novelty to her, as we soon discovered.
enthusiastnounUS /enˈθuːziæst/
an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of some person or activity
From this reading In truth, at nine years old, she was a bit of an enthusiast.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading She read with avidity religious biographies furnished by Miss Blomfield.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading She was delicate in health, but reticent and resolute in character.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But our ideas were no novelty to her, as we soon discovered.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But our ideas were no novelty to her, as we soon discovered.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading She read with avidity religious biographies furnished by Miss Blomfield.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading In truth, at nine years old, she was a bit of an enthusiast.
not any; not one
From this reading But our ideas were no novelty to her, as we soon discovered.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
noveltynounUS /ˈnɑːvəlti/
originality by virtue of being refreshingly novel
From this reading But our ideas were no novelty to her, as we soon discovered.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In truth, at nine years old, she was a bit of an enthusiast.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading In truth, at nine years old, she was a bit of an enthusiast.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading But our ideas were no novelty to her, as we soon discovered.
Polly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
established beyond doubt
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading She read with avidity religious biographies furnished by Miss Blomfield.
concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
From this reading She read with avidity religious biographies furnished by Miss Blomfield.
resoluteadjectiveUS /ˈrezəluːt/
firm in purpose or belief; characterized by firmness and determination
From this reading She was delicate in health, but reticent and resolute in character.
reticentadjectiveUS /ˈretɪsənt/
temperamentally disinclined to talk
From this reading She was delicate in health, but reticent and resolute in character.
schemesnounUS /skiːmz/
plural of “scheme” — an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
in the near future
From this reading But our ideas were no novelty to her, as we soon discovered.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading In truth, at nine years old, she was a bit of an enthusiast.
VISITINGnounUS /ˈvɪzɪtɪŋ/
the activity of making visits
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In truth, at nine years old, she was a bit of an enthusiast.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading But our ideas were no novelty to her, as we soon discovered.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But our ideas were no novelty to her, as we soon discovered.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading VISITING THE SICK I had been quite prepared to find Polly a willing convert to my charitable schemes, but I had not expected to find in Cousin Helen so strong an ally as she proved.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She read with avidity religious biographies furnished by Miss Blomfield.
a late time of life
From this reading In truth, at nine years old, she was a bit of an enthusiast.
