used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
(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 There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
aristocratsnounUS /ərˈɪstəkræts/
plural of “aristocrat” — a member of the aristocracy
From this reading MORE THINGS HAPPENING THE Reeds were aristocrats of the first rank.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading Weston was a beautiful place if somewhat gone to seed by reason of the impossibility of obtaining the necessary labor to keep it up.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
bricknounUS /brɪk/
rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Weston was a beautiful place if somewhat gone to seed by reason of the impossibility of obtaining the necessary labor to keep it up.
an occurrence of something
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
plural of “daughter” — a female human offspring
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
exploringverbUS /ɪkˈsplɔːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “explore” — inquire into
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
a social unit living together
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading MORE THINGS HAPPENING THE Reeds were aristocrats of the first rank.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Weston was a beautiful place if somewhat gone to seed by reason of the impossibility of obtaining the necessary labor to keep it up.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
HAPPENINGnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋ/
an event that happens
From this reading MORE THINGS HAPPENING THE Reeds were aristocrats of the first rank.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Weston was a beautiful place if somewhat gone to seed by reason of the impossibility of obtaining the necessary labor to keep it up.
impossibilitynounUS /ˌɪmpɔːsɪˈbɪlɪti/
incapability of existing or occurring
From this reading Weston was a beautiful place if somewhat gone to seed by reason of the impossibility of obtaining the necessary labor to keep it up.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Weston was a beautiful place if somewhat gone to seed by reason of the impossibility of obtaining the necessary labor to keep it up.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Weston was a beautiful place if somewhat gone to seed by reason of the impossibility of obtaining the necessary labor to keep it up.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading Weston was a beautiful place if somewhat gone to seed by reason of the impossibility of obtaining the necessary labor to keep it up.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
longedverbUS /lɔːŋd/
past form of “long” — desire strongly or persistently
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
a female domestic
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
the force of workers available
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading MORE THINGS HAPPENING THE Reeds were aristocrats of the first rank.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
absolutely essential
From this reading Weston was a beautiful place if somewhat gone to seed by reason of the impossibility of obtaining the necessary labor to keep it up.
not any; not one
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
obtainingverbUS /əbˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading Weston was a beautiful place if somewhat gone to seed by reason of the impossibility of obtaining the necessary labor to keep it up.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MORE THINGS HAPPENING THE Reeds were aristocrats of the first rank.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Weston was a beautiful place if somewhat gone to seed by reason of the impossibility of obtaining the necessary labor to keep it up.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
privilegenounUS /ˈprɪvlədʒ/
a special advantage or immunity or benefit not enjoyed by all
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
ramblingadjectiveUS /ˈræmblɪŋ/
spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading MORE THINGS HAPPENING THE Reeds were aristocrats of the first rank.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Weston was a beautiful place if somewhat gone to seed by reason of the impossibility of obtaining the necessary labor to keep it up.
ReednounUS /riːd/
tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
ReedsnounUS /riːdz/
plural of “reed” — tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites
From this reading MORE THINGS HAPPENING THE Reeds were aristocrats of the first rank.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
seednounUS /siːd/
a small hard fruit
From this reading Weston was a beautiful place if somewhat gone to seed by reason of the impossibility of obtaining the necessary labor to keep it up.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Weston was a beautiful place if somewhat gone to seed by reason of the impossibility of obtaining the necessary labor to keep it up.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MORE THINGS HAPPENING THE Reeds were aristocrats of the first rank.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading MORE THINGS HAPPENING THE Reeds were aristocrats of the first rank.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Weston was a beautiful place if somewhat gone to seed by reason of the impossibility of obtaining the necessary labor to keep it up.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Weston was a beautiful place if somewhat gone to seed by reason of the impossibility of obtaining the necessary labor to keep it up.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
visitsnounUS /ˈvɪzɪts/
plural of “visit” — the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
waningnounUS /ˈweɪnɪŋ/
a gradual decrease in magnitude or extent
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Weston was a beautiful place if somewhat gone to seed by reason of the impossibility of obtaining the necessary labor to keep it up.
waxingnounUS /ˈwæksɪŋ/
the application of wax to a surface
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading MORE THINGS HAPPENING THE Reeds were aristocrats of the first rank.
WestonnounUS /ˈwestən/
United States photographer(1886-1958)
From this reading Weston was a beautiful place if somewhat gone to seed by reason of the impossibility of obtaining the necessary labor to keep it up.
at the time that
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
in or at the place that
From this reading The house was a low rambling building, part brick and part frame, where rooms had been added on in days gone by when the family was waxing instead of waning, as was now the case.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
which person or people
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Miss Elizabeth insisted upon my coming in the house although I longed to be allowed the privilege of exploring the garden, which I had remembered with great pleasure from former visits with my father.
a late time of life
From this reading There were no men in the family at all, no one but old Mrs. Reed, who had been a widow for at least forty years, and her two old maid daughters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Margaret.
