used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HOUSECLEANING; CELLAR AND ATTIC Margaret's Saturday morning lessons were interrupted at this point by the spring housecleaning.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading HOUSECLEANING; CELLAR AND ATTIC Margaret's Saturday morning lessons were interrupted at this point by the spring housecleaning.
ATTICnounUS /ˈætɪk/
floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage
From this reading HOUSECLEANING; CELLAR AND ATTIC Margaret's Saturday morning lessons were interrupted at this point by the spring housecleaning.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Housecleaning is very different nowadays from what it used to be," she began.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They found the guest-room had been finished, so they sat down there and talked.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "Housecleaning is very different nowadays from what it used to be," she began.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading HOUSECLEANING; CELLAR AND ATTIC Margaret's Saturday morning lessons were interrupted at this point by the spring housecleaning.
carpetsnounUS /ˈkɑːrpəts/
plural of “carpet” — floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
CELLARnounUS /ˈselər/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading HOUSECLEANING; CELLAR AND ATTIC Margaret's Saturday morning lessons were interrupted at this point by the spring housecleaning.
cleaningnounUS /ˈkliːnɪŋ/
the act of making something clean
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
clothing in general
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading "Housecleaning is very different nowadays from what it used to be," she began.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
every person
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading They found the guest-room had been finished, so they sat down there and talked.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
set up or found
From this reading They found the guest-room had been finished, so they sat down there and talked.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "Housecleaning is very different nowadays from what it used to be," she began.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
a young female
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
the act of departing
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
guest-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They found the guest-room had been finished, so they sat down there and talked.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They found the guest-room had been finished, so they sat down there and talked.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
HOUSECLEANINGnounUS /ˈhaʊskliːnɪŋ/
(figurative) the act of reforming by the removal of unwanted personnel or practices or conditions
From this reading HOUSECLEANING; CELLAR AND ATTIC Margaret's Saturday morning lessons were interrupted at this point by the spring housecleaning.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
discontinued temporarily
From this reading HOUSECLEANING; CELLAR AND ATTIC Margaret's Saturday morning lessons were interrupted at this point by the spring housecleaning.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Housecleaning is very different nowadays from what it used to be," she began.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Housecleaning is very different nowadays from what it used to be," she began.
lessonsnounUS /ˈlesənz/
plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction
From this reading HOUSECLEANING; CELLAR AND ATTIC Margaret's Saturday morning lessons were interrupted at this point by the spring housecleaning.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
Margaret's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOUSECLEANING; CELLAR AND ATTIC Margaret's Saturday morning lessons were interrupted at this point by the spring housecleaning.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading HOUSECLEANING; CELLAR AND ATTIC Margaret's Saturday morning lessons were interrupted at this point by the spring housecleaning.
nowadaysnounUS /ˈnaʊədeɪz/
the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
From this reading "Housecleaning is very different nowadays from what it used to be," she began.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading HOUSECLEANING; CELLAR AND ATTIC Margaret's Saturday morning lessons were interrupted at this point by the spring housecleaning.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading They found the guest-room had been finished, so they sat down there and talked.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading HOUSECLEANING; CELLAR AND ATTIC Margaret's Saturday morning lessons were interrupted at this point by the spring housecleaning.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
the season of growth
From this reading HOUSECLEANING; CELLAR AND ATTIC Margaret's Saturday morning lessons were interrupted at this point by the spring housecleaning.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading They found the guest-room had been finished, so they sat down there and talked.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HOUSECLEANING; CELLAR AND ATTIC Margaret's Saturday morning lessons were interrupted at this point by the spring housecleaning.
in or at that place or location
From this reading They found the guest-room had been finished, so they sat down there and talked.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They found the guest-room had been finished, so they sat down there and talked.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading HOUSECLEANING; CELLAR AND ATTIC Margaret's Saturday morning lessons were interrupted at this point by the spring housecleaning.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Housecleaning is very different nowadays from what it used to be," she began.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading "Housecleaning is very different nowadays from what it used to be," she began.
precisely as stated
From this reading "Housecleaning is very different nowadays from what it used to be," she began.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading HOUSECLEANING; CELLAR AND ATTIC Margaret's Saturday morning lessons were interrupted at this point by the spring housecleaning.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Housecleaning is very different nowadays from what it used to be," she began.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Everybody was so busy taking up and putting down carpets, hanging curtains and pictures over, putting away winter clothes and getting out summer ones, that the lessons seemed forgotten.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The grandmother, however, remembered, and one day she took the little girl around the house while the cleaning was going on, showing her how the work was done.
