adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They preferred it to going out as "hired help."
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
beginverbUS /bɪˈɡɪn/
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Perhaps the difficulties of modern housekeepers did begin with the opening of the Lowell factories.
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading It was like a young man's pleasure in entering upon business for himself.
claimedverbUS /kleɪmd/
past form of “claim” — assert or affirm strongly; state to be true or existing
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
CountrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Perhaps the difficulties of modern housekeepers did begin with the opening of the Lowell factories.
difficultiesnounUS /ˈdɪfəkəltiz/
plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading Perhaps the difficulties of modern housekeepers did begin with the opening of the Lowell factories.
domesticadjectiveUS /dəˈmestɪk/
of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
enteringnounUS /ˈentərɪŋ/
a movement into or inward
From this reading It was like a young man's pleasure in entering upon business for himself.
entirelyadverbUS /ɪnˈtaɪərli/
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
every-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
factoriesnounUS /ˈfæktəriz/
plural of “factory” — a plant consisting of one or more buildings with facilities for manufacturing
From this reading Perhaps the difficulties of modern housekeepers did begin with the opening of the Lowell factories.
familiesnounUS /ˈfæməliz/
plural of “family” — a social unit living together
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
feelingnounUS /ˈfiːlɪŋ/
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading They preferred it to going out as "hired help."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
helpverbUS /help/
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading They preferred it to going out as "hired help."
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was like a young man's pleasure in entering upon business for himself.
hiredadjectiveUS /ˈhaɪərd/
having services engaged for a fee
From this reading They preferred it to going out as "hired help."
hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
housekeepersnounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpərz/
plural of “housekeeper” — a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household
From this reading Perhaps the difficulties of modern housekeepers did begin with the opening of the Lowell factories.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
independentadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈpendənt/
free from external control and constraint
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
leisurenounUS /ˈleʒər/
time available for ease and relaxation
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It was like a young man's pleasure in entering upon business for himself.
LowellnounUS /ˈloʊəl/
United States poet (1917-1977)
From this reading Perhaps the difficulties of modern housekeepers did begin with the opening of the Lowell factories.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was like a young man's pleasure in entering upon business for himself.
mill-girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
modernadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdərn/
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading Perhaps the difficulties of modern housekeepers did begin with the opening of the Lowell factories.
naturallyadverbUS /ˈnætʃərəli/
as might be expected
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
openingnounUS /ˈoʊpənɪŋ/
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Perhaps the difficulties of modern housekeepers did begin with the opening of the Lowell factories.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They preferred it to going out as "hired help."
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
PerhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading Perhaps the difficulties of modern housekeepers did begin with the opening of the Lowell factories.
pleasurenounUS /ˈpleʒər/
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading It was like a young man's pleasure in entering upon business for himself.
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/
more desirable than another
From this reading They preferred it to going out as "hired help."
printsnounUS /prɪnts/
plural of “print” — the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
publicnounUS /ˈpʌblɪk/
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
satisfactionnounUS /ˌsætəˈsfækʃən/
the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
servicenounUS /ˈsɜːrvəs/
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
sometimesadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Perhaps the difficulties of modern housekeepers did begin with the opening of the Lowell factories.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was like a young man's pleasure in entering upon business for himself.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Perhaps the difficulties of modern housekeepers did begin with the opening of the Lowell factories.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Country girls were naturally independent, and the feeling that at this new work the few hours they had of every-day leisure were entirely their own was a satisfaction to them.
workingadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading We used sometimes to see it claimed, in public prints, that it would be better for all of us mill-girls to be working in families, at domestic service, than to be where we were.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading It was like a young man's pleasure in entering upon business for himself.
