used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
accomplishverbUS /əˈkɑːmplɪʃ/
put in effect
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
Alison's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
Barbara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading She always hoped that when she was grown up she might have a chance of emulating some of her book heroines, and doing a golden deed which the world should remember.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading She always hoped that when she was grown up she might have a chance of emulating some of her book heroines, and doing a golden deed which the world should remember.
charitynounUS /ˈtʃerɪti/
a foundation created to promote the public good (not for assistance to any particular individuals)
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
commonplaceadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmənpleɪs/
completely ordinary and unremarkable
From this reading In the meantime many little ordinary, commonplace, everyday duties were left undone.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
a legal document signed and sealed and delivered to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it
From this reading She always hoped that when she was grown up she might have a chance of emulating some of her book heroines, and doing a golden deed which the world should remember.
plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading She always hoped that when she was grown up she might have a chance of emulating some of her book heroines, and doing a golden deed which the world should remember.
Dorothy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading In the meantime many little ordinary, commonplace, everyday duties were left undone.
emulatingverbUS /ˈemjəleɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “emulate” — strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
From this reading She always hoped that when she was grown up she might have a chance of emulating some of her book heroines, and doing a golden deed which the world should remember.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
everydayadjectiveUS /ˈevriˈdeɪ/
found in the ordinary course of events
From this reading In the meantime many little ordinary, commonplace, everyday duties were left undone.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
forbearancenounUS /fɔːrˈberəns/
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
fortitudenounUS /ˈfɔːrtɪtuːd/
strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity with courage
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
frownverbUS /fraʊn/
look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading She always hoped that when she was grown up she might have a chance of emulating some of her book heroines, and doing a golden deed which the world should remember.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading She always hoped that when she was grown up she might have a chance of emulating some of her book heroines, and doing a golden deed which the world should remember.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She always hoped that when she was grown up she might have a chance of emulating some of her book heroines, and doing a golden deed which the world should remember.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She always hoped that when she was grown up she might have a chance of emulating some of her book heroines, and doing a golden deed which the world should remember.
heroinesnounUS /ˈheroʊənz/
plural of “heroine” — the main good female character in a work of fiction
From this reading She always hoped that when she was grown up she might have a chance of emulating some of her book heroines, and doing a golden deed which the world should remember.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading She always hoped that when she was grown up she might have a chance of emulating some of her book heroines, and doing a golden deed which the world should remember.
humilitynounUS /hjuːˈmɪlɪti/
a disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
idealsnounUS /aɪˈdiːlz/
plural of “ideal” — the idea of something that is perfect; something that one hopes to attain
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
innumerableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnuːmərəbəl/
too numerous to be counted
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
conformity or harmony
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
kindredadjectiveUS /ˈkɪndrɪd/
similar in quality or character
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading In the meantime many little ordinary, commonplace, everyday duties were left undone.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In the meantime many little ordinary, commonplace, everyday duties were left undone.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
the time between one event, process, or period and another
From this reading In the meantime many little ordinary, commonplace, everyday duties were left undone.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She always hoped that when she was grown up she might have a chance of emulating some of her book heroines, and doing a golden deed which the world should remember.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading In the meantime many little ordinary, commonplace, everyday duties were left undone.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
win a victory over
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
practiseverbUS /ˈpræktɪs/
engage in a rehearsal
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
To recall to mind.
From this reading She always hoped that when she was grown up she might have a chance of emulating some of her book heroines, and doing a golden deed which the world should remember.
resolutionsnounUS /ˌrezəˈluːʃənz/
plural of “resolution” — a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading She always hoped that when she was grown up she might have a chance of emulating some of her book heroines, and doing a golden deed which the world should remember.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading She always hoped that when she was grown up she might have a chance of emulating some of her book heroines, and doing a golden deed which the world should remember.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
superhumanadjectiveUS /ˌsuːpərˈhjuːmən/
above or beyond the human or demanding more than human power or endurance
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
tasksnounUS /tæsks/
plural of “task” — any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
up to a particular time
From this reading Full of high ideals, she would dream over stories of courage and fortitude till she could believe herself ready to accomplish the most superhuman tasks and overcome innumerable difficulties.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
undoneadjectiveUS /ənˈdʌn/
not done
From this reading In the meantime many little ordinary, commonplace, everyday duties were left undone.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She always hoped that when she was grown up she might have a chance of emulating some of her book heroines, and doing a golden deed which the world should remember.
precisely as stated
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
virtuesnounUS /ˈvɜːrtʃuːz/
plural of “virtue” — the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
at the time that
From this reading Alison's Home Dorothy was ready enough at making good resolutions--the difficulty always lay in keeping them when they were made.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She always hoped that when she was grown up she might have a chance of emulating some of her book heroines, and doing a golden deed which the world should remember.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading She always hoped that when she was grown up she might have a chance of emulating some of her book heroines, and doing a golden deed which the world should remember.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
but in spite of that
From this reading At night in bed it would seem fairly simple to practise patience, forbearance, charity, humility, and many kindred virtues, yet the very next morning she would come down to breakfast with a frown that caused Aunt Barbara to sigh.
