used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The sisters had formed views as to matrimony, and they enjoyed a curious similarity of choice.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They were to be the wives of preachers.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
Bonnithorne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Josiah Bonnithorne was quite without kinspeople or connections.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the opportunity was long in coming, and they grew elderly.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
the person or thing chosen or selected
From this reading The sisters had formed views as to matrimony, and they enjoyed a curious similarity of choice.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading But the opportunity was long in coming, and they grew elderly.
confectioner's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
connectionsnounUS /kəˈnekʃənz/
plural of “connection” — a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it)
From this reading Josiah Bonnithorne was quite without kinspeople or connections.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading The sisters had formed views as to matrimony, and they enjoyed a curious similarity of choice.
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
elderlyadjectiveUS /ˈeldərli/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading But the opportunity was long in coming, and they grew elderly.
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading The sisters had formed views as to matrimony, and they enjoyed a curious similarity of choice.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading The sisters had formed views as to matrimony, and they enjoyed a curious similarity of choice.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading But the opportunity was long in coming, and they grew elderly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
Josiah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Josiah Bonnithorne was quite without kinspeople or connections.
conformity or harmony
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
kinspeople
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Josiah Bonnithorne was quite without kinspeople or connections.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading But the opportunity was long in coming, and they grew elderly.
matrimonynounUS /ˈmætrəmoʊni/
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading The sisters had formed views as to matrimony, and they enjoyed a curious similarity of choice.
Methodistsnoun
a Protestant denomination founded on the principles of John Wesley and Charles Wesley
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading But the opportunity was long in coming, and they grew elderly.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Josiah Bonnithorne was quite without kinspeople or connections.
preachersnounUS /ˈpriːtʃərz/
plural of “preacher” — someone whose occupation is preaching the gospel
From this reading They were to be the wives of preachers.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Josiah Bonnithorne was quite without kinspeople or connections.
do one's shopping
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
similaritynounUS /ˌsɪməˈlerəti/
the quality of being similar
From this reading The sisters had formed views as to matrimony, and they enjoyed a curious similarity of choice.
plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sisters had formed views as to matrimony, and they enjoyed a curious similarity of choice.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The sisters had formed views as to matrimony, and they enjoyed a curious similarity of choice.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sisters had formed views as to matrimony, and they enjoyed a curious similarity of choice.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
plural of “view” — a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading The sisters had formed views as to matrimony, and they enjoyed a curious similarity of choice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Josiah Bonnithorne was quite without kinspeople or connections.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
Whitehaven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
which person or people
From this reading His mother had been one of two sisters who lived by keeping a small confectioner's shop in Whitehaven, and were devoted Methodists.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Josiah Bonnithorne was quite without kinspeople or connections.
plural of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading They were to be the wives of preachers.
