used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
absorbingadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.
adequatelyadverbUS /ˈædəkwətli/
in an adequate manner or to an adequate degree
From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.
(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 Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
appreciatedadjectiveUS /əˈpriːʃieɪtɪd/
fully understood or grasped
From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.
assembledverbUS /əˈsembəld/
past form of “assemble” — create by putting components or members together
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
BEHINDprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading BEHIND THE SCENES.
(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 In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
brutaladjectiveUS /ˈbruːtəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.
obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.
clothedadjectiveUS /kloʊðd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
clothingnounUS /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/
a covering designed to be worn on a person's body
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
consequentlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwəntli/
(sentence connectors) because of the reason given
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
DarrownounUS /ˈderoʊ/
United States lawyer famous for his defense of lost causes (1857-1938)
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
recognizable; marked
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading How she could have married at least a dozen men who were dying for her.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading How she could have married at least a dozen men who were dying for her.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.
entertainmentnounUS /ˌentərˈteɪnmənt/
an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.
expatiated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
foolishlyadverbUS /ˈfuːlɪʃli/
without good sense or judgment
From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading How she could have married at least a dozen men who were dying for her.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
incumbentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkʌmbənt/
lying or leaning on something else
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
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 How she could have married at least a dozen men who were dying for her.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
joined in matrimony
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
the force of workers available
From this reading How she could have married at least a dozen men who were dying for her.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.
and nothing more
From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.
provideverbUS /prəˈvaɪd/
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
ragnounUS /ræɡ/
a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
relateverbUS /rɪˈleɪt/
make a logical or causal connection
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
Identical; not different.
From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.
plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs
From this reading BEHIND THE SCENES.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BEHIND THE SCENES.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
themenounUS /θiːm/
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
unfashionablyadverb
in an unfashionable manner
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading How she could have married at least a dozen men who were dying for her.
at the time that
From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.
which person or people
From this reading How she could have married at least a dozen men who were dying for her.
