used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
acheverbUS /eɪk/
feel physical pain
From this reading It grieves me to see you, and crying never yet cured heart ache.
affectionateadjectiveUS /əˈfekʃənət/
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading But while her features were rugged, they were expressive of good sense, and full of affectionate sympathy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It grieves me to see you, and crying never yet cured heart ache.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When things are at the worst they mend; and if so, better days must be at hand for you."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When things are at the worst they mend; and if so, better days must be at hand for you."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When things are at the worst they mend; and if so, better days must be at hand for you."
(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 When things are at the worst they mend; and if so, better days must be at hand for you."
busilyadverbUS /ˈbɪzəli/
in a busy manner
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But while her features were rugged, they were expressive of good sense, and full of affectionate sympathy.
demanding attention
From this reading It grieves me to see you, and crying never yet cured heart ache.
curedadjectiveUS /kjʊrd/
freed from illness or injury
From this reading It grieves me to see you, and crying never yet cured heart ache.
daintyadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪnti/
delicately beautiful
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading When things are at the worst they mend; and if so, better days must be at hand for you."
DON'T
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "DON'T fret so, Miss Joyce.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
expressiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspresɪv/
characterized by expression
From this reading But while her features were rugged, they were expressive of good sense, and full of affectionate sympathy.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading But while her features were rugged, they were expressive of good sense, and full of affectionate sympathy.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When things are at the worst they mend; and if so, better days must be at hand for you."
fretverbUS /fret/
worry unnecessarily or excessively
From this reading "DON'T fret so, Miss Joyce.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading But while her features were rugged, they were expressive of good sense, and full of affectionate sympathy.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading But while her features were rugged, they were expressive of good sense, and full of affectionate sympathy.
grievesverbUS /ɡriːvz/
third-person singular of “grieve” — feel grief
From this reading It grieves me to see you, and crying never yet cured heart ache.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading When things are at the worst they mend; and if so, better days must be at hand for you."
hard-featured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading It grieves me to see you, and crying never yet cured heart ache.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But while her features were rugged, they were expressive of good sense, and full of affectionate sympathy.
homely-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading When things are at the worst they mend; and if so, better days must be at hand for you."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
ironingnounUS /ˈaɪərnɪŋ/
garments (clothes or linens) that are to be (or have been) ironed
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It grieves me to see you, and crying never yet cured heart ache.
JoycenounUS /dʒɔɪs/
influential Irish writer noted for his many innovations (such as stream of consciousness writing) (1882-1941)
From this reading "DON'T fret so, Miss Joyce.
Keene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
lacesnounUS /ˈleɪsəz/
plural of “lace” — a cord that is drawn through eyelets or around hooks in order to draw together two edges (as of a shoe or garment)
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It grieves me to see you, and crying never yet cured heart ache.
mendverbUS /mend/
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading When things are at the worst they mend; and if so, better days must be at hand for you."
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "DON'T fret so, Miss Joyce.
muslinnounUS /ˈmʌzlən/
plain-woven cotton fabric
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading When things are at the worst they mend; and if so, better days must be at hand for you."
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It grieves me to see you, and crying never yet cured heart ache.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
on the contrary
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
ruggedadjectiveUS /ˈrʌɡəd/
sturdy and strong in constitution or construction; enduring
From this reading But while her features were rugged, they were expressive of good sense, and full of affectionate sympathy.
SarahnounUS /ˈserə/
(Old Testament) the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It grieves me to see you, and crying never yet cured heart ache.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading But while her features were rugged, they were expressive of good sense, and full of affectionate sympathy.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "DON'T fret so, Miss Joyce.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
speakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/
someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading But while her features were rugged, they were expressive of good sense, and full of affectionate sympathy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When things are at the worst they mend; and if so, better days must be at hand for you."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When things are at the worst they mend; and if so, better days must be at hand for you."
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading When things are at the worst they mend; and if so, better days must be at hand for you."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It grieves me to see you, and crying never yet cured heart ache.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But while her features were rugged, they were expressive of good sense, and full of affectionate sympathy.
at the time that
From this reading When things are at the worst they mend; and if so, better days must be at hand for you."
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading But while her features were rugged, they were expressive of good sense, and full of affectionate sympathy.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The speaker, Sarah Keene, was a homely-looking, rather hard-featured woman of fifty, evidently a servant, for she was busily engaged in ironing some dainty laces and muslin.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading When things are at the worst they mend; and if so, better days must be at hand for you."
but in spite of that
From this reading It grieves me to see you, and crying never yet cured heart ache.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading It grieves me to see you, and crying never yet cured heart ache.
