used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Joyce had been his pet, and he had made himself her playfellow as a child.
absentadjectiveUS /ˈæbsənt/
not being in a specified place
From this reading Her only son was absent, but time would bring him back.
consider or hold as true
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
anew
From this reading It was, perhaps, as well that Alec should find a partner for life before he and Joyce met again.
Alec
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was, perhaps, as well that Alec should find a partner for life before he and Joyce met again.
ambitiousadjectiveUS /æmˈbɪʃəs/
having a strong desire for success or achievement
From this reading But she was a woman now, and the best of mothers are ambitious for their sons.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
eagerly desirous
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But she was a woman now, and the best of mothers are ambitious for their sons.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Joyce had been his pet, and he had made himself her playfellow as a child.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Her only son was absent, but time would bring him back.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Joyce had been his pet, and he had made himself her playfellow as a child.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was, perhaps, as well that Alec should find a partner for life before he and Joyce met again.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading But she was a woman now, and the best of mothers are ambitious for their sons.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Her only son was absent, but time would bring him back.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Her only son was absent, but time would bring him back.
Caruth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Joyce had been his pet, and he had made himself her playfellow as a child.
a female human offspring
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
Fernsclough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading It was, perhaps, as well that Alec should find a partner for life before he and Joyce met again.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But she was a woman now, and the best of mothers are ambitious for their sons.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
a young female
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Joyce had been his pet, and he had made himself her playfellow as a child.
only a very short time before
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Joyce had been his pet, and he had made himself her playfellow as a child.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Her only son was absent, but time would bring him back.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Joyce had been his pet, and he had made himself her playfellow as a child.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Joyce had been his pet, and he had made himself her playfellow as a child.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was, perhaps, as well that Alec should find a partner for life before he and Joyce met again.
JoycenounUS /dʒɔɪs/
influential Irish writer noted for his many innovations (such as stream of consciousness writing) (1882-1941)
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It was, perhaps, as well that Alec should find a partner for life before he and Joyce met again.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Joyce had been his pet, and he had made himself her playfellow as a child.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading It was, perhaps, as well that Alec should find a partner for life before he and Joyce met again.
MincesnounUS /ˈmɪnsɪz/
plural of “mince” — food chopped into small bits
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
mothersnounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
plural of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading But she was a woman now, and the best of mothers are ambitious for their sons.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But she was a woman now, and the best of mothers are ambitious for their sons.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
and nothing more
From this reading Her only son was absent, but time would bring him back.
partnernounUS /ˈpɑːrtnər/
a person's partner in marriage
From this reading It was, perhaps, as well that Alec should find a partner for life before he and Joyce met again.
by chance
From this reading It was, perhaps, as well that Alec should find a partner for life before he and Joyce met again.
petnounUS /pet/
a domesticated animal kept for companionship or amusement
From this reading Joyce had been his pet, and he had made himself her playfellow as a child.
playfellownoun
a companion at play
From this reading Joyce had been his pet, and he had made himself her playfellow as a child.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was, perhaps, as well that Alec should find a partner for life before he and Joyce met again.
a male human offspring
From this reading Her only son was absent, but time would bring him back.
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading But she was a woman now, and the best of mothers are ambitious for their sons.
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But she was a woman now, and the best of mothers are ambitious for their sons.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Her only son was absent, but time would bring him back.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading It was, perhaps, as well that Alec should find a partner for life before he and Joyce met again.
at the time that
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading But she was a woman now, and the best of mothers are ambitious for their sons.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Her only son was absent, but time would bring him back.
but in spite of that
From this reading WHEN Mrs. Caruth invited Joyce Minces to stay at Fernsclough she was quite in earnest, and yet, whilst anxious to serve the daughter of her old friend, she was hardly sorry that the girl did not accept the invitation.
