used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
conforming to your own liking or feelings or nature
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
anticipationnounUS /ænˌtɪsəˈpeɪʃən/
an expectation
From this reading ELLEN found her new life very different in reality from what it had appeared in anticipation.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading ELLEN found her new life very different in reality from what it had appeared in anticipation.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
aunt'snounUS /ænts/
possessive form of “aunt” — the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Her aunt's quick, sharp ways frightened her, and the fear of offending rendered her so timid and nervous, that she made more mistakes than she would otherwise have done.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
Charmouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading She wondered how her companions in the work-room could take their mistress's frequent scoldings so coolly as they appeared to do.
intentionally conceived
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
coollyadverbUS /ˈkuːli/
in a composed and unconcerned manner
From this reading She wondered how her companions in the work-room could take their mistress's frequent scoldings so coolly as they appeared to do.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She wondered how her companions in the work-room could take their mistress's frequent scoldings so coolly as they appeared to do.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading ELLEN found her new life very different in reality from what it had appeared in anticipation.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading She wondered how her companions in the work-room could take their mistress's frequent scoldings so coolly as they appeared to do.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Her aunt's quick, sharp ways frightened her, and the fear of offending rendered her so timid and nervous, that she made more mistakes than she would otherwise have done.
DressmakingnounUS /ˈdresmeɪkɪŋ/
the craft of making dresses
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
ELLEN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ELLEN found her new life very different in reality from what it had appeared in anticipation.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Her aunt's quick, sharp ways frightened her, and the fear of offending rendered her so timid and nervous, that she made more mistakes than she would otherwise have done.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
set up or found
From this reading ELLEN found her new life very different in reality from what it had appeared in anticipation.
frequentverbUS /ˈfriːkwənt/
do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of
From this reading She wondered how her companions in the work-room could take their mistress's frequent scoldings so coolly as they appeared to do.
made afraid
From this reading Her aunt's quick, sharp ways frightened her, and the fear of offending rendered her so timid and nervous, that she made more mistakes than she would otherwise have done.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading ELLEN found her new life very different in reality from what it had appeared in anticipation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ELLEN found her new life very different in reality from what it had appeared in anticipation.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Her aunt's quick, sharp ways frightened her, and the fear of offending rendered her so timid and nervous, that she made more mistakes than she would otherwise have done.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading ELLEN found her new life very different in reality from what it had appeared in anticipation.
home-sickness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wondered how her companions in the work-room could take their mistress's frequent scoldings so coolly as they appeared to do.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE WORK-ROOM.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ELLEN found her new life very different in reality from what it had appeared in anticipation.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading ELLEN found her new life very different in reality from what it had appeared in anticipation.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Her aunt's quick, sharp ways frightened her, and the fear of offending rendered her so timid and nervous, that she made more mistakes than she would otherwise have done.
mistakesnounUS /mɪˈsteɪks/
plural of “mistake” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading Her aunt's quick, sharp ways frightened her, and the fear of offending rendered her so timid and nervous, that she made more mistakes than she would otherwise have done.
mistress's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wondered how her companions in the work-room could take their mistress's frequent scoldings so coolly as they appeared to do.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
easily agitated
From this reading Her aunt's quick, sharp ways frightened her, and the fear of offending rendered her so timid and nervous, that she made more mistakes than she would otherwise have done.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading ELLEN found her new life very different in reality from what it had appeared in anticipation.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
occupationnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
offendingadjectiveUS /əˈfendɪŋ/
offending against or breaking a law or rule
From this reading Her aunt's quick, sharp ways frightened her, and the fear of offending rendered her so timid and nervous, that she made more mistakes than she would otherwise have done.
in other respects or ways
From this reading Her aunt's quick, sharp ways frightened her, and the fear of offending rendered her so timid and nervous, that she made more mistakes than she would otherwise have done.
painfullyadverbUS /ˈpeɪnfəli/
unpleasantly
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
be shown or be found to be
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Her aunt's quick, sharp ways frightened her, and the fear of offending rendered her so timid and nervous, that she made more mistakes than she would otherwise have done.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading ELLEN found her new life very different in reality from what it had appeared in anticipation.
past form of “render” — cause to become
From this reading Her aunt's quick, sharp ways frightened her, and the fear of offending rendered her so timid and nervous, that she made more mistakes than she would otherwise have done.
scoldings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wondered how her companions in the work-room could take their mistress's frequent scoldings so coolly as they appeared to do.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Her aunt's quick, sharp ways frightened her, and the fear of offending rendered her so timid and nervous, that she made more mistakes than she would otherwise have done.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
carry out
From this reading She wondered how her companions in the work-room could take their mistress's frequent scoldings so coolly as they appeared to do.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Her aunt's quick, sharp ways frightened her, and the fear of offending rendered her so timid and nervous, that she made more mistakes than she would otherwise have done.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE WORK-ROOM.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She wondered how her companions in the work-room could take their mistress's frequent scoldings so coolly as they appeared to do.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She wondered how her companions in the work-room could take their mistress's frequent scoldings so coolly as they appeared to do.
timidadjectiveUS /ˈtɪmɪd/
showing fear and lack of confidence
From this reading Her aunt's quick, sharp ways frightened her, and the fear of offending rendered her so timid and nervous, that she made more mistakes than she would otherwise have done.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
precisely as stated
From this reading ELLEN found her new life very different in reality from what it had appeared in anticipation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading Her aunt's quick, sharp ways frightened her, and the fear of offending rendered her so timid and nervous, that she made more mistakes than she would otherwise have done.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Dressmaking did not prove so agreeable an occupation as she had expected to find it, and before she had been more than a week at Charmouth, she was painfully conscious of home-sickness.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading ELLEN found her new life very different in reality from what it had appeared in anticipation.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading She wondered how her companions in the work-room could take their mistress's frequent scoldings so coolly as they appeared to do.
WORK-ROOM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE WORK-ROOM.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Her aunt's quick, sharp ways frightened her, and the fear of offending rendered her so timid and nervous, that she made more mistakes than she would otherwise have done.
