used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
how long something has existed
From this reading I have noticed that whatever age you happen to be seems to be the age in which hardships are the most difficult to bear.
(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 Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I have noticed that whatever age you happen to be seems to be the age in which hardships are the most difficult to bear.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
have
From this reading I have noticed that whatever age you happen to be seems to be the age in which hardships are the most difficult to bear.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
befallverbUS /bɪˈfɔːl/
become of; happen to
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
boardingnounUS /ˈbɔːrdɪŋ/
the act of passengers and crew getting aboard a ship or aircraft
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
the first light of day
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading I have noticed that whatever age you happen to be seems to be the age in which hardships are the most difficult to bear.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
farewellsnounUS /ˌferˈwelz/
plural of “farewell” — an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
a young female
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
come to pass
From this reading I have noticed that whatever age you happen to be seems to be the age in which hardships are the most difficult to bear.
hardshipsnounUS /ˈhɑːrdʃɪps/
plural of “hardship” — a state of misfortune or affliction
From this reading I have noticed that whatever age you happen to be seems to be the age in which hardships are the most difficult to bear.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I have noticed that whatever age you happen to be seems to be the age in which hardships are the most difficult to bear.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading LEAVING HOME.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I have noticed that whatever age you happen to be seems to be the age in which hardships are the most difficult to bear.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I have noticed that whatever age you happen to be seems to be the age in which hardships are the most difficult to bear.
the act of departing
From this reading LEAVING HOME.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
used to form the superlative
From this reading I have noticed that whatever age you happen to be seems to be the age in which hardships are the most difficult to bear.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading And now I and my bed must part.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
being perceived or observed
From this reading I have noticed that whatever age you happen to be seems to be the age in which hardships are the most difficult to bear.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And now I and my bed must part.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
and nothing more
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading And now I and my bed must part.
principallyadverbUS /ˈprɪnsɪpli/
for the most part
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
an educational institution
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading I have noticed that whatever age you happen to be seems to be the age in which hardships are the most difficult to bear.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
a special situation
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading I have noticed that whatever age you happen to be seems to be the age in which hardships are the most difficult to bear.
in or at the place that
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I have noticed that whatever age you happen to be seems to be the age in which hardships are the most difficult to bear.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading Leaving home to go to boarding school was bad enough, but leaving on a damp, cold morning before dawn seemed to be about the worst thing that could befall a girl of fifteen.
a late time of life
From this reading Anyhow, there I was, only fifteen, facing the necessity of saying early morning farewells, the first one of all to my comfortable bed, where I had slept off and on, principally on, for those fifteen years.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I have noticed that whatever age you happen to be seems to be the age in which hardships are the most difficult to bear.
