used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading She had been so busy all summer finishing off old work that she had not been able to take up anything fresh.
in actual fact
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
(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 She had been so busy all summer finishing off old work that she had not been able to take up anything fresh.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The reclaiming of Hardy had been an expensive undertaking for Katherine in more ways than one.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And naturally the more successful her efforts were the more time they consumed.
any thing at all
From this reading She had been so busy all summer finishing off old work that she had not been able to take up anything fresh.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading She had even been obliged to send away sitters, and they had betaken themselves elsewhere.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The reclaiming of Hardy had been an expensive undertaking for Katherine in more ways than one.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
betaken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had even been obliged to send away sitters, and they had betaken themselves elsewhere.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading She had been so busy all summer finishing off old work that she had not been able to take up anything fresh.
consumedverbUS /kənˈsuːmd/
past form of “consume” — eat up completely, as with great appetite
From this reading And naturally the more successful her efforts were the more time they consumed.
debtnounUS /det/
the state of owing something (especially money)
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
ebbverbUS /eb/
flow back or recede
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading And naturally the more successful her efforts were the more time they consumed.
elsewhereadverbUS /ˈelswer/
in or to another place
From this reading She had even been obliged to send away sitters, and they had betaken themselves elsewhere.
divisible by two
From this reading She had even been obliged to send away sitters, and they had betaken themselves elsewhere.
expensiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspensɪv/
high in price or charging high prices
From this reading The reclaiming of Hardy had been an expensive undertaking for Katherine in more ways than one.
finishingnounUS /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading She had been so busy all summer finishing off old work that she had not been able to take up anything fresh.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading She had been so busy all summer finishing off old work that she had not been able to take up anything fresh.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The reclaiming of Hardy had been an expensive undertaking for Katherine in more ways than one.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
HardyadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdi/
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading The reclaiming of Hardy had been an expensive undertaking for Katherine in more ways than one.
Havilands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And naturally the more successful her efforts were the more time they consumed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
Katherine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reclaiming of Hardy had been an expensive undertaking for Katherine in more ways than one.
lowestadjectiveUS /ˈloʊəst/
lowest in rank or importance
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The reclaiming of Hardy had been an expensive undertaking for Katherine in more ways than one.
as might be expected
From this reading And naturally the more successful her efforts were the more time they consumed.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She had been so busy all summer finishing off old work that she had not been able to take up anything fresh.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading She had even been obliged to send away sitters, and they had betaken themselves elsewhere.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading She had been so busy all summer finishing off old work that she had not been able to take up anything fresh.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She had been so busy all summer finishing off old work that she had not been able to take up anything fresh.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
reclaimingverbUS /riˈkleɪmɪŋ/
-ing form of “reclaim” — claim back
From this reading The reclaiming of Hardy had been an expensive undertaking for Katherine in more ways than one.
resourcesnounUS /ˈriːsɔːrsɪz/
plural of “resource” — available source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading She had even been obliged to send away sitters, and they had betaken themselves elsewhere.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had been so busy all summer finishing off old work that she had not been able to take up anything fresh.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
sittersnounUS /ˈsɪtərz/
plural of “sitter” — Dutch astronomer who calculated the size of the universe and suggested that it is expanding (1872-1934)
From this reading She had even been obliged to send away sitters, and they had betaken themselves elsewhere.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She had been so busy all summer finishing off old work that she had not been able to take up anything fresh.
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading And naturally the more successful her efforts were the more time they consumed.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading She had been so busy all summer finishing off old work that she had not been able to take up anything fresh.
carry out
From this reading She had been so busy all summer finishing off old work that she had not been able to take up anything fresh.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The reclaiming of Hardy had been an expensive undertaking for Katherine in more ways than one.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading She had even been obliged to send away sitters, and they had betaken themselves elsewhere.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading And naturally the more successful her efforts were the more time they consumed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had been so busy all summer finishing off old work that she had not been able to take up anything fresh.
undertakingnounUS /ˈʌndərteɪkɪŋ/
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading The reclaiming of Hardy had been an expensive undertaking for Katherine in more ways than one.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She had been so busy all summer finishing off old work that she had not been able to take up anything fresh.
precisely as stated
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading The reclaiming of Hardy had been an expensive undertaking for Katherine in more ways than one.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading That winter was a hard one for the Havilands; they were at the very lowest ebb of their resources, short of being actually in debt.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading She had been so busy all summer finishing off old work that she had not been able to take up anything fresh.
