used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, and to those who were left behind.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They asked their mother many questions about the journey they had begun, and the country to which they were going.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, and to those who were left behind.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading They asked their mother many questions about the journey they had begun, and the country to which they were going.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading The children could talk of little else than their uncle and aunt Harding.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, and to those who were left behind.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading They asked their mother many questions about the journey they had begun, and the country to which they were going.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, and to those who were left behind.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, and to those who were left behind.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The children could talk of little else than their uncle and aunt Harding.
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The children could talk of little else than their uncle and aunt Harding.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading They asked their mother many questions about the journey they had begun, and the country to which they were going.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, and to those who were left behind.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children could talk of little else than their uncle and aunt Harding.
Emma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
employmentnounUS /emˈplɔɪmənt/
the state of being employed or having a job
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, and to those who were left behind.
the act of departing
From this reading They asked their mother many questions about the journey they had begun, and the country to which they were going.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They asked their mother many questions about the journey they had begun, and the country to which they were going.
HardingnounUS /ˈhɑːrdɪŋ/
29th President of the United States; two of his appointees were involved in the Teapot Dome scandal (1865-1823)
From this reading The children could talk of little else than their uncle and aunt Harding.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
become part of; become a member of a group or organization
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading They asked their mother many questions about the journey they had begun, and the country to which they were going.
KEEPSAKESnounUS /ˈkiːpseɪks/
plural of “keepsake” — something of sentimental value
From this reading USE OF THE KEEPSAKES.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, and to those who were left behind.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The children could talk of little else than their uncle and aunt Harding.
Louisa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
informal terms for a mother
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading They asked their mother many questions about the journey they had begun, and the country to which they were going.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading They asked their mother many questions about the journey they had begun, and the country to which they were going.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, and to those who were left behind.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading USE OF THE KEEPSAKES.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, and to those who were left behind.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading They asked their mother many questions about the journey they had begun, and the country to which they were going.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
cut with a saw
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
sorrowfuladjectiveUS /ˈsɑːroʊfəl/
experiencing or marked by or expressing sorrow especially that associated with irreparable loss
From this reading The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, and to those who were left behind.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading The children could talk of little else than their uncle and aunt Harding.
teaseverbUS /tiːz/
annoy persistently
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The children could talk of little else than their uncle and aunt Harding.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading USE OF THE KEEPSAKES.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The children could talk of little else than their uncle and aunt Harding.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They asked their mother many questions about the journey they had begun, and the country to which they were going.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, and to those who were left behind.
thoughtlessadjectiveUS /ˈθɔːtləs/
showing lack of careful thought
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, and to those who were left behind.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading The children could talk of little else than their uncle and aunt Harding.
the act of using
From this reading USE OF THE KEEPSAKES.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
precisely as stated
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, and to those who were left behind.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, and to those who were left behind.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, and to those who were left behind.
at the time that
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They asked their mother many questions about the journey they had begun, and the country to which they were going.
which person or people
From this reading The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, and to those who were left behind.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment.
