used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
affectsnounUS /əˈfekts/
plural of “affect” — the conscious subjective aspect of feeling or emotion
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She had an intuition that her nephews would examine the grave of the bird they had interred two days before, and she dreaded to listen to the literal conversation and comments that would surely follow.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
react verbally
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
any thing at all
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
playing or singing with instrumental or vocal accompaniment
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading She had an intuition that her nephews would examine the grave of the bird they had interred two days before, and she dreaded to listen to the literal conversation and comments that would surely follow.
BurtonnounUS /ˈbɜːrtən/
English explorer who with John Speke was the first European to explore Lake Tanganyika (1821-1890)
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
characterlessadjective
lacking distinct or individual characteristics; dull and uninteresting
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
commentsnounUS /ˈkɑːments/
plural of “comment” — a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading She had an intuition that her nephews would examine the grave of the bird they had interred two days before, and she dreaded to listen to the literal conversation and comments that would surely follow.
comparativeadjectiveUS /kəmˈperətɪv/
relating to or based on or involving comparison
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading She had an intuition that her nephews would examine the grave of the bird they had interred two days before, and she dreaded to listen to the literal conversation and comments that would surely follow.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading She had an intuition that her nephews would examine the grave of the bird they had interred two days before, and she dreaded to listen to the literal conversation and comments that would surely follow.
deareradjectiveUS /ˈdɪrər/
comparative of “dear” — dearly loved
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
characterized by great determination
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
dreadedadjectiveUS /ˈdredɪd/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading She had an intuition that her nephews would examine the grave of the bird they had interred two days before, and she dreaded to listen to the literal conversation and comments that would surely follow.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
divisible by two
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
examineverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/
consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading She had an intuition that her nephews would examine the grave of the bird they had interred two days before, and she dreaded to listen to the literal conversation and comments that would surely follow.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading She had an intuition that her nephews would examine the grave of the bird they had interred two days before, and she dreaded to listen to the literal conversation and comments that would surely follow.
forefathersnounUS /ˈfɔːrfɑːðərz/
plural of “forefather” — the founder of a family
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
the act of departing
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
death of a person
From this reading She had an intuition that her nephews would examine the grave of the bird they had interred two days before, and she dreaded to listen to the literal conversation and comments that would surely follow.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
hamletnounUS /ˈhæmlət/
a community of people smaller than a village
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
interredadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɜːrd/
placed in a grave
From this reading She had an intuition that her nephews would examine the grave of the bird they had interred two days before, and she dreaded to listen to the literal conversation and comments that would surely follow.
intuitionnounUS /ˌɪntuːˈɪʃən/
instinctive knowing (without the use of rational processes)
From this reading She had an intuition that her nephews would examine the grave of the bird they had interred two days before, and she dreaded to listen to the literal conversation and comments that would surely follow.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
hear with intention
From this reading She had an intuition that her nephews would examine the grave of the bird they had interred two days before, and she dreaded to listen to the literal conversation and comments that would surely follow.
literaladjectiveUS /ˈlɪtərəl/
being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something
From this reading She had an intuition that her nephews would examine the grave of the bird they had interred two days before, and she dreaded to listen to the literal conversation and comments that would surely follow.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
materialisticadjectiveUS /məˌtɪriəˈlɪstɪk/
marked by materialism
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
the force of workers available
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
mysticaladjectiveUS /ˈmɪstɪkəl/
relating to or characteristic of mysticism
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
nephewsnounUS /ˈnefjuːz/
plural of “nephew” — a son of your brother or sister
From this reading She had an intuition that her nephews would examine the grave of the bird they had interred two days before, and she dreaded to listen to the literal conversation and comments that would surely follow.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
not any; not one
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
and nothing more
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
outrageouslyadverbUS /ˌaʊˈtreɪdʒəsli/
in a very offensive manner
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
plural of “remark” — a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
soullessness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading She had an intuition that her nephews would examine the grave of the bird they had interred two days before, and she dreaded to listen to the literal conversation and comments that would surely follow.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
tender-hearted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had an intuition that her nephews would examine the grave of the bird they had interred two days before, and she dreaded to listen to the literal conversation and comments that would surely follow.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
traditionsnounUS /trəˈdɪʃənz/
plural of “tradition” — an inherited pattern of thought or action
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading She had an intuition that her nephews would examine the grave of the bird they had interred two days before, and she dreaded to listen to the literal conversation and comments that would surely follow.
unfashionableadjectiveUS /ənˈfæʃənəbəl/
not in accord with or not following current fashion
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
volubleadjectiveUS /ˈvɑːljəbəl/
marked by a ready flow of speech
From this reading Her husband had attended a town meeting the night before, and the forefathers of the hamlet had been so voluble that Mr. Burton had not returned home until nearly midnight.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sun of the next morning arose at the outrageously unfashionable hour that he affects in June, but Mrs. Burton was up before him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He needed rest, and his wife determined that he should sleep as long as possible; but there were things dearer to her than even the comfort of her husband, and among these were the traditions she had received concerning things mystical.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Had the bird been a human being, the remarks of its tender-hearted little friends would have seemed anything but materialistic to Mrs. Burton; but it was only a bird, and the lady realized that to answer questions as to the soullessness of an innocent being and the comparative value of characterless men and women was going to be no easy task.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She had an intuition that her nephews would examine the grave of the bird they had interred two days before, and she dreaded to listen to the literal conversation and comments that would surely follow.
