used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was scarcely ever yet a woman's son who was not too good in the mother's opinion for almost any woman he chose for a wife.
ABE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EVENING WITH CAP'N ABE As Tom Petty showed more plainly his jealousy, his mother's unkindness toward Pearl increased.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading There was scarcely ever yet a woman's son who was not too good in the mother's opinion for almost any woman he chose for a wife.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN EVENING WITH CAP'N ABE As Tom Petty showed more plainly his jealousy, his mother's unkindness toward Pearl increased.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading AN EVENING WITH CAP'N ABE As Tom Petty showed more plainly his jealousy, his mother's unkindness toward Pearl increased.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
CAP'N
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EVENING WITH CAP'N ABE As Tom Petty showed more plainly his jealousy, his mother's unkindness toward Pearl increased.
an occurrence of something
From this reading In this case Sarah Petty was prepared to make life particularly miserable for any daughter-in-law that the son might introduce into the family.
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading There was scarcely ever yet a woman's son who was not too good in the mother's opinion for almost any woman he chose for a wife.
daughter-in-lawnounUS /ˈdɔːtərɪnlɔː/
the wife of your son
From this reading In this case Sarah Petty was prepared to make life particularly miserable for any daughter-in-law that the son might introduce into the family.
displaynounUS /dɪˈspleɪ/
something intended to communicate a particular impression
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading AN EVENING WITH CAP'N ABE As Tom Petty showed more plainly his jealousy, his mother's unkindness toward Pearl increased.
at any time
From this reading There was scarcely ever yet a woman's son who was not too good in the mother's opinion for almost any woman he chose for a wife.
a social unit living together
From this reading In this case Sarah Petty was prepared to make life particularly miserable for any daughter-in-law that the son might introduce into the family.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
plural of “feel” — an intuitive awareness
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was scarcely ever yet a woman's son who was not too good in the mother's opinion for almost any woman he chose for a wife.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
a young female
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading There was scarcely ever yet a woman's son who was not too good in the mother's opinion for almost any woman he chose for a wife.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was scarcely ever yet a woman's son who was not too good in the mother's opinion for almost any woman he chose for a wife.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading AN EVENING WITH CAP'N ABE As Tom Petty showed more plainly his jealousy, his mother's unkindness toward Pearl increased.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading AN EVENING WITH CAP'N ABE As Tom Petty showed more plainly his jealousy, his mother's unkindness toward Pearl increased.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading In this case Sarah Petty was prepared to make life particularly miserable for any daughter-in-law that the son might introduce into the family.
introduceverbUS /ˌɪntrəˈduːs/
cause to come to know personally
From this reading In this case Sarah Petty was prepared to make life particularly miserable for any daughter-in-law that the son might introduce into the family.
jealousynounUS /ˈdʒeləsi/
a feeling of jealous envy (especially of a rival)
From this reading AN EVENING WITH CAP'N ABE As Tom Petty showed more plainly his jealousy, his mother's unkindness toward Pearl increased.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading In this case Sarah Petty was prepared to make life particularly miserable for any daughter-in-law that the son might introduce into the family.
engage in
From this reading In this case Sarah Petty was prepared to make life particularly miserable for any daughter-in-law that the son might introduce into the family.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading In this case Sarah Petty was prepared to make life particularly miserable for any daughter-in-law that the son might introduce into the family.
millstonenounUS /ˈmɪlstoʊn/
(figurative) something that hinders or handicaps
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading In this case Sarah Petty was prepared to make life particularly miserable for any daughter-in-law that the son might introduce into the family.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading AN EVENING WITH CAP'N ABE As Tom Petty showed more plainly his jealousy, his mother's unkindness toward Pearl increased.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading AN EVENING WITH CAP'N ABE As Tom Petty showed more plainly his jealousy, his mother's unkindness toward Pearl increased.
netheradjectiveUS /ˈneðər/
lower
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was scarcely ever yet a woman's son who was not too good in the mother's opinion for almost any woman he chose for a wife.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading There was scarcely ever yet a woman's son who was not too good in the mother's opinion for almost any woman he chose for a wife.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading In this case Sarah Petty was prepared to make life particularly miserable for any daughter-in-law that the son might introduce into the family.
PearlnounUS /pɜːrl/
a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
From this reading AN EVENING WITH CAP'N ABE As Tom Petty showed more plainly his jealousy, his mother's unkindness toward Pearl increased.
PettyadjectiveUS /ˈpetiː/
inferior in rank or status
From this reading AN EVENING WITH CAP'N ABE As Tom Petty showed more plainly his jealousy, his mother's unkindness toward Pearl increased.
Petty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading AN EVENING WITH CAP'N ABE As Tom Petty showed more plainly his jealousy, his mother's unkindness toward Pearl increased.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading In this case Sarah Petty was prepared to make life particularly miserable for any daughter-in-law that the son might introduce into the family.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
SarahnounUS /ˈserə/
(Old Testament) the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
only a very short time before
From this reading There was scarcely ever yet a woman's son who was not too good in the mother's opinion for almost any woman he chose for a wife.
secretlyadverbUS /ˈsiːkrɪtli/
in secrecy; not openly
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading AN EVENING WITH CAP'N ABE As Tom Petty showed more plainly his jealousy, his mother's unkindness toward Pearl increased.
a male human offspring
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
successfullyadverbUS /səkˈsesfəli/
with success; in a successful manner
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was scarcely ever yet a woman's son who was not too good in the mother's opinion for almost any woman he chose for a wife.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In this case Sarah Petty was prepared to make life particularly miserable for any daughter-in-law that the son might introduce into the family.
male cat
From this reading AN EVENING WITH CAP'N ABE As Tom Petty showed more plainly his jealousy, his mother's unkindness toward Pearl increased.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading There was scarcely ever yet a woman's son who was not too good in the mother's opinion for almost any woman he chose for a wife.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading AN EVENING WITH CAP'N ABE As Tom Petty showed more plainly his jealousy, his mother's unkindness toward Pearl increased.
something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
unkindnessnoun
lack of sympathy
From this reading AN EVENING WITH CAP'N ABE As Tom Petty showed more plainly his jealousy, his mother's unkindness toward Pearl increased.
the topmost one of two
From this reading That her son should display any interest in the girl ground Sarah Petty's pride between the upper and the nether millstone.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was scarcely ever yet a woman's son who was not too good in the mother's opinion for almost any woman he chose for a wife.
which person or people
From this reading There was scarcely ever yet a woman's son who was not too good in the mother's opinion for almost any woman he chose for a wife.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading There was scarcely ever yet a woman's son who was not too good in the mother's opinion for almost any woman he chose for a wife.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
in the company of; together with
From this reading AN EVENING WITH CAP'N ABE As Tom Petty showed more plainly his jealousy, his mother's unkindness toward Pearl increased.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading There was scarcely ever yet a woman's son who was not too good in the mother's opinion for almost any woman he chose for a wife.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading There was scarcely ever yet a woman's son who was not too good in the mother's opinion for almost any woman he chose for a wife.
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading The mother may hide this feeling quite successfully; but secretly she feels that the woman who has taken him away from her will not be worthy of her trust.
but in spite of that
From this reading There was scarcely ever yet a woman's son who was not too good in the mother's opinion for almost any woman he chose for a wife.
