Chapter II · Chapter 2

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

tending to become more severe or wider in scope

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

(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 also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

in addition

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

the act of being present (at a meeting or event etc.)

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Looking back, I think my mother was the leading spirit in our household, though she never for a moment suspected it.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

a committee having supervisory powers

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

the two together, not just one

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

weedy annual native to Europe but widely distributed as a weed especially in wheat

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

indicating a lack of maturity

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

occurring with or following as a consequence

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading SCHOOLROOM DAYS.

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

plural of “end” — either extremity of something that has length

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

be identical or equivalent to

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

an old word for “before”

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Looking back, I think my mother was the leading spirit in our household, though she never for a moment suspected it.

produced by or subjected to forcing

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

plural of “glitter” — the quality of shining with a bright reflected light

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

coins made of gold

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

a social unit living together

From this reading Looking back, I think my mother was the leading spirit in our household, though she never for a moment suspected it.

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Looking back, I think my mother was the leading spirit in our household, though she never for a moment suspected it.

impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

the financial gain (earned or unearned) accruing over a given period of time

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Looking back, I think my mother was the leading spirit in our household, though she never for a moment suspected it.

a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

indicating the most important performer or role

From this reading Looking back, I think my mother was the leading spirit in our household, though she never for a moment suspected it.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

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 She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading Looking back, I think my mother was the leading spirit in our household, though she never for a moment suspected it.

come into view indistinctly, often threateningly

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

engage in

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

-ing form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

come together

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

a particular point in time

From this reading Looking back, I think my mother was the leading spirit in our household, though she never for a moment suspected it.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Looking back, I think my mother was the leading spirit in our household, though she never for a moment suspected it.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Looking back, I think my mother was the leading spirit in our household, though she never for a moment suspected it.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Looking back, I think my mother was the leading spirit in our household, though she never for a moment suspected it.

according to the clock

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

plural of “object” — a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

affording physical or mental rest

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

a room in a school where lessons take place

From this reading SCHOOLROOM DAYS.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Looking back, I think my mother was the leading spirit in our household, though she never for a moment suspected it.

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

refrain from harming

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading Looking back, I think my mother was the leading spirit in our household, though she never for a moment suspected it.

displaying animation, vigor, or liveliness

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

a state of extreme hunger resulting from lack of essential nutrients over a prolonged period

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

believed likely

From this reading Looking back, I think my mother was the leading spirit in our household, though she never for a moment suspected it.

plural of “task” — any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading Looking back, I think my mother was the leading spirit in our household, though she never for a moment suspected it.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Looking back, I think my mother was the leading spirit in our household, though she never for a moment suspected it.

to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

up to a particular time

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

precisely as stated

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

make false by mutilation or addition; as of a message or story

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Looking back, I think my mother was the leading spirit in our household, though she never for a moment suspected it.

at the time that

From this reading Indeed, the chess queen must be the most active on the home board, and one of the objects of her life was to give her husband a restful evening when he came home to the six o’clock dinner.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.

in the company of; together with

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

the yarn woven across the warp yarn in weaving

From this reading ‘In the loom of life-cloth pleasure, Ere our childish days be told, With the warp and woof enwoven, Glitters like a thread of gold.’—JEAN INGELOW.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading She also had to make both ends meet on an income which would seem starvation at the present day; but she was strong, spirited, and managing, and equal to all her tasks till the long attendance upon me, and the consequent illness, forced her to spare herself—a little—a very little.