used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She knew very soon that I was feeling troubled about something, and soon she knew it all, as I told her my bitter experiences of life.
anew
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
(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 The dear, precious old home, in spite of all I could persuade myself to the contrary, did look small and poor, and the furniture worn and old.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The dear, precious old home, in spite of all I could persuade myself to the contrary, did look small and poor, and the furniture worn and old.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She knew very soon that I was feeling troubled about something, and soon she knew it all, as I told her my bitter experiences of life.
feeling shame or guilt or embarrassment or remorse
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading She knew very soon that I was feeling troubled about something, and soon she knew it all, as I told her my bitter experiences of life.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading The dear, precious old home, in spite of all I could persuade myself to the contrary, did look small and poor, and the furniture worn and old.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The dear, precious old home, in spite of all I could persuade myself to the contrary, did look small and poor, and the furniture worn and old.
dearly loved
From this reading The dear, precious old home, in spite of all I could persuade myself to the contrary, did look small and poor, and the furniture worn and old.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The dear, precious old home, in spite of all I could persuade myself to the contrary, did look small and poor, and the furniture worn and old.
put on clothes
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
Eisleben
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
to or in any or all places
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
experiencesnounUS /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/
plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities
From this reading She knew very soon that I was feeling troubled about something, and soon she knew it all, as I told her my bitter experiences of life.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "Your father, 'only a schoolmaster!'" she said, "and you yourself presented with a new taffetas dress!
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading She knew very soon that I was feeling troubled about something, and soon she knew it all, as I told her my bitter experiences of life.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
flatteringadjectiveUS /ˈflætərɪŋ/
showing or representing to advantage
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
floorsnounUS /flɔːrz/
plural of “floor” — the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading The dear, precious old home, in spite of all I could persuade myself to the contrary, did look small and poor, and the furniture worn and old.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She knew very soon that I was feeling troubled about something, and soon she knew it all, as I told her my bitter experiences of life.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The dear, precious old home, in spite of all I could persuade myself to the contrary, did look small and poor, and the furniture worn and old.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She knew very soon that I was feeling troubled about something, and soon she knew it all, as I told her my bitter experiences of life.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading She knew very soon that I was feeling troubled about something, and soon she knew it all, as I told her my bitter experiences of life.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The dear, precious old home, in spite of all I could persuade myself to the contrary, did look small and poor, and the furniture worn and old.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
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 And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The dear, precious old home, in spite of all I could persuade myself to the contrary, did look small and poor, and the furniture worn and old.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
and nothing more
From this reading "Your father, 'only a schoolmaster!'" she said, "and you yourself presented with a new taffetas dress!
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
persuadeverbUS /pərˈsweɪd/
win approval or support for
From this reading The dear, precious old home, in spite of all I could persuade myself to the contrary, did look small and poor, and the furniture worn and old.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The dear, precious old home, in spite of all I could persuade myself to the contrary, did look small and poor, and the furniture worn and old.
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading The dear, precious old home, in spite of all I could persuade myself to the contrary, did look small and poor, and the furniture worn and old.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading "Your father, 'only a schoolmaster!'" she said, "and you yourself presented with a new taffetas dress!
quiltnounUS /kwɪlt/
bedding made of two layers of cloth filled with stuffing and stitched together
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
rushesnounUS /ˈrʌʃəz/
plural of “rush” — the act of moving hurriedly and in a careless manner
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Your father, 'only a schoolmaster!'" she said, "and you yourself presented with a new taffetas dress!
schoolmasternounUS /ˈskuːlmæstər/
presiding officer of a school
From this reading "Your father, 'only a schoolmaster!'" she said, "and you yourself presented with a new taffetas dress!
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She knew very soon that I was feeling troubled about something, and soon she knew it all, as I told her my bitter experiences of life.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The dear, precious old home, in spite of all I could persuade myself to the contrary, did look small and poor, and the furniture worn and old.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading She knew very soon that I was feeling troubled about something, and soon she knew it all, as I told her my bitter experiences of life.
in the near future
From this reading She knew very soon that I was feeling troubled about something, and soon she knew it all, as I told her my bitter experiences of life.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading The dear, precious old home, in spite of all I could persuade myself to the contrary, did look small and poor, and the furniture worn and old.
taffetas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She knew very soon that I was feeling troubled about something, and soon she knew it all, as I told her my bitter experiences of life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
in or at that place or location
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading She knew very soon that I was feeling troubled about something, and soon she knew it all, as I told her my bitter experiences of life.
tracesnounUS /ˈtreɪsəz/
plural of “trace” — a just detectable amount
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading She knew very soon that I was feeling troubled about something, and soon she knew it all, as I told her my bitter experiences of life.
precisely as stated
From this reading She knew very soon that I was feeling troubled about something, and soon she knew it all, as I told her my bitter experiences of life.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She knew very soon that I was feeling troubled about something, and soon she knew it all, as I told her my bitter experiences of life.
accept gladly
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
at the time that
From this reading But when I came home again to Eisleben, I felt more ashamed of myself than of the taffetas dress or of the flattering ladies at the Castle.
a Caucasian
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Your father, 'only a schoolmaster!'" she said, "and you yourself presented with a new taffetas dress!
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading The dear, precious old home, in spite of all I could persuade myself to the contrary, did look small and poor, and the furniture worn and old.
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet I could see there new traces of care and welcome everywhere--fresh rushes on the floors; a new white quilt on my little bed, made, I knew, by my mother's hands.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Your father, 'only a schoolmaster!'" she said, "and you yourself presented with a new taffetas dress!
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Your father, 'only a schoolmaster!'" she said, "and you yourself presented with a new taffetas dress!
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading "Your father, 'only a schoolmaster!'" she said, "and you yourself presented with a new taffetas dress!
