used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
(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 But M. Madeleine had heard nothing of all this.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading M. Madeleine was in the habit of almost never entering the women’s workroom.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But M. Madeleine had heard nothing of all this.
charitynounUS /ˈtʃerɪti/
a foundation created to promote the public good (not for assistance to any particular individuals)
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
combinationsnounUS /ˌkɑːmbəˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “combination” — a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities
From this reading Life is full of just such combinations of events.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
consistsverbUS /kənˈsɪsts/
third-person singular of “consist” — originate
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
elderlyadjectiveUS /ˈeldərli/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
a movement into or inward
From this reading M. Madeleine was in the habit of almost never entering the women’s workroom.
equitableadjectiveUS /ˈekwətəbəl/
fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscience
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Life is full of just such combinations of events.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So the monk’s widow was good for something.
forgivingadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɪvɪŋ/
inclined or able to forgive and show mercy
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Life is full of just such combinations of events.
the act of giving
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading So the monk’s widow was good for something.
an established custom
From this reading M. Madeleine was in the habit of almost never entering the women’s workroom.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But M. Madeleine had heard nothing of all this.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading But M. Madeleine had heard nothing of all this.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading M. Madeleine was in the habit of almost never entering the women’s workroom.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Life is full of just such combinations of events.
and nothing more
From this reading Life is full of just such combinations of events.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Life is full of just such combinations of events.
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading But M. Madeleine had heard nothing of all this.
Madeleine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But M. Madeleine had heard nothing of all this.
monk'snounUS /mʌŋks/
possessive form of “monk” — a male religious living in a cloister and devoting himself to contemplation and prayer and work
From this reading So the monk’s widow was good for something.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading M. Madeleine was in the habit of almost never entering the women’s workroom.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading But M. Madeleine had heard nothing of all this.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But M. Madeleine had heard nothing of all this.
a human being
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
Identical; not different.
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So the monk’s widow was good for something.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading So the monk’s widow was good for something.
spinsternounUS /ˈspɪnstər/
an elderly unmarried woman
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Life is full of just such combinations of events.
superintendentnounUS /ˌsuːpərənˈtendənt/
a person who directs and manages an organization
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading So the monk’s widow was good for something.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But M. Madeleine had heard nothing of all this.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So the monk’s widow was good for something.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At the head of this room he had placed an elderly spinster, whom the priest had provided for him, and he had full confidence in this superintendent,—a truly respectable person, firm, equitable, upright, full of the charity which consists in giving, but not having in the same degree that charity which consists in understanding and in forgiving.
a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading So the monk’s widow was good for something.
women's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Madeleine was in the habit of almost never entering the women’s workroom.
workroomnounUS /ˈwɜːrkruːm/
room where work is done
From this reading M. Madeleine was in the habit of almost never entering the women’s workroom.
