used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
(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 was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
brought into existence
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
a young person of either sex
From this reading THE ELDEST CHILD.
coupledadjectiveUS /ˈkʌpəld/
joined together especially in a pair or pairs
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Hetty was sixteen that day.
distinctnessnoun
the quality of being sharp and clear
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
ELDESTadjectiveUS /ˈeldəst/
first in order of birth
From this reading THE ELDEST CHILD.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
at any time
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
every person
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
externaladjectiveUS /ɪkˈstɜːrnəl/
happening or arising or located outside or beyond some limits or especially surface
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
handyadjectiveUS /ˈhændi/
easy to reach
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
Hetty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hetty was sixteen that day.
housekeepernounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpər/
a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
housemaidnoun
a female domestic
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
used to form the superlative
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
needle-woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading There were nine younger than she was.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
Rollinstock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were nine younger than she was.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
sixteenadjectiveUS /sɪkˈstiːn/
being one more than fifteen
From this reading Hetty was sixteen that day.
suburbnounUS /ˈsʌbərb/
a residential district located on the outskirts of a city
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
Summerfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There were nine younger than she was.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Hetty was sixteen that day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ELDEST CHILD.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were nine younger than she was.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
propel through the air
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
tolerableadjectiveUS /ˈtɑːlərəbəl/
capable of being borne or endured
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hetty was sixteen that day.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were nine younger than she was.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
at the time that
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She was the best little nurse, the best housemaid, the most handy needle-woman, the most careful little housekeeper in all Summerfield, which, as everybody knows, is a suburb of the great town of Rollinstock, in the middle of England.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
the words that are spoken
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
but in spite of that
From this reading When these words are said, coupled with the fact already told that Hetty was the best child that ever was born, they may not throw much light upon her character--and yet they will show with tolerable distinctness what her external position was.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading There were nine younger than she was.
