the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She found Owlet an apt and eager pupil.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading She found Owlet an apt and eager pupil.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She began to teach the little one to read and to sew, and gave two hours of the morning to this pleasant pastime.
bravelyadverbUS /ˈbreɪvli/
in a courageous manner
From this reading Roma strove bravely to resist the dark cloud of despair that was fast settling down upon her soul.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Under these circumstances she devoted herself to Owlet, and found some distraction from her sorrow in the society of that strange child.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading Under these circumstances she devoted herself to Owlet, and found some distraction from her sorrow in the society of that strange child.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading Roma strove bravely to resist the dark cloud of despair that was fast settling down upon her soul.
concentrateverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəntreɪt/
make denser, stronger, or purer
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Roma strove bravely to resist the dark cloud of despair that was fast settling down upon her soul.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading Roma strove bravely to resist the dark cloud of despair that was fast settling down upon her soul.
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading Under these circumstances she devoted herself to Owlet, and found some distraction from her sorrow in the society of that strange child.
distractionnounUS /dɪˈstrækʃən/
mental turmoil
From this reading Under these circumstances she devoted herself to Owlet, and found some distraction from her sorrow in the society of that strange child.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Roma strove bravely to resist the dark cloud of despair that was fast settling down upon her soul.
dwellverbUS /dwel/
think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading She found Owlet an apt and eager pupil.
enableverbUS /eˈneɪbəl/
render capable or able for some task
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading Roma strove bravely to resist the dark cloud of despair that was fast settling down upon her soul.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
set up or found
From this reading Under these circumstances she devoted herself to Owlet, and found some distraction from her sorrow in the society of that strange child.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Under these circumstances she devoted herself to Owlet, and found some distraction from her sorrow in the society of that strange child.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading She began to teach the little one to read and to sew, and gave two hours of the morning to this pleasant pastime.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Roma strove bravely to resist the dark cloud of despair that was fast settling down upon her soul.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Under these circumstances she devoted herself to Owlet, and found some distraction from her sorrow in the society of that strange child.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading She began to teach the little one to read and to sew, and gave two hours of the morning to this pleasant pastime.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Under these circumstances she devoted herself to Owlet, and found some distraction from her sorrow in the society of that strange child.
knitverbUS /nɪt/
make (textiles) by knitting
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
go away from a place
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She began to teach the little one to read and to sew, and gave two hours of the morning to this pleasant pastime.
maddeningadjectiveUS /ˈmædənɪŋ/
extremely annoying or displeasing
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading She began to teach the little one to read and to sew, and gave two hours of the morning to this pleasant pastime.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Roma strove bravely to resist the dark cloud of despair that was fast settling down upon her soul.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She began to teach the little one to read and to sew, and gave two hours of the morning to this pleasant pastime.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
Owletnoun
young owl
From this reading Under these circumstances she devoted herself to Owlet, and found some distraction from her sorrow in the society of that strange child.
pastimenounUS /ˈpæstaɪm/
a diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly)
From this reading She began to teach the little one to read and to sew, and gave two hours of the morning to this pleasant pastime.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading She began to teach the little one to read and to sew, and gave two hours of the morning to this pleasant pastime.
pupilnounUS /ˈpjuːpəl/
a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading She found Owlet an apt and eager pupil.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
resistverbUS /rɪˈzɪst/
elude, especially in a baffling way
From this reading Roma strove bravely to resist the dark cloud of despair that was fast settling down upon her soul.
RomanounUS /ˈroʊmɑː/
a member of a people with dark skin and hair who speak Romany and who traditionally live by seasonal work and fortunetelling
From this reading Roma strove bravely to resist the dark cloud of despair that was fast settling down upon her soul.
settlingnounUS /ˈsetəlɪŋ/
a gradual sinking to a lower level
From this reading Roma strove bravely to resist the dark cloud of despair that was fast settling down upon her soul.
sewverbUS /soʊ/
fasten by sewing; do needlework
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading Under these circumstances she devoted herself to Owlet, and found some distraction from her sorrow in the society of that strange child.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Under these circumstances she devoted herself to Owlet, and found some distraction from her sorrow in the society of that strange child.
an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement
From this reading Under these circumstances she devoted herself to Owlet, and found some distraction from her sorrow in the society of that strange child.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading Roma strove bravely to resist the dark cloud of despair that was fast settling down upon her soul.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Under these circumstances she devoted herself to Owlet, and found some distraction from her sorrow in the society of that strange child.
stroveverbUS /stroʊv/
inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading Roma strove bravely to resist the dark cloud of despair that was fast settling down upon her soul.
to a sufficient degree
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading She began to teach the little one to read and to sew, and gave two hours of the morning to this pleasant pastime.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Roma strove bravely to resist the dark cloud of despair that was fast settling down upon her soul.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Roma strove bravely to resist the dark cloud of despair that was fast settling down upon her soul.
themesnounUS /θiːmz/
plural of “theme” — the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Under these circumstances she devoted herself to Owlet, and found some distraction from her sorrow in the society of that strange child.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She began to teach the little one to read and to sew, and gave two hours of the morning to this pleasant pastime.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Roma strove bravely to resist the dark cloud of despair that was fast settling down upon her soul.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading She began to teach the little one to read and to sew, and gave two hours of the morning to this pleasant pastime.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under these circumstances she devoted herself to Owlet, and found some distraction from her sorrow in the society of that strange child.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Roma strove bravely to resist the dark cloud of despair that was fast settling down upon her soul.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Roma strove bravely to resist the dark cloud of despair that was fast settling down upon her soul.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
produce a literary work
From this reading She could not concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to enable her to read or write, and to attempt to knit or to sew was to leave her mind too free to fly to themes which to dwell upon was maddening.
