used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Miss Sarah Lee lived across the road from her, in a small house left her by her father.
abideverbUS /əˈbaɪd/
dwell
From this reading Drusilla had one neighbor whom, to use her own words, she "couldn't abide."
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Miss Sarah Lee lived across the road from her, in a small house left her by her father.
plural of “adventure” — a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
how long something has existed
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
in addition
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading She had been born and reared in Brookvale and had seen the other girls married and settled in their homes, with their children growing up around them.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been born and reared in Brookvale and had seen the other girls married and settled in their homes, with their children growing up around them.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
brought into existence
From this reading She had been born and reared in Brookvale and had seen the other girls married and settled in their homes, with their children growing up around them.
Brookvale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been born and reared in Brookvale and had seen the other girls married and settled in their homes, with their children growing up around them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Miss Sarah Lee lived across the road from her, in a small house left her by her father.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading She had been born and reared in Brookvale and had seen the other girls married and settled in their homes, with their children growing up around them.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Drusilla had one neighbor whom, to use her own words, she "couldn't abide."
darkeradjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkər/
comparative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
Drusilla
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Drusilla had one neighbor whom, to use her own words, she "couldn't abide."
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
embitteredverbUS /emˈbɪtərd/
past form of “embitter” — cause to be bitter or resentful
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
the organ of sight
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
failuresnounUS /ˈfeɪljərz/
plural of “failure” — an act that fails
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Miss Sarah Lee lived across the road from her, in a small house left her by her father.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
flawsnounUS /flɔːz/
plural of “flaw” — an imperfection in an object or machine
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Miss Sarah Lee lived across the road from her, in a small house left her by her father.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading She had been born and reared in Brookvale and had seen the other girls married and settled in their homes, with their children growing up around them.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
gossipnounUS /ˈɡɑːsəp/
light informal conversation for social occasions
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading She had been born and reared in Brookvale and had seen the other girls married and settled in their homes, with their children growing up around them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Drusilla had one neighbor whom, to use her own words, she "couldn't abide."
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Drusilla had one neighbor whom, to use her own words, she "couldn't abide."
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
homesnounUS /hoʊmz/
plural of “home” — where you live at a particular time
From this reading She had been born and reared in Brookvale and had seen the other girls married and settled in their homes, with their children growing up around them.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Miss Sarah Lee lived across the road from her, in a small house left her by her father.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Miss Sarah Lee lived across the road from her, in a small house left her by her father.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
LeenounUS /liː/
United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)
From this reading Miss Sarah Lee lived across the road from her, in a small house left her by her father.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Miss Sarah Lee lived across the road from her, in a small house left her by her father.
lifelongadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪˈflɔːŋ/
continuing through life
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Miss Sarah Lee lived across the road from her, in a small house left her by her father.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
joined in matrimony
From this reading She had been born and reared in Brookvale and had seen the other girls married and settled in their homes, with their children growing up around them.
matrimonialadjectiveUS /ˌmætrəˈmoʊniəl/
of or relating to the state of marriage
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
microscopicadjectiveUS /ˌmaɪkrəˈskɑːpɪk/
of or relating to or used in microscopy
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Sarah Lee lived across the road from her, in a small house left her by her father.
marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
neighbornounUS /ˈneɪbər/
a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading Drusilla had one neighbor whom, to use her own words, she "couldn't abide."
neighborhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
neighborsnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Drusilla had one neighbor whom, to use her own words, she "couldn't abide."
and nothing more
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading She had been born and reared in Brookvale and had seen the other girls married and settled in their homes, with their children growing up around them.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Drusilla had one neighbor whom, to use her own words, she "couldn't abide."
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
The protective care of God or nature as a spiritual power. (Sự quan phòng, thiên ý phù hộ.)
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
rearedverbUS /rɪrd/
past form of “rear” — stand up on the hind legs, of quadrupeds
From this reading She had been born and reared in Brookvale and had seen the other girls married and settled in their homes, with their children growing up around them.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Miss Sarah Lee lived across the road from her, in a small house left her by her father.
SarahnounUS /ˈserə/
(Old Testament) the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac
From this reading Miss Sarah Lee lived across the road from her, in a small house left her by her father.
the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
searchingadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtʃɪŋ/
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She had been born and reared in Brookvale and had seen the other girls married and settled in their homes, with their children growing up around them.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading She had been born and reared in Brookvale and had seen the other girls married and settled in their homes, with their children growing up around them.
sharingnounUS /ˈʃerɪŋ/
using or enjoying something jointly with others
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Drusilla had one neighbor whom, to use her own words, she "couldn't abide."
shoresnounUS /ʃɔːrz/
plural of “shore” — the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Miss Sarah Lee lived across the road from her, in a small house left her by her father.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Miss Sarah Lee lived across the road from her, in a small house left her by her father.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She had been born and reared in Brookvale and had seen the other girls married and settled in their homes, with their children growing up around them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She had been born and reared in Brookvale and had seen the other girls married and settled in their homes, with their children growing up around them.
thirty-eightadjective
being eight more than thirty
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Drusilla had one neighbor whom, to use her own words, she "couldn't abide."
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
hard to endure
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
unkindadjectiveUS /ənˈkaɪnd/
lacking kindness
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
unmarriedadjectiveUS /ənˈmerid/
not married or related to the unmarried state
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She had been born and reared in Brookvale and had seen the other girls married and settled in their homes, with their children growing up around them.
the act of using
From this reading Drusilla had one neighbor whom, to use her own words, she "couldn't abide."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading This old man had also left her money enough to live in a modest way, and an unkind Providence had left her high and dry on the matrimonial shores, and she was embittered.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Drusilla had one neighbor whom, to use her own words, she "couldn't abide."
in the company of; together with
From this reading She had been born and reared in Brookvale and had seen the other girls married and settled in their homes, with their children growing up around them.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Drusilla had one neighbor whom, to use her own words, she "couldn't abide."
a late time of life
From this reading She had tried for years to get a husband, but finally, at the age of thirty-eight, had given up the fight; and instead of sharing in the happiness of her lifelong neighbors, she had drifted into being the neighborhood gossip, picking flaws in everything and searching with microscopic eye to find the failures in the lives of those around her, trying to find satisfaction in her unmarried state by seeing only the darker side of the matrimonial adventures around her.
