used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
acresnounUS /ˈeɪkərz/
extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
adjoiningverbUS /əˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjoin” — lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
anarchynounUS /ˈænərkiː/
a state of lawlessness and disorder (usually resulting from a failure of government)
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
being joined in close association
From this reading They had not been long married, and never were husband and wife more attached.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading About this time outrages began to be perpetrated; and soon increased fearfully in number.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They had not been long married, and never were husband and wife more attached.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading About this time outrages began to be perpetrated; and soon increased fearfully in number.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
bordersnounUS /ˈbɔːrdərz/
plural of “border” — a line that indicates a boundary
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
brought into existence
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
Clare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
commencesverbUS /kəˈmensəz/
third-person singular of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
a small house with a single story
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
dispellingverbUS /dɪˈspelɪŋ/
inflected form of “dispel” — force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
DuncannounUS /ˈdʌŋkən/
United States dancer and pioneer of modern dance (1878-1927)
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
Ellen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
divisible by two
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
exertionsnounUS /ɪɡˈzɜːrʃənz/
plural of “exertion” — use of physical or mental energy; hard work
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
fearfullyadverb
in fear
From this reading About this time outrages began to be perpetrated; and soon increased fearfully in number.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
the state of being friends (or friendly)
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
frightfuladjectiveUS /ˈfraɪtfəl/
provoking horror
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
griefs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading About this time outrages began to be perpetrated; and soon increased fearfully in number.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
loneadjectiveUS /loʊn/
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading They had not been long married, and never were husband and wife more attached.
joined in matrimony
From this reading They had not been long married, and never were husband and wife more attached.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They had not been long married, and never were husband and wife more attached.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading They had not been long married, and never were husband and wife more attached.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They had not been long married, and never were husband and wife more attached.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading About this time outrages began to be perpetrated; and soon increased fearfully in number.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
outragesnounUS /ˈaʊtreɪdʒɪz/
plural of “outrage” — a feeling of righteous anger
From this reading About this time outrages began to be perpetrated; and soon increased fearfully in number.
overwhelmingadjectiveUS /ˌoʊvərˈwelmɪŋ/
so strong as to be irresistible
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
OwennounUS /ˈoʊən/
Welsh industrialist and social reformer who founded cooperative communities (1771-1858)
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
an amount of time
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
perpetratedverbUS /ˈpɜːrpətreɪtɪd/
past form of “perpetrate” — perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
From this reading About this time outrages began to be perpetrated; and soon increased fearfully in number.
rearedverbUS /rɪrd/
past form of “rear” — stand up on the hind legs, of quadrupeds
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
residedverbUS /rɪˈzaɪdɪd/
past form of “reside” — make one's home in a particular place or community
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
without speaking
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
in the near future
From this reading About this time outrages began to be perpetrated; and soon increased fearfully in number.
soothingadjectiveUS /ˈsuːðɪŋ/
affording physical relief
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had not been long married, and never were husband and wife more attached.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading About this time outrages began to be perpetrated; and soon increased fearfully in number.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
unequaladjectiveUS /əˈniːkwəl/
poorly balanced or matched in quantity or value or measure
From this reading There are some griefs so deep and overwhelming, that even the best exertions of friendship and sympathy are unequal to the task of soothing or dispelling them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
showing sorrow
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They had not been long married, and never were husband and wife more attached.
in or at the place that
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Owen Duncan, her husband, at the period about which our tale commences, resided in the cabin where he was born and reared, and to which, as well as a few acres of land adjoining, he had succeeded on the death of his father.
which person or people
From this reading Such was the grief of Ellen Duncan, who was silently weeping in her lone cottage on the borders of Clare--a county at that time in a frightful state of anarchy and confusion.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading They had not been long married, and never were husband and wife more attached.
