used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading For all that, she set out on Saturday afternoon prepared to meet the typical washerwoman of fiction--worn, bedraggled, shapeless, and forlorn.
(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 For all that, she set out on Saturday afternoon prepared to meet the typical washerwoman of fiction--worn, bedraggled, shapeless, and forlorn.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The child was unusual and showed the influence of careful upbringing.
apronnounUS /ˈeɪprən/
a garment of cloth or leather or plastic that is tied about the waist and worn to protect your clothing
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
bedraggledadjectiveUS /bɪˈdræɡəld/
limp and soiled as if dragged in the mud
From this reading For all that, she set out on Saturday afternoon prepared to meet the typical washerwoman of fiction--worn, bedraggled, shapeless, and forlorn.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading The child was unusual and showed the influence of careful upbringing.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
a young person of either sex
From this reading The child was unusual and showed the influence of careful upbringing.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
discernverbUS /dɪˈsɜːrn/
detect with the senses
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
Elsie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
apart from; not including
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
fictionnounUS /ˈfɪkʃən/
a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact
From this reading For all that, she set out on Saturday afternoon prepared to meet the typical washerwoman of fiction--worn, bedraggled, shapeless, and forlorn.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For all that, she set out on Saturday afternoon prepared to meet the typical washerwoman of fiction--worn, bedraggled, shapeless, and forlorn.
forlornadjectiveUS /fərˈlɔːrn/
marked by or showing hopelessness
From this reading For all that, she set out on Saturday afternoon prepared to meet the typical washerwoman of fiction--worn, bedraggled, shapeless, and forlorn.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
a young female
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading The child was unusual and showed the influence of careful upbringing.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
MarleynounUS /ˈmɑːrli/
Jamaican singer who popularized reggae (1945-1981)
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
Mattie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
come together
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
MiddletonnounUS /ˈmɪdəltən/
English playwright and pamphleteer (1570-1627)
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
misstatedverbUS /mɪsˈsteɪtɪd/
past form of “misstate” — state something incorrectly
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For all that, she set out on Saturday afternoon prepared to meet the typical washerwoman of fiction--worn, bedraggled, shapeless, and forlorn.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
overstatedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərsteɪtɪd/
represented as greater than is true or reasonable
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
personagenoun
another word for person; a person not meriting identification
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
puddlesnounUS /ˈpʌdəlz/
plural of “puddle” — a mixture of wet clay and sand that can be used to line a pond and that is impervious to water when dry
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
red-facedadjective
(especially of the face) reddened or suffused with or as if with blood from emotion or exertion
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading For all that, she set out on Saturday afternoon prepared to meet the typical washerwoman of fiction--worn, bedraggled, shapeless, and forlorn.
cut with a saw
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
scarletnounUS /ˈskɑːrlət/
a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
the act of searching for something
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading For all that, she set out on Saturday afternoon prepared to meet the typical washerwoman of fiction--worn, bedraggled, shapeless, and forlorn.
shapelessadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪpləs/
having no definite form or distinct shape
From this reading For all that, she set out on Saturday afternoon prepared to meet the typical washerwoman of fiction--worn, bedraggled, shapeless, and forlorn.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The child was unusual and showed the influence of careful upbringing.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
steamingadjectiveUS /ˈstiːmɪŋ/
filled with steam or emitting moisture in the form of vapor or mist
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
carry out
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The child was unusual and showed the influence of careful upbringing.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
tolerantadjectiveUS /ˈtɑːlərənt/
showing respect for the rights or opinions or practices of others
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
tubnounUS /tʌb/
a relatively large open container that you fill with water and use to wash the body
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
typicaladjectiveUS /ˈtɪpəkəl/
exhibiting the qualities or characteristics that identify a group or kind or category
From this reading For all that, she set out on Saturday afternoon prepared to meet the typical washerwoman of fiction--worn, bedraggled, shapeless, and forlorn.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading The child was unusual and showed the influence of careful upbringing.
upbringingnounUS /ˈʌpbrɪŋɪŋ/
properties acquired during a person's formative years
From this reading The child was unusual and showed the influence of careful upbringing.
the act of using
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The child was unusual and showed the influence of careful upbringing.
washerwomannoun
a working woman who takes in washing
From this reading For all that, she set out on Saturday afternoon prepared to meet the typical washerwoman of fiction--worn, bedraggled, shapeless, and forlorn.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Had Elsie Marley been possessed of more imagination, or had she been accustomed to use what she had, she might have been better prepared to meet little Mattie's mother.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She was prepared to go into a steaming kitchen with puddles on the floor and dirty children all about, and have this red-faced personage take a scarlet hand out of the tub, dry it on a dirty apron, and hold it out to her.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading For all that, she set out on Saturday afternoon prepared to meet the typical washerwoman of fiction--worn, bedraggled, shapeless, and forlorn.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading Further, Mr. Middleton had spoken of her as looking like a girl and as worth seeking out; and already Elsie had had a chance to discern that, broad and tolerant as he was, he saw things as they were (except in the case of his wife), never misstated and rarely overstated.
