used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading She had been worse than a drag upon him all these years.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been worse than a drag upon him all these years.
(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 And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
the formal act of approving
From this reading And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Mr. Middleton, dear saint, hadn't known order nor comfort nor companionship for years until his niece had come.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading Mr. Middleton, dear saint, hadn't known order nor comfort nor companionship for years until his niece had come.
companionshipnounUS /kəmˈpænjənʃɪp/
the state of being with someone
From this reading Mr. Middleton, dear saint, hadn't known order nor comfort nor companionship for years until his niece had come.
dearly loved
From this reading Mr. Middleton, dear saint, hadn't known order nor comfort nor companionship for years until his niece had come.
death'snounUS /deθs/
possessive form of “death” — the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
debtnounUS /det/
the state of owing something (especially money)
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
delicacynounUS /ˈdeləkəsi/
the quality of being beautiful and delicate in appearance
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
bring shame or dishonor upon
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
dragverbUS /dræɡ/
pull, as against a resistance
From this reading She had been worse than a drag upon him all these years.
Enderby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
exaggeratedadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪtəd/
represented as greater than is true or reasonable
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
extravagantadjectiveUS /ekˈstrævəɡənt/
unrestrained, especially with regard to feelings
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mr. Middleton, dear saint, hadn't known order nor comfort nor companionship for years until his niece had come.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had been worse than a drag upon him all these years.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Middleton, dear saint, hadn't known order nor comfort nor companionship for years until his niece had come.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She had been worse than a drag upon him all these years.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Middleton, dear saint, hadn't known order nor comfort nor companionship for years until his niece had come.
a social unit living together
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
not in action or at work
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
indolencenoun
inactivity resulting from a dislike of work
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Mr. Middleton, dear saint, hadn't known order nor comfort nor companionship for years until his niece had come.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
lazyadjectiveUS /ˈleɪzi/
moving slowly and gently
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
the time between one event, process, or period and another
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
MiddletonnounUS /ˈmɪdəltən/
English playwright and pamphleteer (1570-1627)
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Middleton, dear saint, hadn't known order nor comfort nor companionship for years until his niece had come.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
niecenounUS /niːs/
a daughter of your brother or sister
From this reading Mr. Middleton, dear saint, hadn't known order nor comfort nor companionship for years until his niece had come.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Mr. Middleton, dear saint, hadn't known order nor comfort nor companionship for years until his niece had come.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Mr. Middleton, dear saint, hadn't known order nor comfort nor companionship for years until his niece had come.
by chance
From this reading And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization
From this reading Mr. Middleton, dear saint, hadn't known order nor comfort nor companionship for years until his niece had come.
self-indulgencenoun
an inability to resist the gratification of whims and desires
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
not in physical motion
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
a quantity of money
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She had been worse than a drag upon him all these years.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading She had been worse than a drag upon him all these years.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Foolish, idle, lazy, extravagant, she had exaggerated her physical delicacy and given herself up to indolence and self-indulgence, running the household into debt until it was a disgrace to the minister and to the church.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She had been worse than a drag upon him all these years.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
at the time that
From this reading Meantime, when the sum of money reached Enderby, Mrs. Middleton still lay unconscious--at death's door, it was said.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading She had been worse than a drag upon him all these years.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading And one whispered to another that it was, perhaps, better so, that it would be a blessing to the minister if she were to be taken away.
a late time of life
From this reading She had been worse than a drag upon him all these years.
