Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading You might get on to one of the second-class fashion-papers to answer ridiculous questions about house-keeping or wall-papers or freckles.

a proposal for an appropriate course of action

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

matters of personal concern

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

later than; following

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

react verbally

From this reading You might get on to one of the second-class fashion-papers to answer ridiculous questions about house-keeping or wall-papers or freckles.

any thing at all

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Go back to London [Mrs. Maytham had written in her feeble, crabbed hand].

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

annoyed and irritable

From this reading Go back to London [Mrs. Maytham had written in her feeble, crabbed hand].

plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

-ing form of “earn” — earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

communicated in words

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading You might get on to one of the second-class fashion-papers to answer ridiculous questions about house-keeping or wall-papers or freckles.

pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness

From this reading Go back to London [Mrs. Maytham had written in her feeble, crabbed hand].

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

devoid of good sense or judgment

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

plural of “freckle” — a small brownish spot (of the pigment melanin) on the skin

From this reading You might get on to one of the second-class fashion-papers to answer ridiculous questions about house-keeping or wall-papers or freckles.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading You might get on to one of the second-class fashion-papers to answer ridiculous questions about house-keeping or wall-papers or freckles.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Go back to London [Mrs. Maytham had written in her feeble, crabbed hand].

having an easygoing and cheerful disposition

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Go back to London [Mrs. Maytham had written in her feeble, crabbed hand].

in a harsh or unkind manner

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

lacking in or deprived of strength or power

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Go back to London [Mrs. Maytham had written in her feeble, crabbed hand].

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading You might get on to one of the second-class fashion-papers to answer ridiculous questions about house-keeping or wall-papers or freckles.

ten 10s

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading You know the kind of thing I mean.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Go back to London [Mrs. Maytham had written in her feeble, crabbed hand].

moving to the inside of something

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading You know the kind of thing I mean.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading You know the kind of thing I mean.

moving slowly and gently

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

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 When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

(law) a gift of personal property by will

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading Go back to London [Mrs. Maytham had written in her feeble, crabbed hand].

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

engage in

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

be successful; achieve a goal

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Go back to London [Mrs. Maytham had written in her feeble, crabbed hand].

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading You know the kind of thing I mean.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading You might get on to one of the second-class fashion-papers to answer ridiculous questions about house-keeping or wall-papers or freckles.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Go back to London [Mrs. Maytham had written in her feeble, crabbed hand].

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading You might get on to one of the second-class fashion-papers to answer ridiculous questions about house-keeping or wall-papers or freckles.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading You might get on to one of the second-class fashion-papers to answer ridiculous questions about house-keeping or wall-papers or freckles.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

give money, usually in exchange for goods or services

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

plural of “pound” — 16 ounces avoirdupois

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

concerned with actual use or practice

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

plural of “question” — an instance of questioning

From this reading You might get on to one of the second-class fashion-papers to answer ridiculous questions about house-keeping or wall-papers or freckles.

on the contrary

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

unusual or striking

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

past form of “reveal” — make visible

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

inspiring scornful pity

From this reading You might get on to one of the second-class fashion-papers to answer ridiculous questions about house-keeping or wall-papers or freckles.

of inferior status or quality

From this reading You might get on to one of the second-class fashion-papers to answer ridiculous questions about house-keeping or wall-papers or freckles.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

a special situation

From this reading You know the kind of thing I mean.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

being of use or service

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading You might get on to one of the second-class fashion-papers to answer ridiculous questions about house-keeping or wall-papers or freckles.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

at the time that

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

which person or people

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading When the old woman at length died, and Emily was to be turned out into the world, it was revealed that she had been left a legacy of a few hundred pounds, and a letter containing some rather practical, if harshly expressed, advice.

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading Go back to London [Mrs. Maytham had written in her feeble, crabbed hand].

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.

used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action

From this reading You are not clever enough to do anything remarkable in the way of earning your living, but you are so good-natured that you can make yourself useful to a lot of helpless creatures who will pay you a trifle for looking after them and the affairs they are too lazy or too foolish to manage for themselves.