used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There were a good many old women in this workhouse--in fact, two large wards full--and these were perhaps the most melancholy parts of the establishment.
the state of being absent
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
in addition
From this reading Its sanitary arrangements were as far as possible perfect; its heating arrangements were also fairly good.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
arrangementsnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənts/
plural of “arrangement” — the thing arranged or agreed to
From this reading Its sanitary arrangements were as far as possible perfect; its heating arrangements were also fairly good.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading It was bitterly cold weather when Grannie arrived at the workhouse.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Its sanitary arrangements were as far as possible perfect; its heating arrangements were also fairly good.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was bitterly cold weather when Grannie arrived at the workhouse.
Beverley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
with bitterness; in a resentful manner
From this reading It was bitterly cold weather when Grannie arrived at the workhouse.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading It was bitterly cold weather when Grannie arrived at the workhouse.
establishmentnounUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt/
the act of forming or establishing something
From this reading There were a good many old women in this workhouse--in fact, two large wards full--and these were perhaps the most melancholy parts of the establishment.
divisible by two
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading Its sanitary arrangements were as far as possible perfect; its heating arrangements were also fairly good.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Its sanitary arrangements were as far as possible perfect; its heating arrangements were also fairly good.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading There were a good many old women in this workhouse--in fact, two large wards full--and these were perhaps the most melancholy parts of the establishment.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Its sanitary arrangements were as far as possible perfect; its heating arrangements were also fairly good.
Grannienoun
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading It was bitterly cold weather when Grannie arrived at the workhouse.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
groansnounUS /ɡroʊnz/
plural of “groan” — an utterance expressing pain or disapproval
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
hardshipsnounUS /ˈhɑːrdʃɪps/
plural of “hardship” — a state of misfortune or affliction
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
heatingnounUS /ˈhiːtɪŋ/
the process of becoming warmer; a rising temperature
From this reading Its sanitary arrangements were as far as possible perfect; its heating arrangements were also fairly good.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was bitterly cold weather when Grannie arrived at the workhouse.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its sanitary arrangements were as far as possible perfect; its heating arrangements were also fairly good.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Not that the workhouse itself was really cold.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There were a good many old women in this workhouse--in fact, two large wards full--and these were perhaps the most melancholy parts of the establishment.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading There were a good many old women in this workhouse--in fact, two large wards full--and these were perhaps the most melancholy parts of the establishment.
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading There were a good many old women in this workhouse--in fact, two large wards full--and these were perhaps the most melancholy parts of the establishment.
used to form the superlative
From this reading There were a good many old women in this workhouse--in fact, two large wards full--and these were perhaps the most melancholy parts of the establishment.
not any; not one
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not that the workhouse itself was really cold.
despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
nourishingadjectiveUS /ˈnɜːrɪʃɪŋ/
of or providing nourishment
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
the local environment
From this reading There were a good many old women in this workhouse--in fact, two large wards full--and these were perhaps the most melancholy parts of the establishment.
passableadjectiveUS /ˈpæsəbəl/
able to be passed or traversed or crossed
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading Its sanitary arrangements were as far as possible perfect; its heating arrangements were also fairly good.
by chance
From this reading There were a good many old women in this workhouse--in fact, two large wards full--and these were perhaps the most melancholy parts of the establishment.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Its sanitary arrangements were as far as possible perfect; its heating arrangements were also fairly good.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Not that the workhouse itself was really cold.
sanitaryadjectiveUS /ˈsænɪteri/
free from filth and pathogens
From this reading Its sanitary arrangements were as far as possible perfect; its heating arrangements were also fairly good.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Not that the workhouse itself was really cold.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was bitterly cold weather when Grannie arrived at the workhouse.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading There were a good many old women in this workhouse--in fact, two large wards full--and these were perhaps the most melancholy parts of the establishment.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There were a good many old women in this workhouse--in fact, two large wards full--and these were perhaps the most melancholy parts of the establishment.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There were a good many old women in this workhouse--in fact, two large wards full--and these were perhaps the most melancholy parts of the establishment.
wardsnounUS /wɔːrdz/
plural of “ward” — a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading There were a good many old women in this workhouse--in fact, two large wards full--and these were perhaps the most melancholy parts of the establishment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was bitterly cold weather when Grannie arrived at the workhouse.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading It was bitterly cold weather when Grannie arrived at the workhouse.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Its sanitary arrangements were as far as possible perfect; its heating arrangements were also fairly good.
at the time that
From this reading It was bitterly cold weather when Grannie arrived at the workhouse.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading There were a good many old women in this workhouse--in fact, two large wards full--and these were perhaps the most melancholy parts of the establishment.
women's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding the other old women's groans, the food was passable and even nourishing, and beyond the fact that there was an absence of hope over everything, there were no real hardships in the great Beverley workhouse.
workhousenoun
a poorhouse where able-bodied poor are compelled to labor
From this reading It was bitterly cold weather when Grannie arrived at the workhouse.
