used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She didn’t profess to keep a school, but she could at least teach her own child.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
administerverbUS /ədˈmɪnəstər/
work in an administrative capacity; supervise or be in charge of
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading It was not that she was so very clever, but (she confessed to me as if she were afraid I would laugh at her) that _he_ was.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She didn’t profess to keep a school, but she could at least teach her own child.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
the two together, not just one
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
a youthful male person
From this reading I didn’t laugh at her for that, for I thought the boy sharp—I had seen him at sundry times.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She didn’t profess to keep a school, but she could at least teach her own child.
a young person of either sex
From this reading She didn’t profess to keep a school, but she could at least teach her own child.
clergymannounUS /ˈklɜːrdʒimən/
a member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of the Christian Church
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading It was not that she was so very clever, but (she confessed to me as if she were afraid I would laugh at her) that _he_ was.
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
past form of “confess” — confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading It was not that she was so very clever, but (she confessed to me as if she were afraid I would laugh at her) that _he_ was.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
defunctadjectiveUS /dɪˈfʌŋkt/
no longer in force or use; inactive
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She didn’t profess to keep a school, but she could at least teach her own child.
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
expensiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspensɪv/
high in price or charging high prices
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I didn’t laugh at her for that, for I thought the boy sharp—I had seen him at sundry times.
good-lookingadjectiveUS /ˈɡʊdlʊkɪŋ/
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I didn’t laugh at her for that, for I thought the boy sharp—I had seen him at sundry times.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was not that she was so very clever, but (she confessed to me as if she were afraid I would laugh at her) that _he_ was.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She didn’t profess to keep a school, but she could at least teach her own child.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I didn’t laugh at her for that, for I thought the boy sharp—I had seen him at sundry times.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was not that she was so very clever, but (she confessed to me as if she were afraid I would laugh at her) that _he_ was.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was not that she was so very clever, but (she confessed to me as if she were afraid I would laugh at her) that _he_ was.
inasmuch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading She didn’t profess to keep a school, but she could at least teach her own child.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
the sound of laughing
From this reading It was not that she was so very clever, but (she confessed to me as if she were afraid I would laugh at her) that _he_ was.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading She didn’t profess to keep a school, but she could at least teach her own child.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was not that she was so very clever, but (she confessed to me as if she were afraid I would laugh at her) that _he_ was.
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not that she was so very clever, but (she confessed to me as if she were afraid I would laugh at her) that _he_ was.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading She didn’t profess to keep a school, but she could at least teach her own child.
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
professverbUS /prəˈfes/
practice as a profession, teach, or claim to be knowledgeable about
From this reading She didn’t profess to keep a school, but she could at least teach her own child.
an educational institution
From this reading She didn’t profess to keep a school, but she could at least teach her own child.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I didn’t laugh at her for that, for I thought the boy sharp—I had seen him at sundry times.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading I didn’t laugh at her for that, for I thought the boy sharp—I had seen him at sundry times.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was not that she was so very clever, but (she confessed to me as if she were afraid I would laugh at her) that _he_ was.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
sundryadjectiveUS /ˈsʌndri/
consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
From this reading I didn’t laugh at her for that, for I thought the boy sharp—I had seen him at sundry times.
impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading She didn’t profess to keep a school, but she could at least teach her own child.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was not that she was so very clever, but (she confessed to me as if she were afraid I would laugh at her) that _he_ was.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I didn’t laugh at her for that, for I thought the boy sharp—I had seen him at sundry times.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading I didn’t laugh at her for that, for I thought the boy sharp—I had seen him at sundry times.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She didn’t profess to keep a school, but she could at least teach her own child.
unabashedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈbæʃt/
not embarrassed
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was not that she was so very clever, but (she confessed to me as if she were afraid I would laugh at her) that _he_ was.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not that she was so very clever, but (she confessed to me as if she were afraid I would laugh at her) that _he_ was.
(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 He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was not that she was so very clever, but (she confessed to me as if she were afraid I would laugh at her) that _he_ was.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading He was well grown and good-looking and unabashed, and both he and his sister made me wonder about their defunct papa, concerning whom the little I knew was that he had been a clergyman.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Moreover the education would be less expensive than any other special course, inasmuch as she could administer it herself.
