used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was quieter and less foolish; she had had a lesson in folly, and a long ministration of love, and knew now a trifle about both.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She was quieter and less foolish; she had had a lesson in folly, and a long ministration of love, and knew now a trifle about both.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE HORN The beginning of the winter had been open and warm, and very little snow had fallen.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
for the reason that
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE HORN The beginning of the winter had been open and warm, and very little snow had fallen.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading THE HORN The beginning of the winter had been open and warm, and very little snow had fallen.
(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 It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
the two together, not just one
From this reading She was quieter and less foolish; she had had a lesson in folly, and a long ministration of love, and knew now a trifle about both.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, notwithstanding her heartlessness toward Steenie, she was no longer quite like her old self.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This was much in Phemy’s favour, and by the new year she was quite well.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading THE HORN The beginning of the winter had been open and warm, and very little snow had fallen.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
a feeling of favorable regard
From this reading This was much in Phemy’s favour, and by the new year she was quite well.
the trait of acting stupidly or rashly
From this reading She was quieter and less foolish; she had had a lesson in folly, and a long ministration of love, and knew now a trifle about both.
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading She was quieter and less foolish; she had had a lesson in folly, and a long ministration of love, and knew now a trifle about both.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE HORN The beginning of the winter had been open and warm, and very little snow had fallen.
heartlessnessnoun
an absence of concern for the welfare of others
From this reading But, notwithstanding her heartlessness toward Steenie, she was no longer quite like her old self.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But, notwithstanding her heartlessness toward Steenie, she was no longer quite like her old self.
HORNnounUS /hɔːrn/
a noisemaker (as at parties or games) that makes a loud noise when you blow through it
From this reading THE HORN The beginning of the winter had been open and warm, and very little snow had fallen.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This was much in Phemy’s favour, and by the new year she was quite well.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
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 She was quieter and less foolish; she had had a lesson in folly, and a long ministration of love, and knew now a trifle about both.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading She was quieter and less foolish; she had had a lesson in folly, and a long ministration of love, and knew now a trifle about both.
a unit of instruction
From this reading She was quieter and less foolish; she had had a lesson in folly, and a long ministration of love, and knew now a trifle about both.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading But, notwithstanding her heartlessness toward Steenie, she was no longer quite like her old self.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE HORN The beginning of the winter had been open and warm, and very little snow had fallen.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading She was quieter and less foolish; she had had a lesson in folly, and a long ministration of love, and knew now a trifle about both.
for more time
From this reading But, notwithstanding her heartlessness toward Steenie, she was no longer quite like her old self.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading She was quieter and less foolish; she had had a lesson in folly, and a long ministration of love, and knew now a trifle about both.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
ministrationnounUS /ˌmɪnəˈstreɪʃən/
assistance in time of difficulty
From this reading She was quieter and less foolish; she had had a lesson in folly, and a long ministration of love, and knew now a trifle about both.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading This was much in Phemy’s favour, and by the new year she was quite well.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading This was much in Phemy’s favour, and by the new year she was quite well.
not any; not one
From this reading But, notwithstanding her heartlessness toward Steenie, she was no longer quite like her old self.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)
From this reading But, notwithstanding her heartlessness toward Steenie, she was no longer quite like her old self.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She was quieter and less foolish; she had had a lesson in folly, and a long ministration of love, and knew now a trifle about both.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HORN The beginning of the winter had been open and warm, and very little snow had fallen.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading But, notwithstanding her heartlessness toward Steenie, she was no longer quite like her old self.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading THE HORN The beginning of the winter had been open and warm, and very little snow had fallen.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
Phemy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was much in Phemy’s favour, and by the new year she was quite well.
literature in metrical form
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
poorestadjectiveUS /ˈpuːrɪst/
superlative of “poor” — deserving or inciting pity
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
quieteradjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪətər/
comparative of “quiet” — characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading She was quieter and less foolish; she had had a lesson in folly, and a long ministration of love, and knew now a trifle about both.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading This was much in Phemy’s favour, and by the new year she was quite well.
your consciousness of your own identity
From this reading But, notwithstanding her heartlessness toward Steenie, she was no longer quite like her old self.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This was much in Phemy’s favour, and by the new year she was quite well.
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading THE HORN The beginning of the winter had been open and warm, and very little snow had fallen.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
Steenie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, notwithstanding her heartlessness toward Steenie, she was no longer quite like her old self.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HORN The beginning of the winter had been open and warm, and very little snow had fallen.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was much in Phemy’s favour, and by the new year she was quite well.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading But, notwithstanding her heartlessness toward Steenie, she was no longer quite like her old self.
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 She was quieter and less foolish; she had had a lesson in folly, and a long ministration of love, and knew now a trifle about both.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
precisely as stated
From this reading THE HORN The beginning of the winter had been open and warm, and very little snow had fallen.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading THE HORN The beginning of the winter had been open and warm, and very little snow had fallen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was much in Phemy’s favour, and by the new year she was quite well.
(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 This was much in Phemy’s favour, and by the new year she was quite well.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading THE HORN The beginning of the winter had been open and warm, and very little snow had fallen.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading It is true she wrote nearly as much silly poetry, but it was not so silly as before, partly because her imagination had now something of fact to go upon, and poorest fact is better than mere fancy.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading This was much in Phemy’s favour, and by the new year she was quite well.
