used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
(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 Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading She became in fact quite a different creature, and began to wish she had been a better mother to her children.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Vidya was happier than she had ever been before, now that she had plenty to do and plenty of good food.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Vidya was happier than she had ever been before, now that she had plenty to do and plenty of good food.
beforehandadjectiveUS /bɪˈfɔːrhænd/
being ahead of time or need
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She became in fact quite a different creature, and began to wish she had been a better mother to her children.
(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 She became in fact quite a different creature, and began to wish she had been a better mother to her children.
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading For there was no stint in the wealthy home; even the humblest servants were well cared for.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading She became in fact quite a different creature, and began to wish she had been a better mother to her children.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading She became in fact quite a different creature, and began to wish she had been a better mother to her children.
a female human offspring
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
deliciousadjectiveUS /dɪˈlɪʃəs/
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading She became in fact quite a different creature, and began to wish she had been a better mother to her children.
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Vidya was happier than she had ever been before, now that she had plenty to do and plenty of good food.
eldestadjectiveUS /ˈeldəst/
first in order of birth
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
divisible by two
From this reading For there was no stint in the wealthy home; even the humblest servants were well cared for.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
at any time
From this reading Vidya was happier than she had ever been before, now that she had plenty to do and plenty of good food.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading She became in fact quite a different creature, and began to wish she had been a better mother to her children.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading Vidya was happier than she had ever been before, now that she had plenty to do and plenty of good food.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For there was no stint in the wealthy home; even the humblest servants were well cared for.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Vidya was happier than she had ever been before, now that she had plenty to do and plenty of good food.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Vidya was happier than she had ever been before, now that she had plenty to do and plenty of good food.
happieradjectiveUS /ˈhæpiər/
comparative of “happy” — enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Vidya was happier than she had ever been before, now that she had plenty to do and plenty of good food.
helpingnounUS /ˈhelpɪŋ/
an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading For there was no stint in the wealthy home; even the humblest servants were well cared for.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
humblestadjectiveUS /ˈhʌmbələst/
superlative of “humble” — low or inferior in station or quality
From this reading For there was no stint in the wealthy home; even the humblest servants were well cared for.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
of great significance or value
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
luxurynounUS /ˈlʌɡʒəri/
something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
engage in
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
merchant'snounUS /ˈmɜːrtʃənts/
possessive form of “merchant” — a businessperson engaged in retail trade
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading She became in fact quite a different creature, and began to wish she had been a better mother to her children.
namelyadverbUS /ˈneɪmli/
as follows
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
not any; not one
From this reading For there was no stint in the wealthy home; even the humblest servants were well cared for.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Vidya was happier than she had ever been before, now that she had plenty to do and plenty of good food.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
a full supply
From this reading Vidya was happier than she had ever been before, now that she had plenty to do and plenty of good food.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading She became in fact quite a different creature, and began to wish she had been a better mother to her children.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading For there was no stint in the wealthy home; even the humblest servants were well cared for.
have in common
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Vidya was happier than she had ever been before, now that she had plenty to do and plenty of good food.
in the near future
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
stintnounUS /stɪnt/
an unbroken period of time during which you do something
From this reading For there was no stint in the wealthy home; even the humblest servants were well cared for.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Vidya was happier than she had ever been before, now that she had plenty to do and plenty of good food.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Vidya was happier than she had ever been before, now that she had plenty to do and plenty of good food.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For there was no stint in the wealthy home; even the humblest servants were well cared for.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
precisely as stated
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
Vidya
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For there was no stint in the wealthy home; even the humblest servants were well cared for.
wealthyadjectiveUS /ˈwelθi/
having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
From this reading For there was no stint in the wealthy home; even the humblest servants were well cared for.
(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 For there was no stint in the wealthy home; even the humblest servants were well cared for.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Great were the preparations beforehand, in which Vidya took her full share, helping in the kitchen to make all manner of delicious dishes, and living in great luxury herself.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Soon after the arrival of the husband and wife at the merchant’s house, a very important event took place, namely, the marriage of the eldest daughter.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading She became in fact quite a different creature, and began to wish she had been a better mother to her children.
