used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE winter was a rather open one, with but little snow.
aidsnounUS /eɪdz/
a serious (often fatal) disease of the immune system transmitted through blood products especially by sexual contact or contaminated needles
From this reading The churches began their usual work,--parish aids, clothing-clubs, and sewing-societies.
alterverbUS /ˈɔːltər/
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading Women met to make or to alter over garments, and devise means to render the poor more comfortable.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The churches began their usual work,--parish aids, clothing-clubs, and sewing-societies.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was as she said: they begged from the rich to give to the poor.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading Matters were somewhat better in Yerbury, but bad enough, Sylvie Barry thought.
Barry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matters were somewhat better in Yerbury, but bad enough, Sylvie Barry thought.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The churches began their usual work,--parish aids, clothing-clubs, and sewing-societies.
inflected form of “beg” — call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading It was as she said: they begged from the rich to give to the poor.
(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 Matters were somewhat better in Yerbury, but bad enough, Sylvie Barry thought.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE winter was a rather open one, with but little snow.
churchesnounUS /ˈtʃɜːrtʃɪz/
plural of “church” — one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading The churches began their usual work,--parish aids, clothing-clubs, and sewing-societies.
clothing-clubs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The churches began their usual work,--parish aids, clothing-clubs, and sewing-societies.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading Women met to make or to alter over garments, and devise means to render the poor more comfortable.
deviseverbUS /dɪˈvaɪz/
come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
From this reading Women met to make or to alter over garments, and devise means to render the poor more comfortable.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Matters were somewhat better in Yerbury, but bad enough, Sylvie Barry thought.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was as she said: they begged from the rich to give to the poor.
garmentsnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənts/
plural of “garment” — an article of clothing
From this reading Women met to make or to alter over garments, and devise means to render the poor more comfortable.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading It was as she said: they begged from the rich to give to the poor.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Matters were somewhat better in Yerbury, but bad enough, Sylvie Barry thought.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was as she said: they begged from the rich to give to the poor.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE winter was a rather open one, with but little snow.
engage in
From this reading Women met to make or to alter over garments, and devise means to render the poor more comfortable.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Matters were somewhat better in Yerbury, but bad enough, Sylvie Barry thought.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading Women met to make or to alter over garments, and devise means to render the poor more comfortable.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Women met to make or to alter over garments, and devise means to render the poor more comfortable.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Women met to make or to alter over garments, and devise means to render the poor more comfortable.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE winter was a rather open one, with but little snow.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading THE winter was a rather open one, with but little snow.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Women met to make or to alter over garments, and devise means to render the poor more comfortable.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Women met to make or to alter over garments, and devise means to render the poor more comfortable.
parishnounUS /ˈpærɪʃ/
a local church community
From this reading The churches began their usual work,--parish aids, clothing-clubs, and sewing-societies.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading It was as she said: they begged from the rich to give to the poor.
on the contrary
From this reading THE winter was a rather open one, with but little snow.
renderverbUS /ˈrendər/
cause to become
From this reading Women met to make or to alter over garments, and devise means to render the poor more comfortable.
possessing material wealth
From this reading It was as she said: they begged from the rich to give to the poor.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading It was as she said: they begged from the rich to give to the poor.
sewing-societies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The churches began their usual work,--parish aids, clothing-clubs, and sewing-societies.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was as she said: they begged from the rich to give to the poor.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading THE winter was a rather open one, with but little snow.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Matters were somewhat better in Yerbury, but bad enough, Sylvie Barry thought.
Sylvie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matters were somewhat better in Yerbury, but bad enough, Sylvie Barry thought.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE winter was a rather open one, with but little snow.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The churches began their usual work,--parish aids, clothing-clubs, and sewing-societies.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was as she said: they begged from the rich to give to the poor.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Matters were somewhat better in Yerbury, but bad enough, Sylvie Barry thought.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was as she said: they begged from the rich to give to the poor.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The churches began their usual work,--parish aids, clothing-clubs, and sewing-societies.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE winter was a rather open one, with but little snow.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Matters were somewhat better in Yerbury, but bad enough, Sylvie Barry thought.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading THE winter was a rather open one, with but little snow.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE winter was a rather open one, with but little snow.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Women met to make or to alter over garments, and devise means to render the poor more comfortable.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The churches began their usual work,--parish aids, clothing-clubs, and sewing-societies.
Yerbury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matters were somewhat better in Yerbury, but bad enough, Sylvie Barry thought.
