used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "She's second servant to a family in Melcheapen Street, ma'am, minds the children and does the beds, and answers the door, and that.
abear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, ma'am, died of an accident, and I can never abear to hear tell of one."
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading Her father, ma'am, died of an accident, and I can never abear to hear tell of one."
(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 When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Her father, ma'am, died of an accident, and I can never abear to hear tell of one."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "What was the matter with your daughter, and in what part of Worcester does she live?" queried the mater.
answersnounUS /ˈænsərz/
plural of “answer” — a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading "She's second servant to a family in Melcheapen Street, ma'am, minds the children and does the beds, and answers the door, and that.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
bedsnounUS /bedz/
plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading "She's second servant to a family in Melcheapen Street, ma'am, minds the children and does the beds, and answers the door, and that.
lacking funds
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But thankful enough I was that 'twas no worse.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Her father, ma'am, died of an accident, and I can never abear to hear tell of one."
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading "She's second servant to a family in Melcheapen Street, ma'am, minds the children and does the beds, and answers the door, and that.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
a female human offspring
From this reading "What was the matter with your daughter, and in what part of Worcester does she live?" queried the mater.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Her father, ma'am, died of an accident, and I can never abear to hear tell of one."
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What was the matter with your daughter, and in what part of Worcester does she live?" queried the mater.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading "She's second servant to a family in Melcheapen Street, ma'am, minds the children and does the beds, and answers the door, and that.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
a social unit living together
From this reading "She's second servant to a family in Melcheapen Street, ma'am, minds the children and does the beds, and answers the door, and that.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Her father, ma'am, died of an accident, and I can never abear to hear tell of one."
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
finelyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnli/
in tiny pieces
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
set up or found
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
frighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Her father, ma'am, died of an accident, and I can never abear to hear tell of one."
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "What was the matter with your daughter, and in what part of Worcester does she live?" queried the mater.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading "What was the matter with your daughter, and in what part of Worcester does she live?" queried the mater.
ma'amnounUS /mæm/
a woman of refinement
From this reading "She's second servant to a family in Melcheapen Street, ma'am, minds the children and does the beds, and answers the door, and that.
maternounUS /ˈmɑːtər/
an informal use of the Latin word for mother; sometimes used by British schoolboys or used facetiously
From this reading "What was the matter with your daughter, and in what part of Worcester does she live?" queried the mater.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "What was the matter with your daughter, and in what part of Worcester does she live?" queried the mater.
Melcheapen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She's second servant to a family in Melcheapen Street, ma'am, minds the children and does the beds, and answers the door, and that.
plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason
From this reading "She's second servant to a family in Melcheapen Street, ma'am, minds the children and does the beds, and answers the door, and that.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Her father, ma'am, died of an accident, and I can never abear to hear tell of one."
not any; not one
From this reading But thankful enough I was that 'twas no worse.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "What was the matter with your daughter, and in what part of Worcester does she live?" queried the mater.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Her father, ma'am, died of an accident, and I can never abear to hear tell of one."
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
parlournounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading "What was the matter with your daughter, and in what part of Worcester does she live?" queried the mater.
queriedverbUS /ˈkwɪrid/
inflected form of “query” — pose a question
From this reading "What was the matter with your daughter, and in what part of Worcester does she live?" queried the mater.
scarredadjectiveUS /skɑːrd/
deeply affected or marked by mental or physical pain or injury
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading "She's second servant to a family in Melcheapen Street, ma'am, minds the children and does the beds, and answers the door, and that.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading "She's second servant to a family in Melcheapen Street, ma'am, minds the children and does the beds, and answers the door, and that.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "What was the matter with your daughter, and in what part of Worcester does she live?" queried the mater.
she'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
She's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She's second servant to a family in Melcheapen Street, ma'am, minds the children and does the beds, and answers the door, and that.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading "She's second servant to a family in Melcheapen Street, ma'am, minds the children and does the beds, and answers the door, and that.
express in words
From this reading Her father, ma'am, died of an accident, and I can never abear to hear tell of one."
thankfuladjectiveUS /ˈθæŋkfəl/
feeling or showing gratitude
From this reading But thankful enough I was that 'twas no worse.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "She's second servant to a family in Melcheapen Street, ma'am, minds the children and does the beds, and answers the door, and that.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "What was the matter with your daughter, and in what part of Worcester does she live?" queried the mater.
in or at that place or location
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "She's second servant to a family in Melcheapen Street, ma'am, minds the children and does the beds, and answers the door, and that.
twas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But thankful enough I was that 'twas no worse.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What was the matter with your daughter, and in what part of Worcester does she live?" queried the mater.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What was the matter with your daughter, and in what part of Worcester does she live?" queried the mater.
at the time that
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading When I got there--and sick enough my heart felt all the way, thinking what the matter could be--I found that she had fell from the parlour window that she'd got outside to clean, and broke her arm and scarred her face, and frighted and shook herself finely.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "What was the matter with your daughter, and in what part of Worcester does she live?" queried the mater.
WorcesternounUS /ˈwʊstər/
United States lexicographer who was accused of plagiarism by Noah Webster (1784-1865)
From this reading "What was the matter with your daughter, and in what part of Worcester does she live?" queried the mater.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading But thankful enough I was that 'twas no worse.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What was the matter with your daughter, and in what part of Worcester does she live?" queried the mater.
