used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
(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 All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
atticnounUS /ˈætɪk/
floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading About the middle of December the first sharp frost set in, and Meg felt herself driven back from this last relief.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
with bitterness; in a resentful manner
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
cellarnounUS /ˈselər/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
clothing in general
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
coalnounUS /koʊl/
fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
cook-shops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading About the middle of December the first sharp frost set in, and Meg felt herself driven back from this last relief.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading About the middle of December the first sharp frost set in, and Meg felt herself driven back from this last relief.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading About the middle of December the first sharp frost set in, and Meg felt herself driven back from this last relief.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading About the middle of December the first sharp frost set in, and Meg felt herself driven back from this last relief.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Little Meg's Friends in Need These were hard times for little Meg.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Little Meg's Friends in Need These were hard times for little Meg.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
frostnounUS /frɔːst/
ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
From this reading About the middle of December the first sharp frost set in, and Meg felt herself driven back from this last relief.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Little Meg's Friends in Need These were hard times for little Meg.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading About the middle of December the first sharp frost set in, and Meg felt herself driven back from this last relief.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Little Meg's Friends in Need These were hard times for little Meg.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
kitchensnounUS /ˈkɪtʃənz/
plural of “kitchen” — a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
immediately past
From this reading About the middle of December the first sharp frost set in, and Meg felt herself driven back from this last relief.
lentnounUS /lent/
a period of 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Little Meg's Friends in Need These were hard times for little Meg.
loiteringverbUS /ˈlɔɪtərɪŋ/
-ing form of “loiter” — be about
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
MegnounUS /meɡ/
the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading Little Meg's Friends in Need These were hard times for little Meg.
Meg's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little Meg's Friends in Need These were hard times for little Meg.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading About the middle of December the first sharp frost set in, and Meg felt herself driven back from this last relief.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading Little Meg's Friends in Need These were hard times for little Meg.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
pawning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
pledgeverbUS /pledʒ/
promise solemnly and formally
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading About the middle of December the first sharp frost set in, and Meg felt herself driven back from this last relief.
Robin'snounUS /ˈrɑːbənz/
possessive form of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
scantyadjectiveUS /ˈskænti/
lacking in magnitude or quantity
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading About the middle of December the first sharp frost set in, and Meg felt herself driven back from this last relief.
severelyadverbUS /səˈvɪrli/
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading About the middle of December the first sharp frost set in, and Meg felt herself driven back from this last relief.
shiveringnounUS /ˈʃɪvərɪŋ/
a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
in the near future
From this reading All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
soothingadjectiveUS /ˈsuːðɪŋ/
affording physical relief
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
starvedadjectiveUS /stɑːrvd/
suffering from lack of food
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Little Meg's Friends in Need These were hard times for little Meg.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading About the middle of December the first sharp frost set in, and Meg felt herself driven back from this last relief.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Little Meg's Friends in Need These were hard times for little Meg.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
precisely as stated
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
warmthnounUS /wɔːrmθ/
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading Yet Meg kept up a brave spirit, and, as often as the day was fine enough, took her children out into the streets, loitering about the cook-shops, where the heat from the cellar kitchens lent a soothing warmth to their shivering bodies.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
(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 All her mother's clothes were in pledge now, as well as her own and Robin's; and it seemed as if it would soon come to pawning their poor bed and their scanty furniture.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Little Meg's Friends in Need These were hard times for little Meg.
in or at the place that
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
but in spite of that
From this reading The weather was not severely cold yet, or the children would have been bitterly starved up in their cold attic, where Meg was obliged to be very careful of the coal.
