used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
equally
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
(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 Even the elders lived like children; and big people and little people were together, more or less, all day long.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Even the elders lived like children; and big people and little people were together, more or less, all day long.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A thing not at all objectionable when the children are good children, as these were.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But these were good, obedient, gentlemanly little fellows, and, had it been possible to keep them clean and whole, which it wasn’t, very pretty little fellows, too.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Even the elders lived like children; and big people and little people were together, more or less, all day long.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But these were good, obedient, gentlemanly little fellows, and, had it been possible to keep them clean and whole, which it wasn’t, very pretty little fellows, too.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
clothing in general
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
eldersnounUS /ˈeldərz/
plural of “elder” — a person who is older than you are
From this reading Even the elders lived like children; and big people and little people were together, more or less, all day long.
divisible by two
From this reading Even the elders lived like children; and big people and little people were together, more or less, all day long.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
plural of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading But these were good, obedient, gentlemanly little fellows, and, had it been possible to keep them clean and whole, which it wasn’t, very pretty little fellows, too.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
gentlemanlyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒentəlmənli/
befitting a man of good breeding
From this reading But these were good, obedient, gentlemanly little fellows, and, had it been possible to keep them clean and whole, which it wasn’t, very pretty little fellows, too.
glennounUS /ɡlen/
a narrow secluded valley (in the mountains)
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading A thing not at all objectionable when the children are good children, as these were.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
happiestadjectiveUS /ˈhæpiəst/
superlative of “happy” — enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
HighlandsnounUS /ˈhaɪləndz/
a mountainous region of northern Scotland famous for its rugged beauty; known for the style of dress (the kilt and tartan) and the clan system (now in disuse)
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
insurmountableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnsərˈmaʊntəbəl/
not capable of being surmounted or overcome
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading But these were good, obedient, gentlemanly little fellows, and, had it been possible to keep them clean and whole, which it wasn’t, very pretty little fellows, too.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Even the elders lived like children; and big people and little people were together, more or less, all day long.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Even the elders lived like children; and big people and little people were together, more or less, all day long.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Even the elders lived like children; and big people and little people were together, more or less, all day long.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Even the elders lived like children; and big people and little people were together, more or less, all day long.
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 Even the elders lived like children; and big people and little people were together, more or less, all day long.
informal terms for a mother
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Even the elders lived like children; and big people and little people were together, more or less, all day long.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
necessarilyadverbUS /ˌnesəˈserəli/
in an essential manner
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
noisyadjectiveUS /ˈnɔɪzi/
full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A thing not at all objectionable when the children are good children, as these were.
obedientadjectiveUS /oʊˈbiːdiənt/
dutifully complying with the commands or instructions of those in authority
From this reading But these were good, obedient, gentlemanly little fellows, and, had it been possible to keep them clean and whole, which it wasn’t, very pretty little fellows, too.
objectionableadjectiveUS /əbˈdʒekʃənəbəl/
causing disapproval or protest
From this reading A thing not at all objectionable when the children are good children, as these were.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Even the elders lived like children; and big people and little people were together, more or less, all day long.
paradisenounUS /ˈperədaɪs/
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Even the elders lived like children; and big people and little people were together, more or less, all day long.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading But these were good, obedient, gentlemanly little fellows, and, had it been possible to keep them clean and whole, which it wasn’t, very pretty little fellows, too.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading But these were good, obedient, gentlemanly little fellows, and, had it been possible to keep them clean and whole, which it wasn’t, very pretty little fellows, too.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
resignverbUS /rɪˈzaɪn/
leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
simplestadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpləst/
superlative of “simple” — having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But these were good, obedient, gentlemanly little fellows, and, had it been possible to keep them clean and whole, which it wasn’t, very pretty little fellows, too.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading A thing not at all objectionable when the children are good children, as these were.
a special situation
From this reading A thing not at all objectionable when the children are good children, as these were.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Even the elders lived like children; and big people and little people were together, more or less, all day long.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading But these were good, obedient, gentlemanly little fellows, and, had it been possible to keep them clean and whole, which it wasn’t, very pretty little fellows, too.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
precisely as stated
From this reading But these were good, obedient, gentlemanly little fellows, and, had it been possible to keep them clean and whole, which it wasn’t, very pretty little fellows, too.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these were good, obedient, gentlemanly little fellows, and, had it been possible to keep them clean and whole, which it wasn’t, very pretty little fellows, too.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Life at the glen went on every day alike, in the simplest, happiest fashion, a sort of paradise of children, as in truth it was.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Even the elders lived like children; and big people and little people were together, more or less, all day long.
at the time that
From this reading A thing not at all objectionable when the children are good children, as these were.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading But these were good, obedient, gentlemanly little fellows, and, had it been possible to keep them clean and whole, which it wasn’t, very pretty little fellows, too.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading The boys were noisy, of course, and, after the first hour of the morning, clean faces, hands, and clothes became a difficulty quite insurmountable, in which their mother had to resign herself to fate; as the mamma of five boys, running about wild in the Highlands, necessarily must.
