used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
(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 She had joined as a tiny child, and the contemporaries of her first year had all left.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
AndrewsnounUS /ˈændruːz/
United States naturalist who contributed to paleontology and geology (1884-1960)
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
any person at all
From this reading She happened to have been longer at the school than anybody else.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had joined as a tiny child, and the contemporaries of her first year had all left.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She happened to have been longer at the school than anybody else.
attributenounUS /ˈætrəbjuːt/
a construct whereby objects or individuals can be distinguished
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She happened to have been longer at the school than anybody else.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
birthdaysnounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪz/
plural of “birthday” — an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
capacitynounUS /kəˈpæsəti/
capability to perform or produce
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
a young person of either sex
From this reading She had joined as a tiny child, and the contemporaries of her first year had all left.
contemporariesnounUS /kənˈtempəreriz/
all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading She had joined as a tiny child, and the contemporaries of her first year had all left.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
eighteenthadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the seventeenth in position
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
eldestadjectiveUS /ˈeldəst/
first in order of birth
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She happened to have been longer at the school than anybody else.
divisible by two
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
Ferrars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading She had joined as a tiny child, and the contemporaries of her first year had all left.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
giftedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪftəd/
endowed with talent or talents
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had joined as a tiny child, and the contemporaries of her first year had all left.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading She happened to have been longer at the school than anybody else.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She happened to have been longer at the school than anybody else.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading She had joined as a tiny child, and the contemporaries of her first year had all left.
languagesnounUS /ˈlæŋɡwədʒəz/
plural of “language” — a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading She had joined as a tiny child, and the contemporaries of her first year had all left.
Lesbia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
for more time
From this reading She happened to have been longer at the school than anybody else.
Mabel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
mathematicaladjectiveUS /ˌmæθəˈmætɪkəl/
of or pertaining to or of the nature of mathematics
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
OldestadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldəst/
superlative of “old” — (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
PupilnounUS /ˈpjuːpəl/
a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
an educational institution
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
sixteenadjectiveUS /sɪkˈstiːn/
being one more than fifteen
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
SixthadjectiveUS /sɪksθ/
coming next after the fifth and just before the seventh in position
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
Stirling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
talentnounUS /ˈtælənt/
natural abilities or qualities
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She happened to have been longer at the school than anybody else.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
very small
From this reading She had joined as a tiny child, and the contemporaries of her first year had all left.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was the oldest pupil.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The Oldest Pupil Though Lesbia Ferrars might not be gifted with a good memory, or a mathematical brain, or a talent for languages, or even a great capacity for work, or any other special attribute to place her among the stars of her form, in one solitary respect she could always score over the rest of the school.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading She had joined as a tiny child, and the contemporaries of her first year had all left.
a late time of life
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
but in spite of that
From this reading Not indeed in years--there is an immense shade of difference between oldest and eldest--for she was not yet sixteen, while Rose Stirling and Mabel Andrews in the Sixth were approaching their eighteenth birthdays.
