used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Another three weeks in that elderly mid-Victorian atmosphere was certainly not a tempting prospect to a girl of sixteen.
eagerly desirous
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
arrangementsnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənts/
plural of “arrangement” — the thing arranged or agreed to
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading Another three weeks in that elderly mid-Victorian atmosphere was certainly not a tempting prospect to a girl of sixteen.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Another three weeks in that elderly mid-Victorian atmosphere was certainly not a tempting prospect to a girl of sixteen.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading The remembrance of Christmas was hardly enlivening.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
EasternounUS /ˈiːstər/
a Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Christ; celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
elderlyadjectiveUS /ˈeldərli/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading Another three weeks in that elderly mid-Victorian atmosphere was certainly not a tempting prospect to a girl of sixteen.
enliveningadjectiveUS /enˈlaɪvənɪŋ/
giving spirit and vivacity
From this reading The remembrance of Christmas was hardly enlivening.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
brought together in one place
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
a young female
From this reading Another three weeks in that elderly mid-Victorian atmosphere was certainly not a tempting prospect to a girl of sixteen.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
GovernessnounUS /ˈɡʌvərnəs/
a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
only a very short time before
From this reading The remembrance of Christmas was hardly enlivening.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
hintsnounUS /hɪnts/
plural of “hint” — an indirect suggestion
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
HolidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
holidaysnounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪz/
plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading She sincerely hoped it would not be to Mrs. Newton's.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Another three weeks in that elderly mid-Victorian atmosphere was certainly not a tempting prospect to a girl of sixteen.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She sincerely hoped it would not be to Mrs. Newton's.
Lesbia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
mid-Victorian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another three weeks in that elderly mid-Victorian atmosphere was certainly not a tempting prospect to a girl of sixteen.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading She sincerely hoped it would not be to Mrs. Newton's.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
Newton'snounUS /ˈnuːtənz/
possessive form of “newton” — English mathematician and physicist; remembered for developing the calculus and for his law of gravitation and his three laws of motion (1642-1727)
From this reading She sincerely hoped it would not be to Mrs. Newton's.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She sincerely hoped it would not be to Mrs. Newton's.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The remembrance of Christmas was hardly enlivening.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
Pattersons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
the possibility of future success
From this reading Another three weeks in that elderly mid-Victorian atmosphere was certainly not a tempting prospect to a girl of sixteen.
remembrancenounUS /riˈmembrəns/
the ability to recall past occurrences
From this reading The remembrance of Christmas was hardly enlivening.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
sincerelyadverbUS /sɪnˈsɪrli/
with sincerity; without pretense
From this reading She sincerely hoped it would not be to Mrs. Newton's.
sixteenadjectiveUS /sɪkˈstiːn/
being one more than fifteen
From this reading Another three weeks in that elderly mid-Victorian atmosphere was certainly not a tempting prospect to a girl of sixteen.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
temptingadjectiveUS /ˈtemptɪŋ/
highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire
From this reading Another three weeks in that elderly mid-Victorian atmosphere was certainly not a tempting prospect to a girl of sixteen.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Another three weeks in that elderly mid-Victorian atmosphere was certainly not a tempting prospect to a girl of sixteen.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
the act of using
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
precisely as stated
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Another three weeks in that elderly mid-Victorian atmosphere was certainly not a tempting prospect to a girl of sixteen.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading From various hints thrown out by the Pattersons, she gathered that they wanted to use her bedroom, and were making arrangements for her to go away.
at the time that
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
in or at the place that
From this reading A Holiday Governess When Easter drew near, Lesbia began to be very anxious as to where she was to spend her holidays.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She sincerely hoped it would not be to Mrs. Newton's.
