used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
(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 "Oh, no, not at all," answered Lily.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Is it an inconvenience to you now?" asked Belle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "Oh, no, not at all," answered Lily.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Is it an inconvenience to you now?" asked Belle.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Oh, no, not at all," answered Lily.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading It's a great mercy it was given to us,--to me, at least; or I should be all the time doing bad things.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
for the reason that
From this reading I think we might call conscience a bother blessing, because, though it is best for us to have it, it is a great inconvenience."
BellenounUS /bel/
a young woman who is the most charming and beautiful of several rivals
From this reading "Is it an inconvenience to you now?" asked Belle.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading I think we might call conscience a bother blessing, because, though it is best for us to have it, it is a great inconvenience."
blessingnounUS /ˈblesɪŋ/
the formal act of approving
From this reading I think we might call conscience a bother blessing, because, though it is best for us to have it, it is a great inconvenience."
botherverbUS /ˈbɑːðər/
take the trouble to do something; concern oneself
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I think we might call conscience a bother blessing, because, though it is best for us to have it, it is a great inconvenience."
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading It's a great mercy it was given to us,--to me, at least; or I should be all the time doing bad things.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I think we might call conscience a bother blessing, because, though it is best for us to have it, it is a great inconvenience."
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading It's a great mercy it was given to us,--to me, at least; or I should be all the time doing bad things.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It's a great mercy it was given to us,--to me, at least; or I should be all the time doing bad things.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I think we might call conscience a bother blessing, because, though it is best for us to have it, it is a great inconvenience."
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
improvesverbUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvz/
third-person singular of “improve” — to make better
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
inconveniencenounUS /ˌɪnkənˈviːnjəns/
an inconvenient discomfort
From this reading I think we might call conscience a bother blessing, because, though it is best for us to have it, it is a great inconvenience."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It's a great mercy it was given to us,--to me, at least; or I should be all the time doing bad things.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading It's a great mercy it was given to us,--to me, at least; or I should be all the time doing bad things.
LilynounUS /ˈlɪli/
any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers
From this reading "Oh, no, not at all," answered Lily.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It's a great mercy it was given to us,--to me, at least; or I should be all the time doing bad things.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading It's a great mercy it was given to us,--to me, at least; or I should be all the time doing bad things.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I think we might call conscience a bother blessing, because, though it is best for us to have it, it is a great inconvenience."
not any; not one
From this reading "Oh, no, not at all," answered Lily.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Oh, no, not at all," answered Lily.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Is it an inconvenience to you now?" asked Belle.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading "Oh, no, not at all," answered Lily.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It's a great mercy it was given to us,--to me, at least; or I should be all the time doing bad things.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It's a great mercy it was given to us,--to me, at least; or I should be all the time doing bad things.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It's a great mercy it was given to us,--to me, at least; or I should be all the time doing bad things.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading It's a great mercy it was given to us,--to me, at least; or I should be all the time doing bad things.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading I think we might call conscience a bother blessing, because, though it is best for us to have it, it is a great inconvenience."
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I think we might call conscience a bother blessing, because, though it is best for us to have it, it is a great inconvenience."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It's a great mercy it was given to us,--to me, at least; or I should be all the time doing bad things.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It's a great mercy it was given to us,--to me, at least; or I should be all the time doing bad things.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I think we might call conscience a bother blessing, because, though it is best for us to have it, it is a great inconvenience."
we'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "I was thinking about conscience, and what a dreadful bother it is; but how it improves us, and how awful we'd be without it.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Is it an inconvenience to you now?" asked Belle.
