used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
abbeynounUS /ˈæbi/
a church associated with a monastery or convent
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
(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 Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading My sister Joyce is older than I am.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The Maliphants were an old family.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At the time of which I am thinking she was twenty-one, and I was barely nineteen.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the time of which I am thinking she was twenty-one, and I was barely nineteen.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading At the time of which I am thinking she was twenty-one, and I was barely nineteen.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading We were the only children of Farmer Maliphant of Knellestone Grange, in the county of Sussex.
choirnounUS /ˈkwaɪər/
a chorus that sings as part of a religious ceremony
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
churchesnounUS /ˈtʃɜːrtʃɪz/
plural of “church” — one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government
From this reading We were the only children of Farmer Maliphant of Knellestone Grange, in the county of Sussex.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
a social unit living together
From this reading The Maliphants were an old family.
a person who operates a farm
From this reading We were the only children of Farmer Maliphant of Knellestone Grange, in the county of Sussex.
featurenounUS /ˈfiːtʃər/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
GrangenounUS /ɡreɪndʒ/
an outlying farm
From this reading We were the only children of Farmer Maliphant of Knellestone Grange, in the county of Sussex.
graveyardnounUS /ˈɡreɪvjɑːrd/
a tract of land used for burials
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading My sister Joyce is older than I am.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We were the only children of Farmer Maliphant of Knellestone Grange, in the county of Sussex.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My sister Joyce is older than I am.
JoycenounUS /dʒɔɪs/
influential Irish writer noted for his many innovations (such as stream of consciousness writing) (1882-1941)
From this reading My sister Joyce is older than I am.
Knellestone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were the only children of Farmer Maliphant of Knellestone Grange, in the county of Sussex.
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 Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
Maliphant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were the only children of Farmer Maliphant of Knellestone Grange, in the county of Sussex.
Maliphants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Maliphants were an old family.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
monasterynounUS /ˈmɑːnəsteri/
the residence of a religious community
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My sister Joyce is older than I am.
verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
nineteennounUS /ˈnaɪnˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of eighteen and one
From this reading At the time of which I am thinking she was twenty-one, and I was barely nineteen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the time of which I am thinking she was twenty-one, and I was barely nineteen.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The Maliphants were an old family.
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading My sister Joyce is older than I am.
oldestadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldəst/
superlative of “old” — (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
and nothing more
From this reading We were the only children of Farmer Maliphant of Knellestone Grange, in the county of Sussex.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
popishadjective
of or relating to or supporting Romanism
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
destroyed physically or morally
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At the time of which I am thinking she was twenty-one, and I was barely nineteen.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading My sister Joyce is older than I am.
having great beauty and splendor
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
having a supporting base
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
SussexnounUS /ˈsʌsɪks/
a county in southern England on the English Channel; formerly an Anglo-Saxon kingdom that was captured by Wessex in the 9th century
From this reading We were the only children of Farmer Maliphant of Knellestone Grange, in the county of Sussex.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading My sister Joyce is older than I am.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the time of which I am thinking she was twenty-one, and I was barely nineteen.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading At the time of which I am thinking she was twenty-one, and I was barely nineteen.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At the time of which I am thinking she was twenty-one, and I was barely nineteen.
tombstonesnounUS /ˈtuːmstoʊnz/
plural of “tombstone” — a stone that is used to mark a grave
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
transepts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
twenty-onenounUS /ˈtwentiwɔːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty and one
From this reading At the time of which I am thinking she was twenty-one, and I was barely nineteen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At the time of which I am thinking she was twenty-one, and I was barely nineteen.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were the only children of Farmer Maliphant of Knellestone Grange, in the county of Sussex.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were the only children of Farmer Maliphant of Knellestone Grange, in the county of Sussex.
at the time that
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At the time of which I am thinking she was twenty-one, and I was barely nineteen.
belonging to which person
From this reading Their names were on the oldest tombstones in the graveyard of the abbey, whose choir and ruined transepts were all that was left standing of a splendid church that had been the mother of a great monastery, and of many other churches in the popish days, when our town was a feature in English history.
