used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading And then, again, she would seem to forget all about the Maynards and become absorbed in her own affairs, even neglecting to give orders for dinner!
absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
matters of personal concern
From this reading And then, again, she would seem to forget all about the Maynards and become absorbed in her own affairs, even neglecting to give orders for dinner!
anew
From this reading And then, again, she would seem to forget all about the Maynards and become absorbed in her own affairs, even neglecting to give orders for dinner!
(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 And then, again, she would seem to forget all about the Maynards and become absorbed in her own affairs, even neglecting to give orders for dinner!
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Miss Larkin proved to be rather an uncertain quantity.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading SOMEHOW, the days managed to follow each other much at their usual rate of speed.
austeritynounUS /ˌɔːˈsterɪti/
the trait of great self-denial (especially refraining from worldly pleasures)
From this reading Sometimes she ruled the household with a rod of iron, laying down laws and issuing commands with great austerity.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Miss Larkin proved to be rather an uncertain quantity.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading And then, again, she would seem to forget all about the Maynards and become absorbed in her own affairs, even neglecting to give orders for dinner!
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
commandsnounUS /kəˈmændz/
plural of “command” — an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading Sometimes she ruled the household with a rod of iron, laying down laws and issuing commands with great austerity.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading SOMEHOW, the days managed to follow each other much at their usual rate of speed.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading And then, again, she would seem to forget all about the Maynards and become absorbed in her own affairs, even neglecting to give orders for dinner!
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Sometimes she ruled the household with a rod of iron, laying down laws and issuing commands with great austerity.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading SOMEHOW, the days managed to follow each other much at their usual rate of speed.
divisible by two
From this reading And then, again, she would seem to forget all about the Maynards and become absorbed in her own affairs, even neglecting to give orders for dinner!
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading SOMEHOW, the days managed to follow each other much at their usual rate of speed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading And then, again, she would seem to forget all about the Maynards and become absorbed in her own affairs, even neglecting to give orders for dinner!
gailyadverbUS /ˈɡeɪli/
in a gay manner
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading And then, again, she would seem to forget all about the Maynards and become absorbed in her own affairs, even neglecting to give orders for dinner!
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And then, again, she would seem to forget all about the Maynards and become absorbed in her own affairs, even neglecting to give orders for dinner!
a social unit living together
From this reading Sometimes she ruled the household with a rod of iron, laying down laws and issuing commands with great austerity.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
plural of “interest” — a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading Sometimes she ruled the household with a rod of iron, laying down laws and issuing commands with great austerity.
issuingnounUS /ˈɪʃuːɪŋ/
the act of providing an item for general use or for official purposes (usually in quantity)
From this reading Sometimes she ruled the household with a rod of iron, laying down laws and issuing commands with great austerity.
Larkin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Larkin proved to be rather an uncertain quantity.
the first of three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible considered as a unit
From this reading Sometimes she ruled the household with a rod of iron, laying down laws and issuing commands with great austerity.
the production of eggs (especially in birds)
From this reading Sometimes she ruled the household with a rod of iron, laying down laws and issuing commands with great austerity.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading SOMEHOW, the days managed to follow each other much at their usual rate of speed.
Maynards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Larkin proved to be rather an uncertain quantity.
not caught with the senses or the mind
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading SOMEHOW, the days managed to follow each other much at their usual rate of speed.
neglectingverbUS /nɪˈɡlektɪŋ/
-ing form of “neglect” — leave undone or leave out
From this reading And then, again, she would seem to forget all about the Maynards and become absorbed in her own affairs, even neglecting to give orders for dinner!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SOMEHOW, the days managed to follow each other much at their usual rate of speed.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading And then, again, she would seem to forget all about the Maynards and become absorbed in her own affairs, even neglecting to give orders for dinner!
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading SOMEHOW, the days managed to follow each other much at their usual rate of speed.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading And then, again, she would seem to forget all about the Maynards and become absorbed in her own affairs, even neglecting to give orders for dinner!
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
participate in games or sport
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
established beyond doubt
From this reading Miss Larkin proved to be rather an uncertain quantity.
quantitynounUS /ˈkwɑːntəti/
how much there is or how many there are of something that you can quantify
From this reading Miss Larkin proved to be rather an uncertain quantity.
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading SOMEHOW, the days managed to follow each other much at their usual rate of speed.
on the contrary
From this reading Miss Larkin proved to be rather an uncertain quantity.
rodnounUS /rɑːd/
a long thin implement made of metal or wood
From this reading Sometimes she ruled the household with a rod of iron, laying down laws and issuing commands with great austerity.
ruledadjectiveUS /ruːld/
subject to a ruling authority
From this reading Sometimes she ruled the household with a rod of iron, laying down laws and issuing commands with great austerity.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading And then, again, she would seem to forget all about the Maynards and become absorbed in her own affairs, even neglecting to give orders for dinner!
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sometimes she ruled the household with a rod of iron, laying down laws and issuing commands with great austerity.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading SOMEHOW, the days managed to follow each other much at their usual rate of speed.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes she ruled the household with a rod of iron, laying down laws and issuing commands with great austerity.
move hurridly
From this reading SOMEHOW, the days managed to follow each other much at their usual rate of speed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SOMEHOW, the days managed to follow each other much at their usual rate of speed.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading SOMEHOW, the days managed to follow each other much at their usual rate of speed.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And then, again, she would seem to forget all about the Maynards and become absorbed in her own affairs, even neglecting to give orders for dinner!
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SOMEHOW, the days managed to follow each other much at their usual rate of speed.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading Miss Larkin proved to be rather an uncertain quantity.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading SOMEHOW, the days managed to follow each other much at their usual rate of speed.
varietynounUS /vərˈaɪəti/
a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sometimes she ruled the household with a rod of iron, laying down laws and issuing commands with great austerity.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading And then, again, she would seem to forget all about the Maynards and become absorbed in her own affairs, even neglecting to give orders for dinner!
but in spite of that
From this reading Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual.
