used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In that mysterious world beyond the heath, we divined two exhaustless springs of enthusiasm: the Army and the Royal Family.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading THE MOTHER'S VOW We had no knowledge at first hand, of any family life except our own.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading In that mysterious world beyond the heath, we divined two exhaustless springs of enthusiasm: the Army and the Royal Family.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE MOTHER'S VOW We had no knowledge at first hand, of any family life except our own.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading In that mysterious world beyond the heath, we divined two exhaustless springs of enthusiasm: the Army and the Royal Family.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The reason for the first is clear.
closenessnounUS /ˈkloʊsnɪs/
a feeling of being intimate and belonging together
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
commonplaceadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmənpleɪs/
completely ordinary and unremarkable
From this reading As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
something that interests you because it is important or affects you
From this reading As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
feelings of ardent love
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
divined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that mysterious world beyond the heath, we divined two exhaustless springs of enthusiasm: the Army and the Royal Family.
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 As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
a feeling of excitement
From this reading In that mysterious world beyond the heath, we divined two exhaustless springs of enthusiasm: the Army and the Royal Family.
apart from; not including
From this reading THE MOTHER'S VOW We had no knowledge at first hand, of any family life except our own.
exhaustless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that mysterious world beyond the heath, we divined two exhaustless springs of enthusiasm: the Army and the Royal Family.
a social unit living together
From this reading THE MOTHER'S VOW We had no knowledge at first hand, of any family life except our own.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE MOTHER'S VOW We had no knowledge at first hand, of any family life except our own.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
fortunesnounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənz/
plural of “fortune” — an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE MOTHER'S VOW We had no knowledge at first hand, of any family life except our own.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading THE MOTHER'S VOW We had no knowledge at first hand, of any family life except our own.
heathnounUS /hiːθ/
a low evergreen shrub of the family Ericaceae; has small bell-shaped pink or purple flowers
From this reading In that mysterious world beyond the heath, we divined two exhaustless springs of enthusiasm: the Army and the Royal Family.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
intimateadjectiveUS /ˈɪntəmət/
marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
From this reading As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The reason for the first is clear.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading THE MOTHER'S VOW We had no knowledge at first hand, of any family life except our own.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading THE MOTHER'S VOW We had no knowledge at first hand, of any family life except our own.
something that is lost
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
MOTHER'SnounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading THE MOTHER'S VOW We had no knowledge at first hand, of any family life except our own.
of an obscure nature
From this reading In that mysterious world beyond the heath, we divined two exhaustless springs of enthusiasm: the Army and the Royal Family.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
not any; not one
From this reading THE MOTHER'S VOW We had no knowledge at first hand, of any family life except our own.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MOTHER'S VOW We had no knowledge at first hand, of any family life except our own.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading THE MOTHER'S VOW We had no knowledge at first hand, of any family life except our own.
outwardadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtwərd/
relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading THE MOTHER'S VOW We had no knowledge at first hand, of any family life except our own.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading The reason for the first is clear.
reigningadjectiveUS /ˈreɪnɪŋ/
exercising power or authority
From this reading As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
reverentadjectiveUS /ˈrevərənt/
feeling or showing profound respect or veneration
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
RoyaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading In that mysterious world beyond the heath, we divined two exhaustless springs of enthusiasm: the Army and the Royal Family.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
springsnounUS /sprɪŋz/
plural of “spring” — the season of growth
From this reading In that mysterious world beyond the heath, we divined two exhaustless springs of enthusiasm: the Army and the Royal Family.
strenuousadjectiveUS /ˈstrenjuːəs/
characterized by or performed with much energy or force
From this reading As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MOTHER'S VOW We had no knowledge at first hand, of any family life except our own.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In that mysterious world beyond the heath, we divined two exhaustless springs of enthusiasm: the Army and the Royal Family.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
variedadjectiveUS /ˈverid/
characterized by variety
From this reading As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
precisely as stated
From this reading As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
VOWverbUS /vaʊ/
make a vow; promise
From this reading THE MOTHER'S VOW We had no knowledge at first hand, of any family life except our own.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading THE MOTHER'S VOW We had no knowledge at first hand, of any family life except our own.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of devotion.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading In that mysterious world beyond the heath, we divined two exhaustless springs of enthusiasm: the Army and the Royal Family.
