used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Months had passed since Lettice had written a page of her story.
acquiredadjectiveUS /əˈkwaɪərd/
gotten through environmental forces
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
anew
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading The arrival of the Daltons at Florence had interrupted her at a critical point.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT THE PRISON GATE.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But she had not made the effort, and now that she was back in London again it seemed less possible than ever that she should sit down and make it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she had not made the effort, and now that she was back in London again it seemed less possible than ever that she should sit down and make it.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
criticaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
From this reading The arrival of the Daltons at Florence had interrupted her at a critical point.
DaltonsnounUS /ˈdɔːltənz/
plural of “dalton” — English chemist and physicist who formulated atomic theory and the law of partial pressures; gave the first description of red-green color blindness (1766-1844)
From this reading The arrival of the Daltons at Florence had interrupted her at a critical point.
an urgent or peremptory request
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading But she had not made the effort, and now that she was back in London again it seemed less possible than ever that she should sit down and make it.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
divisible by two
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
at any time
From this reading But she had not made the effort, and now that she was back in London again it seemed less possible than ever that she should sit down and make it.
FlorencenounUS /ˈflɔːrəns/
a city in central Italy on the Arno; provincial capital of Tuscany; center of the Italian Renaissance from 14th to 16th centuries
From this reading The arrival of the Daltons at Florence had interrupted her at a critical point.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading AT THE PRISON GATE.
assemble or get together
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
the act of departing
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Months had passed since Lettice had written a page of her story.
be in charge of, act on, or dispose of
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Months had passed since Lettice had written a page of her story.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
discontinued temporarily
From this reading The arrival of the Daltons at Florence had interrupted her at a critical point.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But she had not made the effort, and now that she was back in London again it seemed less possible than ever that she should sit down and make it.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading But she had not made the effort, and now that she was back in London again it seemed less possible than ever that she should sit down and make it.
Lettice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Months had passed since Lettice had written a page of her story.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading But she had not made the effort, and now that she was back in London again it seemed less possible than ever that she should sit down and make it.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
engage in
From this reading But she had not made the effort, and now that she was back in London again it seemed less possible than ever that she should sit down and make it.
mechanicnounUS /məˈkænɪk/
a craftsman skilled in operating machine tools
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Months had passed since Lettice had written a page of her story.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But she had not made the effort, and now that she was back in London again it seemed less possible than ever that she should sit down and make it.
obediencenounUS /oʊˈbiːdiəns/
the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Months had passed since Lettice had written a page of her story.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading Months had passed since Lettice had written a page of her story.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Months had passed since Lettice had written a page of her story.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The arrival of the Daltons at Florence had interrupted her at a critical point.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading But she had not made the effort, and now that she was back in London again it seemed less possible than ever that she should sit down and make it.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading AT THE PRISON GATE.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But she had not made the effort, and now that she was back in London again it seemed less possible than ever that she should sit down and make it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading But she had not made the effort, and now that she was back in London again it seemed less possible than ever that she should sit down and make it.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Months had passed since Lettice had written a page of her story.
be seated
From this reading But she had not made the effort, and now that she was back in London again it seemed less possible than ever that she should sit down and make it.
fastener consisting of a narrow strip of welded metal used to join steel members
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Months had passed since Lettice had written a page of her story.
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But she had not made the effort, and now that she was back in London again it seemed less possible than ever that she should sit down and make it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But she had not made the effort, and now that she was back in London again it seemed less possible than ever that she should sit down and make it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT THE PRISON GATE.
threadsnounUS /θredz/
informal terms for clothing
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But she had not made the effort, and now that she was back in London again it seemed less possible than ever that she should sit down and make it.
woofnounUS /wuːf/
the yarn woven across the warp yarn in weaving
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading Months had passed since Lettice had written a page of her story.
but in spite of that
From this reading She had not yet acquired the mechanic art of stopping and going on again as at the turn of a handle, in obedience to a law of demand and supply; and she would probably have been unable to gather up her threads and continue the old woof, even if she had made the effort.
