used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
adoptedadjectiveUS /əˈdɑːptɪd/
acquired as your own by free choice
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading “Since the death of the poor gardeners, this was the first time that any one paid any attention to me, except to exact some service of me.
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
have
From this reading “This feeling gave me the courage and the constancy required to bear with her whimsical nature.
borrowedverbUS /ˈbɑːroʊd/
past form of “borrow” — get temporarily
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
clientsnounUS /ˈklaɪənts/
plural of “client” — a person who seeks the advice of a lawyer
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
constancynounUS /ˈkɑːnstənsi/
the quality of being enduring and free from change or variation
From this reading “This feeling gave me the courage and the constancy required to bear with her whimsical nature.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading “This feeling gave me the courage and the constancy required to bear with her whimsical nature.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading “Since the death of the poor gardeners, this was the first time that any one paid any attention to me, except to exact some service of me.
destitutionnounUS /ˈdestətuːʃən/
a state without friends or money or prospects
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading I was moved to tears; and, in the excess of my gratitude, I would gladly have died for that kind old lady.
DismayedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsmeɪd/
struck with fear, dread, or consternation
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
put on clothes
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
dressesnounUS /ˈdresəz/
plural of “dress” — a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
economicaladjectiveUS /ˌekəˈnɑːmɪkəl/
using the minimum of time or resources necessary for effectiveness
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading “Since the death of the poor gardeners, this was the first time that any one paid any attention to me, except to exact some service of me.
apart from; not including
From this reading “Since the death of the poor gardeners, this was the first time that any one paid any attention to me, except to exact some service of me.
excessnounUS /ˈekses/
a quantity much larger than is needed
From this reading I was moved to tears; and, in the excess of my gratitude, I would gladly have died for that kind old lady.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading “This feeling gave me the courage and the constancy required to bear with her whimsical nature.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading “Since the death of the poor gardeners, this was the first time that any one paid any attention to me, except to exact some service of me.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
gardenersnounUS /ˈɡɑːrdənərz/
plural of “gardener” — someone who takes care of a garden
From this reading “Since the death of the poor gardeners, this was the first time that any one paid any attention to me, except to exact some service of me.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading “This feeling gave me the courage and the constancy required to bear with her whimsical nature.
gladlyadverbUS /ˈɡlædli/
in a willing manner
From this reading I was moved to tears; and, in the excess of my gratitude, I would gladly have died for that kind old lady.
a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation
From this reading I was moved to tears; and, in the excess of my gratitude, I would gladly have died for that kind old lady.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I was moved to tears; and, in the excess of my gratitude, I would gladly have died for that kind old lady.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I was moved to tears; and, in the excess of my gratitude, I would gladly have died for that kind old lady.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading I was moved to tears; and, in the excess of my gratitude, I would gladly have died for that kind old lady.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading I was moved to tears; and, in the excess of my gratitude, I would gladly have died for that kind old lady.
laundressnoun
a working woman who takes in washing
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
laundresses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
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 As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading I was moved to tears; and, in the excess of my gratitude, I would gladly have died for that kind old lady.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading “This feeling gave me the courage and the constancy required to bear with her whimsical nature.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
on one occasion
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Since the death of the poor gardeners, this was the first time that any one paid any attention to me, except to exact some service of me.
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading “Since the death of the poor gardeners, this was the first time that any one paid any attention to me, except to exact some service of me.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading “Since the death of the poor gardeners, this was the first time that any one paid any attention to me, except to exact some service of me.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading “This feeling gave me the courage and the constancy required to bear with her whimsical nature.
except for; apart from
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
seamstressnounUS /ˈsiːmstrɪs/
someone who makes or mends dresses
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading “Since the death of the poor gardeners, this was the first time that any one paid any attention to me, except to exact some service of me.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading “Since the death of the poor gardeners, this was the first time that any one paid any attention to me, except to exact some service of me.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “Since the death of the poor gardeners, this was the first time that any one paid any attention to me, except to exact some service of me.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading I was moved to tears; and, in the excess of my gratitude, I would gladly have died for that kind old lady.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Since the death of the poor gardeners, this was the first time that any one paid any attention to me, except to exact some service of me.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “Since the death of the poor gardeners, this was the first time that any one paid any attention to me, except to exact some service of me.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
under-clothing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Since the death of the poor gardeners, this was the first time that any one paid any attention to me, except to exact some service of me.
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
wherewith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Dismayed at my state of destitution, my new mistress sent for a seamstress, and at once ordered wherewith to dress and change me.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
whimsicaladjectiveUS /ˈwɪmzɪkəl/
determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason
From this reading “This feeling gave me the courage and the constancy required to bear with her whimsical nature.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading As long as I had remained with the laundress, I had finished wearing out her old dresses; and I had never worn any other under-clothing save that which I borrowed, ‘by authority,’ from the clients,--an economical system adopted by many laundresses.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I was moved to tears; and, in the excess of my gratitude, I would gladly have died for that kind old lady.
