used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And then I began to learn that beauty, to a poor girl, is a fatal gift.
abusingverbUS /əˈbjuːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “abuse” — treat badly
From this reading But, abusing my ignorance, that execrable woman had persuaded me, that, if I attempted to go out alone, I would be arrested.
a proposal for an appropriate course of action
From this reading And I knew no one to whom I could apply for protection and advice.
Ah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ah, if I had only known where to fly, and where to take refuge!
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading One by one, the woman had sold every thing I had,--dresses, underclothes, jewels; and I was now reduced to rags almost as mean as when I was with the laundress.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading But, abusing my ignorance, that execrable woman had persuaded me, that, if I attempted to go out alone, I would be arrested.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Ah, if I had only known where to fly, and where to take refuge!
applyverbUS /əˈplaɪ/
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
From this reading And I knew no one to whom I could apply for protection and advice.
arrestedverbUS /ərˈestɪd/
past form of “arrest” — take into custody
From this reading But, abusing my ignorance, that execrable woman had persuaded me, that, if I attempted to go out alone, I would be arrested.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading One by one, the woman had sold every thing I had,--dresses, underclothes, jewels; and I was now reduced to rags almost as mean as when I was with the laundress.
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading But, abusing my ignorance, that execrable woman had persuaded me, that, if I attempted to go out alone, I would be arrested.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But, abusing my ignorance, that execrable woman had persuaded me, that, if I attempted to go out alone, I would be arrested.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading And then I began to learn that beauty, to a poor girl, is a fatal gift.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading And then I began to learn that beauty, to a poor girl, is a fatal gift.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, abusing my ignorance, that execrable woman had persuaded me, that, if I attempted to go out alone, I would be arrested.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading One by one, the woman had sold every thing I had,--dresses, underclothes, jewels; and I was now reduced to rags almost as mean as when I was with the laundress.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading And I knew no one to whom I could apply for protection and advice.
dressesnounUS /ˈdresəz/
plural of “dress” — a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice
From this reading One by one, the woman had sold every thing I had,--dresses, underclothes, jewels; and I was now reduced to rags almost as mean as when I was with the laundress.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading One by one, the woman had sold every thing I had,--dresses, underclothes, jewels; and I was now reduced to rags almost as mean as when I was with the laundress.
execrableadjectiveUS /ˌeɡˈzekrəbəl/
of very poor quality or condition
From this reading But, abusing my ignorance, that execrable woman had persuaded me, that, if I attempted to go out alone, I would be arrested.
fataladjectiveUS /ˈfeɪtəl/
bringing death
From this reading And then I began to learn that beauty, to a poor girl, is a fatal gift.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading “Ah, if I had only known where to fly, and where to take refuge!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And I knew no one to whom I could apply for protection and advice.
something acquired without compensation
From this reading And then I began to learn that beauty, to a poor girl, is a fatal gift.
a young female
From this reading And then I began to learn that beauty, to a poor girl, is a fatal gift.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But, abusing my ignorance, that execrable woman had persuaded me, that, if I attempted to go out alone, I would be arrested.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Ah, if I had only known where to fly, and where to take refuge!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Ah, if I had only known where to fly, and where to take refuge!
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Ah, if I had only known where to fly, and where to take refuge!
the lack of knowledge or education
From this reading But, abusing my ignorance, that execrable woman had persuaded me, that, if I attempted to go out alone, I would be arrested.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And then I began to learn that beauty, to a poor girl, is a fatal gift.
plural of “jewel” — a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry
From this reading One by one, the woman had sold every thing I had,--dresses, underclothes, jewels; and I was now reduced to rags almost as mean as when I was with the laundress.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading And I knew no one to whom I could apply for protection and advice.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading “Ah, if I had only known where to fly, and where to take refuge!
laundressnoun
a working woman who takes in washing
From this reading One by one, the woman had sold every thing I had,--dresses, underclothes, jewels; and I was now reduced to rags almost as mean as when I was with the laundress.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading And then I began to learn that beauty, to a poor girl, is a fatal gift.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But, abusing my ignorance, that execrable woman had persuaded me, that, if I attempted to go out alone, I would be arrested.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading One by one, the woman had sold every thing I had,--dresses, underclothes, jewels; and I was now reduced to rags almost as mean as when I was with the laundress.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading But, abusing my ignorance, that execrable woman had persuaded me, that, if I attempted to go out alone, I would be arrested.
not any; not one
From this reading And I knew no one to whom I could apply for protection and advice.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading One by one, the woman had sold every thing I had,--dresses, underclothes, jewels; and I was now reduced to rags almost as mean as when I was with the laundress.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And I knew no one to whom I could apply for protection and advice.
and nothing more
From this reading “Ah, if I had only known where to fly, and where to take refuge!
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But, abusing my ignorance, that execrable woman had persuaded me, that, if I attempted to go out alone, I would be arrested.
past form of “persuade” — win approval or support for
From this reading But, abusing my ignorance, that execrable woman had persuaded me, that, if I attempted to go out alone, I would be arrested.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading And then I began to learn that beauty, to a poor girl, is a fatal gift.
the activity of protecting someone or something
From this reading And I knew no one to whom I could apply for protection and advice.
ragsnounUS /ræɡz/
plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading One by one, the woman had sold every thing I had,--dresses, underclothes, jewels; and I was now reduced to rags almost as mean as when I was with the laundress.
reducedadjectiveUS /rəˈduːst/
made less in size or amount or degree
From this reading One by one, the woman had sold every thing I had,--dresses, underclothes, jewels; and I was now reduced to rags almost as mean as when I was with the laundress.
a safe place
From this reading “Ah, if I had only known where to fly, and where to take refuge!
disposed of to a purchaser
From this reading One by one, the woman had sold every thing I had,--dresses, underclothes, jewels; and I was now reduced to rags almost as mean as when I was with the laundress.
carry out
From this reading “Ah, if I had only known where to fly, and where to take refuge!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But, abusing my ignorance, that execrable woman had persuaded me, that, if I attempted to go out alone, I would be arrested.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One by one, the woman had sold every thing I had,--dresses, underclothes, jewels; and I was now reduced to rags almost as mean as when I was with the laundress.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And then I began to learn that beauty, to a poor girl, is a fatal gift.
a special situation
From this reading One by one, the woman had sold every thing I had,--dresses, underclothes, jewels; and I was now reduced to rags almost as mean as when I was with the laundress.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Ah, if I had only known where to fly, and where to take refuge!
underclothesnoun
undergarment worn next to the skin and under the outer garments
From this reading One by one, the woman had sold every thing I had,--dresses, underclothes, jewels; and I was now reduced to rags almost as mean as when I was with the laundress.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One by one, the woman had sold every thing I had,--dresses, underclothes, jewels; and I was now reduced to rags almost as mean as when I was with the laundress.
at the time that
From this reading One by one, the woman had sold every thing I had,--dresses, underclothes, jewels; and I was now reduced to rags almost as mean as when I was with the laundress.
in or at the place that
From this reading “Ah, if I had only known where to fly, and where to take refuge!
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And I knew no one to whom I could apply for protection and advice.
in the company of; together with
From this reading One by one, the woman had sold every thing I had,--dresses, underclothes, jewels; and I was now reduced to rags almost as mean as when I was with the laundress.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading But, abusing my ignorance, that execrable woman had persuaded me, that, if I attempted to go out alone, I would be arrested.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But, abusing my ignorance, that execrable woman had persuaded me, that, if I attempted to go out alone, I would be arrested.
