used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
the state of being absent
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
a positive feeling of liking
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am not like Hatty; but then our natures are different, and I must not judge her.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
react verbally
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I am not like Hatty; but then our natures are different, and I must not judge her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
Bessie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
terminate
From this reading "I must not break the bruised reed," she said to herself.
bruisedverbUS /bruːzd/
past form of “bruise” — injure the underlying soft tissue or bone of
From this reading "I must not break the bruised reed," she said to herself.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading I am not like Hatty; but then our natures are different, and I must not judge her.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
Hatty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
Hatty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading "I must not break the bruised reed," she said to herself.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I must not break the bruised reed," she said to herself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE KENTISH LANES.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading I am not like Hatty; but then our natures are different, and I must not judge her.
KENTISHnoun
one of the major dialects of Old English
From this reading IN THE KENTISH LANES.
LANESnounUS /leɪnz/
plural of “lane” — a narrow way or road
From this reading IN THE KENTISH LANES.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading I am not like Hatty; but then our natures are different, and I must not judge her.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
plural of “love” — a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
engage in
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "I must not break the bruised reed," she said to herself.
naturesnounUS /ˈneɪtʃərz/
plural of “nature” — the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading I am not like Hatty; but then our natures are different, and I must not judge her.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading I am not like Hatty; but then our natures are different, and I must not judge her.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
reednounUS /riːd/
tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites
From this reading "I must not break the bruised reed," she said to herself.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I must not break the bruised reed," she said to herself.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
sobverbUS /sɑːb/
weep convulsively
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
carry out
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE KENTISH LANES.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading I am not like Hatty; but then our natures are different, and I must not judge her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I must not break the bruised reed," she said to herself.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
precisely as stated
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
plural of “view” — a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Bessie did not make any answer for a minute or two, but her eyes were a little dim as she heard Hatty sob.
at the time that
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
wideradjectiveUS /ˈwaɪdər/
comparative of “wide” — having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading "Hatty's world is a very little one; she is not strong enough to come out of herself, and take wider views; when she loves people, she loves them somehow in herself; she can't understand the freedom of an affection that can be happy in the absence of its object.
