used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading At the dinner table the elder Fairfields were greatly entertained by the account of the first Happy Saturday Afternoon.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
aren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the dinner table the elder Fairfields were greatly entertained by the account of the first Happy Saturday Afternoon.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
for the reason that
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
showing who or what does the action
From this reading At the dinner table the elder Fairfields were greatly entertained by the account of the first Happy Saturday Afternoon.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
CONFIDENCESnounUS /ˈkɑːnfədənsɪz/
plural of “confidence” — freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
discontentedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪskənˈtentɪd/
showing or experiencing dissatisfaction or restless longing
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
a person who is older than you are
From this reading At the dinner table the elder Fairfields were greatly entertained by the account of the first Happy Saturday Afternoon.
entertainedadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnd/
pleasantly occupied
From this reading At the dinner table the elder Fairfields were greatly entertained by the account of the first Happy Saturday Afternoon.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
Fairfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
Fairfields
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the dinner table the elder Fairfields were greatly entertained by the account of the first Happy Saturday Afternoon.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading At the dinner table the elder Fairfields were greatly entertained by the account of the first Happy Saturday Afternoon.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading At the dinner table the elder Fairfields were greatly entertained by the account of the first Happy Saturday Afternoon.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading At the dinner table the elder Fairfields were greatly entertained by the account of the first Happy Saturday Afternoon.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
where you live at a particular time
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
jailnounUS /dʒeɪl/
a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
luxuriesnounUS /ˈlʌɡʒəriz/
plural of “luxury” — something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
engage in
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
MonanounUS /ˈmoʊnə/
an island to the northwest of Wales
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
a form of address for a man
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
NannounUS /næn/
your grandmother
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the dinner table the elder Fairfields were greatly entertained by the account of the first Happy Saturday Afternoon.
many times at short intervals
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
have ownership or possession of
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
PattynounUS /ˈpæti/
small flat mass of chopped food
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
raynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading At the dinner table the elder Fairfields were greatly entertained by the account of the first Happy Saturday Afternoon.
express in words
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
the rays of the sun
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading At the dinner table the elder Fairfields were greatly entertained by the account of the first Happy Saturday Afternoon.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
That's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
unaccustomedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈkʌstəmd/
unusual or unfamiliar
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "That's true," agreed Nan; "I think it's lovely to give these people such a pleasure, and if I can help in any way, Patty, I'll be glad to."
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At the dinner table the elder Fairfields were greatly entertained by the account of the first Happy Saturday Afternoon.
at the time that
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
in the company of; together with
From this reading CONFIDENCES Mona went home with Patty to dinner, as she often did when the girls had been together during the afternoon.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Now, father Fairfield," exclaimed Patty, "you ought to know better than that! you might as well say that a man in a prison ought never to see a ray of sunlight, because it would make him more discontented with his dark jail."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "But aren't you afraid," Mr. Fairfield asked, "that such unaccustomed luxuries will make those people discontented with their own conditions?"
