used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
to or in a foreign country
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
the two together, not just one
From this reading Now, however, both mother and daughter were surveying ruefully a pile of garments that constituted the remains of their depleted wardrobes.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
compensateverbUS /ˈkɑːmpənseɪt/
adjust for
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
constitutedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnstətuːtəd/
brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established
From this reading Now, however, both mother and daughter were surveying ruefully a pile of garments that constituted the remains of their depleted wardrobes.
CowpernounUS /ˈkaʊpər/
English surgeon who discovered Cowper's gland (1666-1709)
From this reading —“The Task,” Cowper.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
a female human offspring
From this reading Now, however, both mother and daughter were surveying ruefully a pile of garments that constituted the remains of their depleted wardrobes.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
depletedadjectiveUS /dɪˈpliːtɪd/
no longer sufficient
From this reading Now, however, both mother and daughter were surveying ruefully a pile of garments that constituted the remains of their depleted wardrobes.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Presently the lady laid down a gray gown of tabby silk with a sigh.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
garmentsnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənts/
plural of “garment” — an article of clothing
From this reading Now, however, both mother and daughter were surveying ruefully a pile of garments that constituted the remains of their depleted wardrobes.
plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading Presently the lady laid down a gray gown of tabby silk with a sigh.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Presently the lady laid down a gray gown of tabby silk with a sigh.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Now, however, both mother and daughter were surveying ruefully a pile of garments that constituted the remains of their depleted wardrobes.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Presently the lady laid down a gray gown of tabby silk with a sigh.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Presently the lady laid down a gray gown of tabby silk with a sigh.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Now, however, both mother and daughter were surveying ruefully a pile of garments that constituted the remains of their depleted wardrobes.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
nightlyadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪtli/
happening every night
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
nocturnaladjectiveUS /nɑːkˈtɜːrnəl/
belonging to or active during the night
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order.
OwennounUS /ˈoʊən/
Welsh industrialist and social reformer who founded cooperative communities (1771-1858)
From this reading It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order.
Peggy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading Now, however, both mother and daughter were surveying ruefully a pile of garments that constituted the remains of their depleted wardrobes.
plundernounUS /ˈplʌn.dər/
Goods or treasure taken by force or theft, especially in war or banditry.
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
in the near future
From this reading Presently the lady laid down a gray gown of tabby silk with a sigh.
prowlingverbUS /ˈpraʊlɪŋ/
-ing form of “prowl” — move about in or as if in a predatory manner
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
any object that is left unused or still extant
From this reading Now, however, both mother and daughter were surveying ruefully a pile of garments that constituted the remains of their depleted wardrobes.
ruefullyadverbUS /ˈruːfəli/
in a rueful manner
From this reading Now, however, both mother and daughter were surveying ruefully a pile of garments that constituted the remains of their depleted wardrobes.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading Presently the lady laid down a gray gown of tabby silk with a sigh.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading Presently the lady laid down a gray gown of tabby silk with a sigh.
slothnounUS /sloʊθ/
a disinclination to work or exert yourself
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
solicitousadjectiveUS /səˈlɪsətəs/
full of anxiety and concern
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order.
surveyingnounUS /sərˈveɪɪŋ/
the practice of measuring angles and distances on the ground so that they can be accurately plotted on a map
From this reading Now, however, both mother and daughter were surveying ruefully a pile of garments that constituted the remains of their depleted wardrobes.
tabbynounUS /ˈtæbi/
a cat with a grey or tawny coat mottled with black
From this reading Presently the lady laid down a gray gown of tabby silk with a sigh.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading —“The Task,” Cowper.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now, however, both mother and daughter were surveying ruefully a pile of garments that constituted the remains of their depleted wardrobes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Now, however, both mother and daughter were surveying ruefully a pile of garments that constituted the remains of their depleted wardrobes.
thiefnounUS /θiːf/
a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
ThursdaynounUS /ˈθɜːrzdeɪ/
the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day
From this reading It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order.
wardrobesnounUS /ˈwɔːrdroʊbz/
plural of “wardrobe” — a tall piece of furniture that provides storage space for clothes; has a door and rails or hooks for hanging clothes
From this reading Now, however, both mother and daughter were surveying ruefully a pile of garments that constituted the remains of their depleted wardrobes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Thursday morning, and Mrs. Owen and Peggy had been very busy bringing the house and grounds into something like order.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Now, however, both mother and daughter were surveying ruefully a pile of garments that constituted the remains of their depleted wardrobes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Presently the lady laid down a gray gown of tabby silk with a sigh.
buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading “Now goes the nightly thief prowling abroad For plunder; much solicitous how best He may compensate for a day of sloth, By works of darkness and nocturnal wrong.”
