used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I know what they are--a lazy gossiping set."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "There's ne'er a one in the town," said Betty, "as you'd like to have in the house.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading You must certainly have someone.
char-woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some nice respectable char-woman."
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
divisible by two
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
gossipingnounUS /ˈɡɑːsəpɪŋ/
a conversation that spreads personal information about other people
From this reading I know what they are--a lazy gossiping set."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You must certainly have someone.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading "There's ne'er a one in the town," said Betty, "as you'd like to have in the house.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I know what they are--a lazy gossiping set."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "There's ne'er a one in the town," said Betty, "as you'd like to have in the house.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
lazyadjectiveUS /ˈleɪzi/
moving slowly and gently
From this reading I know what they are--a lazy gossiping set."
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "There's ne'er a one in the town," said Betty, "as you'd like to have in the house.
engage in
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading You must certainly have someone.
ne'eradverbUS /ner/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "There's ne'er a one in the town," said Betty, "as you'd like to have in the house.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading Some nice respectable char-woman."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "There's ne'er a one in the town," said Betty, "as you'd like to have in the house.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals
From this reading Some nice respectable char-woman."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
saucepannounUS /ˈsɔːspæn/
a deep pan with a handle; used for stewing or boiling
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I know what they are--a lazy gossiping set."
severelyadverbUS /səˈvɪrli/
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some nice respectable char-woman."
a person, without saying who
From this reading You must certainly have someone.
express in speech
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There's ne'er a one in the town," said Betty, "as you'd like to have in the house.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I know what they are--a lazy gossiping set."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading "There's ne'er a one in the town," said Betty, "as you'd like to have in the house.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I know what they are--a lazy gossiping set."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Now you know that's quite out of the question, Betty," said her mistress, doing her best to speak severely, "you couldn't lift a saucepan, or even make a bed.
you'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There's ne'er a one in the town," said Betty, "as you'd like to have in the house.
