used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They were in no way of a mean order.
ACHINGadjectiveUS /ˈeɪkɪŋ/
causing a dull and steady pain
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
how long something has existed
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A little sigh of content escaped her when, at last, she had finished writing.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Leaning back in her chair, the end of the penholder between her lips, she read:
have
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Leaning back in her chair, the end of the penholder between her lips, she read:
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Leaning back in her chair, the end of the penholder between her lips, she read:
Chantrelle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
compositionnounUS /ˌkɑːmpəˈzɪʃən/
the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading A little sigh of content escaped her when, at last, she had finished writing.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Leaning back in her chair, the end of the penholder between her lips, she read:
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading A little sigh of content escaped her when, at last, she had finished writing.
expenditurenounUS /ɪkˈspendətʃər/
money paid out; an amount spent
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading A little sigh of content escaped her when, at last, she had finished writing.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
grudgenounUS /ɡrʌdʒ/
a resentment strong enough to justify retaliation
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A little sigh of content escaped her when, at last, she had finished writing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were in no way of a mean order.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
immediately past
From this reading A little sigh of content escaped her when, at last, she had finished writing.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading Leaning back in her chair, the end of the penholder between her lips, she read:
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Leaning back in her chair, the end of the penholder between her lips, she read:
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little sigh of content escaped her when, at last, she had finished writing.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
matrimonialadjectiveUS /ˌmætrəˈmoʊniəl/
of or relating to the state of marriage
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading They were in no way of a mean order.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
not any; not one
From this reading They were in no way of a mean order.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading They were in no way of a mean order.
penholder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaning back in her chair, the end of the penholder between her lips, she read:
PercynounUS /ˈpɜːrsi/
United States writer whose novels explored human alienation (1916-1990)
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
plural of “power” — possession of controlling influence
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
on the contrary
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Leaning back in her chair, the end of the penholder between her lips, she read:
ripenedadjectiveUS /ˈraɪpənd/
of wines, fruit, cheeses; having reached a desired or final condition; (“aged” pronounced as one syllable)
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading A little sigh of content escaped her when, at last, she had finished writing.
stocksnounUS /stɑːks/
a frame that supports a boat while it is under construction
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were in no way of a mean order.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading They were in no way of a mean order.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were in no way of a mean order.
at the time that
From this reading A little sigh of content escaped her when, at last, she had finished writing.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
witheredadjectiveUS /ˈwɪðərd/
lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
From this reading She did not, however, grudge time or labour; the expenditure was in a good cause: Percy had been on the matrimonial stocks too long; his was the kind of beauty which age withered rather than ripened.
Wivernsea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACHING HEARTS AND LAUGHING FACES The composition of the letter to Wivernsea needed all the powers Miss Chantrelle could bring to bear upon it.
the act of creating written works
From this reading A little sigh of content escaped her when, at last, she had finished writing.
