used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
how long something has existed
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
Alice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Her naturally high spirits and elastic temperament had been almost totally subdued and crushed by the life of retirement and isolation she had led.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her naturally high spirits and elastic temperament had been almost totally subdued and crushed by the life of retirement and isolation she had led.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
assertverbUS /əˈsɜːrt/
state categorically
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
buoyancynounUS /ˈbɔɪənsi/
cheerfulness that bubbles to the surface
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Her naturally high spirits and elastic temperament had been almost totally subdued and crushed by the life of retirement and isolation she had led.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
crushedadjectiveUS /krʌʃt/
treated so as to have a permanently wrinkled appearance
From this reading Her naturally high spirits and elastic temperament had been almost totally subdued and crushed by the life of retirement and isolation she had led.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
elasticadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæstɪk/
capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression; springy
From this reading Her naturally high spirits and elastic temperament had been almost totally subdued and crushed by the life of retirement and isolation she had led.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
gaietynoun
a gay feeling
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Her naturally high spirits and elastic temperament had been almost totally subdued and crushed by the life of retirement and isolation she had led.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
isolationnounUS /ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃən/
a state of separation between persons or groups
From this reading Her naturally high spirits and elastic temperament had been almost totally subdued and crushed by the life of retirement and isolation she had led.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading Her naturally high spirits and elastic temperament had been almost totally subdued and crushed by the life of retirement and isolation she had led.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Her naturally high spirits and elastic temperament had been almost totally subdued and crushed by the life of retirement and isolation she had led.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
MaltanounUS /ˈmɔːltə/
a republic on the island of Malta in the Mediterranean; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1964
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
Maurice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
as might be expected
From this reading Her naturally high spirits and elastic temperament had been almost totally subdued and crushed by the life of retirement and isolation she had led.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
something you have to do
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
outcastnounUS /ˈaʊtkæst/
a person who is rejected (from society or home)
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
passagesnounUS /ˈpæsədʒəz/
plural of “passage” — the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
retirementnounUS /riˈtaɪərmənt/
the state of being retired from one's business or occupation
From this reading Her naturally high spirits and elastic temperament had been almost totally subdued and crushed by the life of retirement and isolation she had led.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
cut with a saw
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading Her naturally high spirits and elastic temperament had been almost totally subdued and crushed by the life of retirement and isolation she had led.
steednounUS /stiːd/
(literary) a spirited horse for state of war
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading Her naturally high spirits and elastic temperament had been almost totally subdued and crushed by the life of retirement and isolation she had led.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
the rays of the sun
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
temperamentnounUS /ˈtemprəmənt/
your usual mood
From this reading Her naturally high spirits and elastic temperament had been almost totally subdued and crushed by the life of retirement and isolation she had led.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
totallyadverbUS /ˈtoʊtəli/
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Her naturally high spirits and elastic temperament had been almost totally subdued and crushed by the life of retirement and isolation she had led.
twenty-onenounUS /ˈtwentiwɔːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty and one
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
precisely as stated
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
at the time that
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading She felt, although barely twenty-one, as if she had already lived her life: the happiness, gaiety, and domestic sunshine, the common lot of girls of her age, was not for her, an outcast from society, a deserted wife.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
a late time of life
From this reading Three years had made a wonderful change in Alice: she was a very different Alice to what she had been when we first saw her at Malta.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading Sometimes her youth and natural buoyancy would assert themselves, and she would find herself singing and laughing as of old, especially as she played with Maurice, and allowed him to drive her as his willing steed up and down the passages and round the garden; but such were rare occasions.
