used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
(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 "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She will never venture out with the child, and so careful as she is too, bless her dear little motherly heart.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
AuroranounUS /ərˈɔːrə/
the first light of day
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
give a benediction to
From this reading She will never venture out with the child, and so careful as she is too, bless her dear little motherly heart.
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading "A wild night," he muttered to himself more than once; "it is raining whole buckets-full, and blowing hard.
buckets-full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A wild night," he muttered to himself more than once; "it is raining whole buckets-full, and blowing hard.
CALEB
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CALEB RUNCIMAN.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading She will never venture out with the child, and so careful as she is too, bless her dear little motherly heart.
a young person of either sex
From this reading She will never venture out with the child, and so careful as she is too, bless her dear little motherly heart.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
absence of light or illumination
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
dearly loved
From this reading She will never venture out with the child, and so careful as she is too, bless her dear little motherly heart.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
opinion or judgment
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
flaccidadjectiveUS /ˈflæksɪd/
drooping without elasticity; wanting in stiffness
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading "A wild night," he muttered to himself more than once; "it is raining whole buckets-full, and blowing hard.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "A wild night," he muttered to himself more than once; "it is raining whole buckets-full, and blowing hard.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading She will never venture out with the child, and so careful as she is too, bless her dear little motherly heart.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She will never venture out with the child, and so careful as she is too, bless her dear little motherly heart.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "A wild night," he muttered to himself more than once; "it is raining whole buckets-full, and blowing hard.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "A wild night," he muttered to himself more than once; "it is raining whole buckets-full, and blowing hard.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "A wild night," he muttered to himself more than once; "it is raining whole buckets-full, and blowing hard.
kerchiefnounUS /ˈkɜːrtʃəf/
a square scarf that is folded into a triangle and worn over the head or about the neck
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
LeighnounUS /liː/
English film actress (1913-1967)
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
being nothing more than specified
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "A wild night," he muttered to himself more than once; "it is raining whole buckets-full, and blowing hard.
motherlyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌðərli/
befitting a mother; warm and nurturing
From this reading She will never venture out with the child, and so careful as she is too, bless her dear little motherly heart.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading "A wild night," he muttered to himself more than once; "it is raining whole buckets-full, and blowing hard.
nervenounUS /nɜːrv/
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She will never venture out with the child, and so careful as she is too, bless her dear little motherly heart.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/
the month following October and preceding December
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
on one occasion
From this reading "A wild night," he muttered to himself more than once; "it is raining whole buckets-full, and blowing hard.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She will never venture out with the child, and so careful as she is too, bless her dear little motherly heart.
over-lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
over-strained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
over-tasked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
pettishadjective
easily irritated or annoyed
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
pettyadjectiveUS /ˈpetiː/
inferior in rank or status
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
rainingadjectiveUS /ˈreɪnɪŋ/
falling in drops or as if falling like rain
From this reading "A wild night," he muttered to himself more than once; "it is raining whole buckets-full, and blowing hard.
RUNCIMAN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CALEB RUNCIMAN.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She will never venture out with the child, and so careful as she is too, bless her dear little motherly heart.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
strainingnounUS /ˈstreɪnɪŋ/
an intense or violent exertion
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
comparative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "A wild night," he muttered to himself more than once; "it is raining whole buckets-full, and blowing hard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
a special situation
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "A wild night," he muttered to himself more than once; "it is raining whole buckets-full, and blowing hard.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading She will never venture out with the child, and so careful as she is too, bless her dear little motherly heart.
in the direction of
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome
From this reading She will never venture out with the child, and so careful as she is too, bless her dear little motherly heart.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading "A wild night," he muttered to himself more than once; "it is raining whole buckets-full, and blowing hard.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading "A wild night," he muttered to himself more than once; "it is raining whole buckets-full, and blowing hard.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading She will never venture out with the child, and so careful as she is too, bless her dear little motherly heart.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
wistfullyadverbUS /ˈwɪstfəli/
in a wistful manner
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She will never venture out with the child, and so careful as she is too, bless her dear little motherly heart.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading "Why what a pettish, petty thing I grow, A mere, mere woman, a mere flaccid nerve, A kerchief left all night in the rain, Turned soft so--over-tasked and over-strained And over-lived in this close London life!
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet I should be stronger."--_Aurora Leigh._ One wet evening, towards the end of November, Caleb Runciman stood at the window of his little parlor, straining his eyes wistfully into the darkness.
