Chapter XXXI · Shakspeare’s Nurse

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading A woman must be poor indeed who sews linen for a livelihood in our great city.

in bodily form

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

in a busy manner

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading She was married, if the wedding-ring on her finger spoke the truth, and she called herself Mrs. Smith.

plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading A woman must be poor indeed who sews linen for a livelihood in our great city.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading She was very poor—you could tell that by her well-worn dress and the nature of her occupation.

put on clothes

From this reading She was very poor—you could tell that by her well-worn dress and the nature of her occupation.

feel or handle with the fingers

From this reading She was married, if the wedding-ring on her finger spoke the truth, and she called herself Mrs. Smith.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A woman must be poor indeed who sews linen for a livelihood in our great city.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading A woman must be poor indeed who sews linen for a livelihood in our great city.

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She was married, if the wedding-ring on her finger spoke the truth, and she called herself Mrs. Smith.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading She was married, if the wedding-ring on her finger spoke the truth, and she called herself Mrs. Smith.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading A woman must be poor indeed who sews linen for a livelihood in our great city.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

a boy or man

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant

From this reading A woman must be poor indeed who sews linen for a livelihood in our great city.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

the financial means whereby one lives

From this reading A woman must be poor indeed who sews linen for a livelihood in our great city.

joined in matrimony

From this reading She was married, if the wedding-ring on her finger spoke the truth, and she called herself Mrs. Smith.

involving the mind or an intellectual process

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading She was married, if the wedding-ring on her finger spoke the truth, and she called herself Mrs. Smith.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading A woman must be poor indeed who sews linen for a livelihood in our great city.

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading She was very poor—you could tell that by her well-worn dress and the nature of her occupation.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

the leaf of a conifer

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money

From this reading She was very poor—you could tell that by her well-worn dress and the nature of her occupation.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading A woman must be poor indeed who sews linen for a livelihood in our great city.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

-ing form of “ply” — give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading She was very poor—you could tell that by her well-worn dress and the nature of her occupation.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A woman must be poor indeed who sews linen for a livelihood in our great city.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She was very poor—you could tell that by her well-worn dress and the nature of her occupation.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

being one more than fifteen

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)

From this reading She was married, if the wedding-ring on her finger spoke the truth, and she called herself Mrs. Smith.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

an upholstered seat for more than one person

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading She was married, if the wedding-ring on her finger spoke the truth, and she called herself Mrs. Smith.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

a state of acute pain

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

express in words

From this reading She was very poor—you could tell that by her well-worn dress and the nature of her occupation.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

torment emotionally or mentally

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

a fact that has been verified

From this reading She was married, if the wedding-ring on her finger spoke the truth, and she called herself Mrs. Smith.

precisely as stated

From this reading She was very poor—you could tell that by her well-worn dress and the nature of her occupation.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading She was very poor—you could tell that by her well-worn dress and the nature of her occupation.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She was married, if the wedding-ring on her finger spoke the truth, and she called herself Mrs. Smith.

showing signs of much wear or use

From this reading She was very poor—you could tell that by her well-worn dress and the nature of her occupation.

having wheels; often used in combination

From this reading In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

which person or people

From this reading A woman must be poor indeed who sews linen for a livelihood in our great city.

belonging to which person

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

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 In a little back room in a street running off the Lambeth Road, a lad of about sixteen lay on the sofa, wheeled near the window so that he might see out into the street.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading She was very poor—you could tell that by her well-worn dress and the nature of her occupation.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading By his side, busily plying her needle and thread, sat a young woman whose thin hands and haggard cheeks told their own story of mental torture and bodily suffering.