(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Again and again did she wish that she had never taken the first wrong step, never formed the evil habit of taking what was not her own, and sometimes she feared she should never be able to break it off now.
anew
From this reading Again and again did she wish that she had never taken the first wrong step, never formed the evil habit of taking what was not her own, and sometimes she feared she should never be able to break it off now.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been easy enough to slip into the habit of pilfering, but it was not so easy to break it off, when once it was commenced.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
terminate
From this reading It had been easy enough to slip into the habit of pilfering, but it was not so easy to break it off, when once it was commenced.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It had been easy enough to slip into the habit of pilfering, but it was not so easy to break it off, when once it was commenced.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading CONCLUSION.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
earnverbUS /ɜːrn/
earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading It had been easy enough to slip into the habit of pilfering, but it was not so easy to break it off, when once it was commenced.
ELFIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading It had been easy enough to slip into the habit of pilfering, but it was not so easy to break it off, when once it was commenced.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading Again and again did she wish that she had never taken the first wrong step, never formed the evil habit of taking what was not her own, and sometimes she feared she should never be able to break it off now.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Again and again did she wish that she had never taken the first wrong step, never formed the evil habit of taking what was not her own, and sometimes she feared she should never be able to break it off now.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Again and again did she wish that she had never taken the first wrong step, never formed the evil habit of taking what was not her own, and sometimes she feared she should never be able to break it off now.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading Again and again did she wish that she had never taken the first wrong step, never formed the evil habit of taking what was not her own, and sometimes she feared she should never be able to break it off now.
an established custom
From this reading It had been easy enough to slip into the habit of pilfering, but it was not so easy to break it off, when once it was commenced.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
HonestynounUS /ˈɑːnəsti/
the quality of being honest
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It had been easy enough to slip into the habit of pilfering, but it was not so easy to break it off, when once it was commenced.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
the sound of laughing
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
maximnounUS /ˈmæksəm/
a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Again and again did she wish that she had never taken the first wrong step, never formed the evil habit of taking what was not her own, and sometimes she feared she should never be able to break it off now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It had been easy enough to slip into the habit of pilfering, but it was not so easy to break it off, when once it was commenced.
on one occasion
From this reading It had been easy enough to slip into the habit of pilfering, but it was not so easy to break it off, when once it was commenced.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Again and again did she wish that she had never taken the first wrong step, never formed the evil habit of taking what was not her own, and sometimes she feared she should never be able to break it off now.
pilferingverbUS /ˈpɪlfərɪŋ/
-ing form of “pilfer” — make off with belongings of others
From this reading It had been easy enough to slip into the habit of pilfering, but it was not so easy to break it off, when once it was commenced.
policynounUS /ˈpɑːləsi/
a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
on the contrary
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Again and again did she wish that she had never taken the first wrong step, never formed the evil habit of taking what was not her own, and sometimes she feared she should never be able to break it off now.
move stealthily
From this reading It had been easy enough to slip into the habit of pilfering, but it was not so easy to break it off, when once it was commenced.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It had been easy enough to slip into the habit of pilfering, but it was not so easy to break it off, when once it was commenced.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Again and again did she wish that she had never taken the first wrong step, never formed the evil habit of taking what was not her own, and sometimes she feared she should never be able to break it off now.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Again and again did she wish that she had never taken the first wrong step, never formed the evil habit of taking what was not her own, and sometimes she feared she should never be able to break it off now.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Again and again did she wish that she had never taken the first wrong step, never formed the evil habit of taking what was not her own, and sometimes she feared she should never be able to break it off now.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Again and again did she wish that she had never taken the first wrong step, never formed the evil habit of taking what was not her own, and sometimes she feared she should never be able to break it off now.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
hard to endure
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It had been easy enough to slip into the habit of pilfering, but it was not so easy to break it off, when once it was commenced.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Again and again did she wish that she had never taken the first wrong step, never formed the evil habit of taking what was not her own, and sometimes she feared she should never be able to break it off now.
at the time that
From this reading It had been easy enough to slip into the habit of pilfering, but it was not so easy to break it off, when once it was commenced.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading Again and again did she wish that she had never taken the first wrong step, never formed the evil habit of taking what was not her own, and sometimes she feared she should never be able to break it off now.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading She knew how much, or rather how little, she could earn by fair work; knew, too, that some of her companions would laugh at her for trying to be honest; but she did not know how hard the struggle would be until she fairly tried it.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading ELFIE had probably never heard the maxim, "Honesty is the best policy;" and if she had, she certainly would not have believed it.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading Again and again did she wish that she had never taken the first wrong step, never formed the evil habit of taking what was not her own, and sometimes she feared she should never be able to break it off now.
