used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Illness in a stranger’s house was her opportunity; in her own house it was her glory.
(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 When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was nothing Mrs. Sheerug enjoyed better than an invalid.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading She had remedies of her own invention which were calculated to grapple with any crisis of ill-health.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading There was nothing Mrs. Sheerug enjoyed better than an invalid.
bodicenounUS /ˈbɑːdɪs/
part of a dress above the waist
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
calculatedadjectiveUS /ˈkælkjəleɪtɪd/
carefully thought out in advance
From this reading She had remedies of her own invention which were calculated to grapple with any crisis of ill-health.
carpet-slippers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
approval
From this reading She loved to exaggerate the patient’s symptoms; the graver they were, the more a recovery would redound to her credit.
crisisnounUS /ˈkraɪsəs/
an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
From this reading She had remedies of her own invention which were calculated to grapple with any crisis of ill-health.
doctorsnounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/
plural of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
dressing-gown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading There was nothing Mrs. Sheerug enjoyed better than an invalid.
exaggerateverbUS /ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪt/
to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth
From this reading She loved to exaggerate the patient’s symptoms; the graver they were, the more a recovery would redound to her credit.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
a state of high honor
From this reading Illness in a stranger’s house was her opportunity; in her own house it was her glory.
destroyed or killed
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
grappleverbUS /ˈɡræpəl/
succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available
From this reading She had remedies of her own invention which were calculated to grapple with any crisis of ill-health.
gravernounUS /ˈɡreɪvər/
a tool used by an engraver
From this reading She loved to exaggerate the patient’s symptoms; the graver they were, the more a recovery would redound to her credit.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Illness in a stranger’s house was her opportunity; in her own house it was her glory.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Illness in a stranger’s house was her opportunity; in her own house it was her glory.
ill-health
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had remedies of her own invention which were calculated to grapple with any crisis of ill-health.
IllnessnounUS /ˈɪlnəs/
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
From this reading Illness in a stranger’s house was her opportunity; in her own house it was her glory.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Illness in a stranger’s house was her opportunity; in her own house it was her glory.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
invalidnounUS /ˈɪnvələd/
someone who is incapacitated by a chronic illness or injury
From this reading There was nothing Mrs. Sheerug enjoyed better than an invalid.
inventionnounUS /ˌɪnˈvenʃən/
the creation of something in the mind
From this reading She had remedies of her own invention which were calculated to grapple with any crisis of ill-health.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Illness in a stranger’s house was her opportunity; in her own house it was her glory.
knobnounUS /nɑːb/
a circular rounded projection or protuberance
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
held dear
From this reading She loved to exaggerate the patient’s symptoms; the graver they were, the more a recovery would redound to her credit.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She loved to exaggerate the patient’s symptoms; the graver they were, the more a recovery would redound to her credit.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading There was nothing Mrs. Sheerug enjoyed better than an invalid.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was nothing Mrs. Sheerug enjoyed better than an invalid.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Illness in a stranger’s house was her opportunity; in her own house it was her glory.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Illness in a stranger’s house was her opportunity; in her own house it was her glory.
patient'snounUS /ˈpeɪʃənts/
possessive form of “patient” — a person who requires medical care
From this reading She loved to exaggerate the patient’s symptoms; the graver they were, the more a recovery would redound to her credit.
pinverbUS /pɪn/
to hold fast or prevent from moving
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
plum-colored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
recoverynounUS /rɪˈkʌvri/
return to an original state
From this reading She loved to exaggerate the patient’s symptoms; the graver they were, the more a recovery would redound to her credit.
redoundverbUS /riˈdaʊnd/
return or recoil
From this reading She loved to exaggerate the patient’s symptoms; the graver they were, the more a recovery would redound to her credit.
remediesnounUS /ˈremədiz/
plural of “remedy” — act of correcting an error or a fault or an evil
From this reading She had remedies of her own invention which were calculated to grapple with any crisis of ill-health.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
ritualnounUS /ˈrɪtʃuːəl/
any customary observance or practice
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
scantadjectiveUS /skænt/
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She loved to exaggerate the patient’s symptoms; the graver they were, the more a recovery would redound to her credit.
Sheerug
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing Mrs. Sheerug enjoyed better than an invalid.
stranger'snounUS /ˈstreɪndʒərz/
possessive form of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading Illness in a stranger’s house was her opportunity; in her own house it was her glory.
of high or superior quality or performance
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
symptomsnounUS /ˈsɪmptəmz/
plural of “symptom” — (medicine) any sensation or change in bodily function that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a particular disease
From this reading She loved to exaggerate the patient’s symptoms; the graver they were, the more a recovery would redound to her credit.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There was nothing Mrs. Sheerug enjoyed better than an invalid.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She loved to exaggerate the patient’s symptoms; the graver they were, the more a recovery would redound to her credit.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was nothing Mrs. Sheerug enjoyed better than an invalid.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She loved to exaggerate the patient’s symptoms; the graver they were, the more a recovery would redound to her credit.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She loved to exaggerate the patient’s symptoms; the graver they were, the more a recovery would redound to her credit.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was nothing Mrs. Sheerug enjoyed better than an invalid.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She loved to exaggerate the patient’s symptoms; the graver they were, the more a recovery would redound to her credit.
at the time that
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When she had pushed her feet into old carpet-slippers, removed her bodice, put on her plum-colored dressing-gown, and fastened her scant gray hair with one pin into a tight little knob at the back of her head, she felt that she had gone through a ritual which made her superior to all doctors.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She loved to exaggerate the patient’s symptoms; the graver they were, the more a recovery would redound to her credit.
