used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Dorine van Lowe lived by herself in a boarding-house, though old Mrs. van Lowe had a large house in the Alexanderstraat.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
Alexanderstraat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dorine van Lowe lived by herself in a boarding-house, though old Mrs. van Lowe had a large house in the Alexanderstraat.
(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 Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But, as a girl of twenty-two, she had left home to become a nurse; and, when she found that she had mistaken her vocation, Mamma had refused to let her come back.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But, as a girl of twenty-two, she had left home to become a nurse; and, when she found that she had mistaken her vocation, Mamma had refused to let her come back.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading But, as a girl of twenty-two, she had left home to become a nurse; and, when she found that she had mistaken her vocation, Mamma had refused to let her come back.
(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 Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
boarding-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dorine van Lowe lived by herself in a boarding-house, though old Mrs. van Lowe had a large house in the Alexanderstraat.
broodverbUS /bruːd/
think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, as a girl of twenty-two, she had left home to become a nurse; and, when she found that she had mistaken her vocation, Mamma had refused to let her come back.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Dorine van Lowe lived by herself in a boarding-house, though old Mrs. van Lowe had a large house in the Alexanderstraat.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading But surely, Mamma, who was so fond of gathering all her children round her, the friends would say.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But, as a girl of twenty-two, she had left home to become a nurse; and, when she found that she had mistaken her vocation, Mamma had refused to let her come back.
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
Dorine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dorine van Lowe lived by herself in a boarding-house, though old Mrs. van Lowe had a large house in the Alexanderstraat.
doted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading But surely, Mamma, who was so fond of gathering all her children round her, the friends would say.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
set up or found
From this reading But, as a girl of twenty-two, she had left home to become a nurse; and, when she found that she had mistaken her vocation, Mamma had refused to let her come back.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
fussingverbUS /ˈfʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “fuss” — worry unnecessarily or excessively
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading But surely, Mamma, who was so fond of gathering all her children round her, the friends would say.
a young female
From this reading But, as a girl of twenty-two, she had left home to become a nurse; and, when she found that she had mistaken her vocation, Mamma had refused to let her come back.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Dorine van Lowe lived by herself in a boarding-house, though old Mrs. van Lowe had a large house in the Alexanderstraat.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But, as a girl of twenty-two, she had left home to become a nurse; and, when she found that she had mistaken her vocation, Mamma had refused to let her come back.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Dorine van Lowe lived by herself in a boarding-house, though old Mrs. van Lowe had a large house in the Alexanderstraat.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading But, as a girl of twenty-two, she had left home to become a nurse; and, when she found that she had mistaken her vocation, Mamma had refused to let her come back.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Dorine van Lowe lived by herself in a boarding-house, though old Mrs. van Lowe had a large house in the Alexanderstraat.
housekeepingnounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpɪŋ/
the work of cleaning and running a house
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dorine van Lowe lived by herself in a boarding-house, though old Mrs. van Lowe had a large house in the Alexanderstraat.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Dorine van Lowe lived by herself in a boarding-house, though old Mrs. van Lowe had a large house in the Alexanderstraat.
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 But, as a girl of twenty-two, she had left home to become a nurse; and, when she found that she had mistaken her vocation, Mamma had refused to let her come back.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading But, as a girl of twenty-two, she had left home to become a nurse; and, when she found that she had mistaken her vocation, Mamma had refused to let her come back.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Dorine van Lowe lived by herself in a boarding-house, though old Mrs. van Lowe had a large house in the Alexanderstraat.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
Lowe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dorine van Lowe lived by herself in a boarding-house, though old Mrs. van Lowe had a large house in the Alexanderstraat.
informal terms for a mother
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment
From this reading But, as a girl of twenty-two, she had left home to become a nurse; and, when she found that she had mistaken her vocation, Mamma had refused to let her come back.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Dorine van Lowe lived by herself in a boarding-house, though old Mrs. van Lowe had a large house in the Alexanderstraat.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading But, as a girl of twenty-two, she had left home to become a nurse; and, when she found that she had mistaken her vocation, Mamma had refused to let her come back.
not divisible by two
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But, as a girl of twenty-two, she had left home to become a nurse; and, when she found that she had mistaken her vocation, Mamma had refused to let her come back.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Dorine van Lowe lived by herself in a boarding-house, though old Mrs. van Lowe had a large house in the Alexanderstraat.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
perplexedadjectiveUS /pərˈplekst/
full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/
more desirable than another
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading But, as a girl of twenty-two, she had left home to become a nurse; and, when she found that she had mistaken her vocation, Mamma had refused to let her come back.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading But surely, Mamma, who was so fond of gathering all her children round her, the friends would say.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
express in words
From this reading But surely, Mamma, who was so fond of gathering all her children round her, the friends would say.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But surely, Mamma, who was so fond of gathering all her children round her, the friends would say.
spoilverbUS /spɔɪl/
make a mess of, destroy or ruin
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
stayingverbUS /ˈsteɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading But surely, Mamma, who was so fond of gathering all her children round her, the friends would say.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dorine van Lowe lived by herself in a boarding-house, though old Mrs. van Lowe had a large house in the Alexanderstraat.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Dorine van Lowe lived by herself in a boarding-house, though old Mrs. van Lowe had a large house in the Alexanderstraat.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
twenty-twonounUS /ˈtwentituː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-one and one
From this reading But, as a girl of twenty-two, she had left home to become a nurse; and, when she found that she had mistaken her vocation, Mamma had refused to let her come back.
any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)
From this reading Dorine van Lowe lived by herself in a boarding-house, though old Mrs. van Lowe had a large house in the Alexanderstraat.
vocationnounUS /voʊˈkeɪʃən/
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading But, as a girl of twenty-two, she had left home to become a nurse; and, when she found that she had mistaken her vocation, Mamma had refused to let her come back.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
at the time that
From this reading But, as a girl of twenty-two, she had left home to become a nurse; and, when she found that she had mistaken her vocation, Mamma had refused to let her come back.
which person or people
From this reading But surely, Mamma, who was so fond of gathering all her children round her, the friends would say.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Their friends all thought this odd; and Dorine was a little perplexed at having constantly to explain that she would have liked nothing better than to live with Mamma and keep house for Mamma and look after Mamma and spoil Mamma.
an affirmative
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
but in spite of that
From this reading Yes, that was so, said Dorine: Mamma doted on her brood; and yet she preferred to be alone in her big house, she preferred to do her housekeeping herself and did not care to have any one staying with her or fussing about her....
