used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.
acquaintverbUS /əˈkweɪnt/
cause to come to know personally
From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.
contemplatingverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
From this reading He was contemplating the ripening crop with a most rueful face.
cornfieldsnounUS /ˈkɔːrnˈfiːldz/
plural of “cornfield” — a field planted with corn
From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
cropnounUS /krɑːp/
the yield from plants in a single growing season
From this reading He was contemplating the ripening crop with a most rueful face.
a female human offspring
From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
dearly loved
From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
despondencynounUS /dɪˈspɑːndənsi/
feeling downcast and disheartened and hopeless
From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He was contemplating the ripening crop with a most rueful face.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
set up or found
From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
hatefuladjectiveUS /ˈheɪtfəl/
evoking or deserving hatred
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was contemplating the ripening crop with a most rueful face.
hedgeverbUS /hedʒ/
avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
indebtedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdetɪd/
owing gratitude or recognition to another for help or favors etc
From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.
indebtednessnounUS /ˌɪnˈdetɪdnɪs/
an obligation to pay money to another party
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.
the sound of laughing
From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.
light-heartedadjective
carefree and happy and lighthearted
From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
lowestadjectiveUS /ˈloʊəst/
lowest in rank or importance
From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He was contemplating the ripening crop with a most rueful face.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
Olivia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
packetnounUS /ˈpækət/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
perversitynounUS /pərˈvɜːrsəti/
deliberate and stubborn unruliness and resistance to guidance or discipline
From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.
pouncedverbUS /paʊnst/
past form of “pounce” — move down on as if in an attack
From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/
more desirable than another
From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.
on the contrary
From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
releaseverbUS /riˈliːs/
release, as from one's grip
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
past form of “render” — cause to become
From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.
ripeningnounUS /ˈraɪpənɪŋ/
coming to full development; becoming mature
From this reading He was contemplating the ripening crop with a most rueful face.
ruefuladjectiveUS /ˈruːfəl/
feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses
From this reading He was contemplating the ripening crop with a most rueful face.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.
a person, without saying who
From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.
express in speech
From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
in the direction of
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
at the time that
From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
WilliamsnounUS /ˈwɪljəmz/
United States country singer and songwriter (1923-1953)
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.
