used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading And it was not very long before he proposed to Mercy and they were married.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
chokingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃoʊ.kɪŋ/
Causing difficulty in breathing.
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
Chuffey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If Pecksniff had searched London he could not have found a worse man for his daughter to marry.
courtedverbUS /ˈkɔːrtɪd/
past form of “court” — make amorous advances towards
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
a female human offspring
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
dosenounUS /doʊs/
a measured portion of medicine taken at any one time
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
opinion or judgment
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If Pecksniff had searched London he could not have found a worse man for his daughter to marry.
set up or found
From this reading If Pecksniff had searched London he could not have found a worse man for his daughter to marry.
past form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
guardiannounUS /ˈɡɑːrdiən/
a person who cares for persons or property
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If Pecksniff had searched London he could not have found a worse man for his daughter to marry.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If Pecksniff had searched London he could not have found a worse man for his daughter to marry.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Pecksniff had searched London he could not have found a worse man for his daughter to marry.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And it was not very long before he proposed to Mercy and they were married.
Jonas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
held up in the air
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading And it was not very long before he proposed to Mercy and they were married.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
joined in matrimony
From this reading And it was not very long before he proposed to Mercy and they were married.
take in marriage
From this reading If Pecksniff had searched London he could not have found a worse man for his daughter to marry.
medicinenounUS /ˈmedəsən/
the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading And it was not very long before he proposed to Mercy and they were married.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And it was not very long before he proposed to Mercy and they were married.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
Pecksniff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Pecksniff had searched London he could not have found a worse man for his daughter to marry.
Pecksniff's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
piousadjectiveUS /ˈpaɪəs/
having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
pretendedadjectiveUS /priˈtendɪd/
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading And it was not very long before he proposed to Mercy and they were married.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
possessing material wealth
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
searchedverbUS /sɜːrtʃt/
past form of “search” — try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading If Pecksniff had searched London he could not have found a worse man for his daughter to marry.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
son-in-lawnounUS /ˈsʌnɪnlɔː/
the husband of your daughter
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
spoonnounUS /spuːn/
a piece of cutlery with a shallow bowl-shaped container and a handle; used to stir or serve or take up food
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
swallowverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊ/
pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
thankfulnessnounUS /ˈθæŋkfəlnes/
warm friendly feelings of gratitude
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And it was not very long before he proposed to Mercy and they were married.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
up to a particular time
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
precisely as stated
From this reading And it was not very long before he proposed to Mercy and they were married.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She was a cruel nurse, and her way of making a sick man swallow a dose of medicine was by choking him till he gasped and then putting the spoon down his throat.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And it was not very long before he proposed to Mercy and they were married.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Such was the guardian Jonas chose to keep old Chuffey quiet in London, while he himself courted Pecksniff's daughter at her father's house.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But Pecksniff cared for nothing but money, and, as Jonas was now rich, he pretended great love for his new son-in-law and went around with his hands clasped and his eyes lifted to Heaven in pious thankfulness.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading If Pecksniff had searched London he could not have found a worse man for his daughter to marry.
