used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Sarah,” said Mrs. Merton, “here is a little girl who is going to stay with me, and help about the house.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Sarah,” said Mrs. Merton, “here is a little girl who is going to stay with me, and help about the house.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
having companions or an escort
From this reading Tom accompanied her upstairs to the second floor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Sarah,” said Mrs. Merton, “here is a little girl who is going to stay with me, and help about the house.
the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
bedsnounUS /bedz/
plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading On the way to the kitchen they met Sarah, the chambermaid, going upstairs to make the beds.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
chambermaidnoun
a maid who is employed to clean and care for bedrooms (now primarily in hotels)
From this reading On the way to the kitchen they met Sarah, the chambermaid, going upstairs to make the beds.
civilizedadjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəlaɪzd/
having a high state of culture and development both social and technological
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
costumenounUS /kɑːˈstuːm/
the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
dispenseverbUS /dɪˈspens/
administer or bestow, as in small portions
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Tom accompanied her upstairs to the second floor.
a young female
From this reading “Sarah,” said Mrs. Merton, “here is a little girl who is going to stay with me, and help about the house.
the act of departing
From this reading On the way to the kitchen they met Sarah, the chambermaid, going upstairs to make the beds.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading “Sarah,” said Mrs. Merton, “here is a little girl who is going to stay with me, and help about the house.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading You may take her upstairs, and show her how to help you make the beds.”
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “Sarah,” said Mrs. Merton, “here is a little girl who is going to stay with me, and help about the house.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading “Sarah,” said Mrs. Merton, “here is a little girl who is going to stay with me, and help about the house.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You may take her upstairs, and show her how to help you make the beds.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Sarah,” said Mrs. Merton, “here is a little girl who is going to stay with me, and help about the house.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading On the way to the kitchen they met Sarah, the chambermaid, going upstairs to make the beds.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “Sarah,” said Mrs. Merton, “here is a little girl who is going to stay with me, and help about the house.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
engage in
From this reading On the way to the kitchen they met Sarah, the chambermaid, going upstairs to make the beds.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading You may take her upstairs, and show her how to help you make the beds.”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Sarah,” said Mrs. Merton, “here is a little girl who is going to stay with me, and help about the house.
MertonnounUS /ˈmɜːrtən/
United States religious and writer (1915-1968)
From this reading “Sarah,” said Mrs. Merton, “here is a little girl who is going to stay with me, and help about the house.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading On the way to the kitchen they met Sarah, the chambermaid, going upstairs to make the beds.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading “Sarah,” said Mrs. Merton, “here is a little girl who is going to stay with me, and help about the house.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the way to the kitchen they met Sarah, the chambermaid, going upstairs to make the beds.
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/
more desirable than another
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Sarah,” said Mrs. Merton, “here is a little girl who is going to stay with me, and help about the house.
SarahnounUS /ˈserə/
(Old Testament) the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac
From this reading On the way to the kitchen they met Sarah, the chambermaid, going upstairs to make the beds.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Tom accompanied her upstairs to the second floor.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading You may take her upstairs, and show her how to help you make the beds.”
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading “Sarah,” said Mrs. Merton, “here is a little girl who is going to stay with me, and help about the house.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
carry out
From this reading You may take her upstairs, and show her how to help you make the beds.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the way to the kitchen they met Sarah, the chambermaid, going upstairs to make the beds.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On the way to the kitchen they met Sarah, the chambermaid, going upstairs to make the beds.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the way to the kitchen they met Sarah, the chambermaid, going upstairs to make the beds.
male cat
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
on a floor above
From this reading On the way to the kitchen they met Sarah, the chambermaid, going upstairs to make the beds.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading On the way to the kitchen they met Sarah, the chambermaid, going upstairs to make the beds.
which person or people
From this reading “Sarah,” said Mrs. Merton, “here is a little girl who is going to stay with me, and help about the house.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Sarah,” said Mrs. Merton, “here is a little girl who is going to stay with me, and help about the house.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If Tom had been in her street costume, Sarah would have preferred to dispense with her assistance, but she looked quite civilized and respectable now, and she accepted the offer.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You may take her upstairs, and show her how to help you make the beds.”
