used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WHAT IS HOME WITHOUT A MOTHER-IN-LAW?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We were back from the mountains, and our brief wedding-journey had become a thing of the past.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading We were back from the mountains, and our brief wedding-journey had become a thing of the past.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was Mrs. Pinkerton’s cottage, to be sure, but I entered it with the determination not to live there as a boarder or as a guest subject to the proprietor’s condescending hospitality.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading We were back from the mountains, and our brief wedding-journey had become a thing of the past.
bed-chamber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
boardernounUS /ˈbɔːrdər/
a tenant in someone's house
From this reading It was Mrs. Pinkerton’s cottage, to be sure, but I entered it with the determination not to live there as a boarder or as a guest subject to the proprietor’s condescending hospitality.
of short duration or distance
From this reading We were back from the mountains, and our brief wedding-journey had become a thing of the past.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was Mrs. Pinkerton’s cottage, to be sure, but I entered it with the determination not to live there as a boarder or as a guest subject to the proprietor’s condescending hospitality.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
condescendingadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːndɪˈsendɪŋ/
(used of behavior or attitude) characteristic of those who treat others with condescension
From this reading It was Mrs. Pinkerton’s cottage, to be sure, but I entered it with the determination not to live there as a boarder or as a guest subject to the proprietor’s condescending hospitality.
a small house with a single story
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
depositedverbUS /dəˈpɑːzɪtɪd/
past form of “deposit” — put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
determinationnounUS /dɪˌtɜːrməˈneɪʃən/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading It was Mrs. Pinkerton’s cottage, to be sure, but I entered it with the determination not to live there as a boarder or as a guest subject to the proprietor’s condescending hospitality.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading It was Mrs. Pinkerton’s cottage, to be sure, but I entered it with the determination not to live there as a boarder or as a guest subject to the proprietor’s condescending hospitality.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We were back from the mountains, and our brief wedding-journey had become a thing of the past.
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading It was Mrs. Pinkerton’s cottage, to be sure, but I entered it with the determination not to live there as a boarder or as a guest subject to the proprietor’s condescending hospitality.
hack-drivernoun
someone who drives a taxi for a living
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We were back from the mountains, and our brief wedding-journey had become a thing of the past.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading WHAT IS HOME WITHOUT A MOTHER-IN-LAW?
hospitalitynounUS /ˌhɑːspəˈtæləti/
kindness in welcoming guests or strangers
From this reading It was Mrs. Pinkerton’s cottage, to be sure, but I entered it with the determination not to live there as a boarder or as a guest subject to the proprietor’s condescending hospitality.
a social unit living together
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
installedverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɔːld/
inflected form of “instal” — set up for use
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
iron-bound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHAT IS HOME WITHOUT A MOTHER-IN-LAW?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Mrs. Pinkerton’s cottage, to be sure, but I entered it with the determination not to live there as a boarder or as a guest subject to the proprietor’s condescending hospitality.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading It was Mrs. Pinkerton’s cottage, to be sure, but I entered it with the determination not to live there as a boarder or as a guest subject to the proprietor’s condescending hospitality.
MOTHER-IN-LAWnounUS /ˈmʌðərɪnlɔː/
the mother of your spouse
From this reading WHAT IS HOME WITHOUT A MOTHER-IN-LAW?
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading We were back from the mountains, and our brief wedding-journey had become a thing of the past.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was Mrs. Pinkerton’s cottage, to be sure, but I entered it with the determination not to live there as a boarder or as a guest subject to the proprietor’s condescending hospitality.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We were back from the mountains, and our brief wedding-journey had become a thing of the past.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We were back from the mountains, and our brief wedding-journey had become a thing of the past.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading We were back from the mountains, and our brief wedding-journey had become a thing of the past.
Pinkerton's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
proprietor'snounUS /prəˈpraɪətərz/
possessive form of “proprietor” — (law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading It was Mrs. Pinkerton’s cottage, to be sure, but I entered it with the determination not to live there as a boarder or as a guest subject to the proprietor’s condescending hospitality.
puffingnounUS /ˈpʌfɪŋ/
blowing tobacco smoke out into the air
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
reluctantlyadverbUS /rɪˈlʌktəntli/
with reluctance
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading It was Mrs. Pinkerton’s cottage, to be sure, but I entered it with the determination not to live there as a boarder or as a guest subject to the proprietor’s condescending hospitality.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading It was Mrs. Pinkerton’s cottage, to be sure, but I entered it with the determination not to live there as a boarder or as a guest subject to the proprietor’s condescending hospitality.
surlyadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrli/
inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We were back from the mountains, and our brief wedding-journey had become a thing of the past.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was Mrs. Pinkerton’s cottage, to be sure, but I entered it with the determination not to live there as a boarder or as a guest subject to the proprietor’s condescending hospitality.
a special situation
From this reading We were back from the mountains, and our brief wedding-journey had become a thing of the past.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was Mrs. Pinkerton’s cottage, to be sure, but I entered it with the determination not to live there as a boarder or as a guest subject to the proprietor’s condescending hospitality.
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were back from the mountains, and our brief wedding-journey had become a thing of the past.
wealnoun
a raised mark on the skin (as produced by the blow of a whip); characteristic of many allergic reactions
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
wedding-journey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were back from the mountains, and our brief wedding-journey had become a thing of the past.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were back from the mountains, and our brief wedding-journey had become a thing of the past.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WHAT IS HOME WITHOUT A MOTHER-IN-LAW?
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was Mrs. Pinkerton’s cottage, to be sure, but I entered it with the determination not to live there as a boarder or as a guest subject to the proprietor’s condescending hospitality.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading WHAT IS HOME WITHOUT A MOTHER-IN-LAW?
woenounUS /woʊ/
misery resulting from affliction
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton’s iron-bound trunk had been reluctantly deposited in her bed-chamber by a puffing and surly hack-driver; and here was I, installed in the little cottage as head of the household, for weal or for woe.
