used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
matters of personal concern
From this reading I consulted with Bessie, and she agreed with me, and promised to assume the direction of household affairs.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading I consulted with Bessie, and she agreed with me, and promised to assume the direction of household affairs.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
assertverbUS /əˈsɜːrt/
state categorically
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
assumeverbUS /əˈsuːm/
take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
From this reading I consulted with Bessie, and she agreed with me, and promised to assume the direction of household affairs.
Bessie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I consulted with Bessie, and she agreed with me, and promised to assume the direction of household affairs.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading There was nothing that I could make the cause of direct complaint, and it was hard to get into a downright conflict which would involve plain speaking.
complaintnounUS /kəmˈpleɪnt/
an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
From this reading There was nothing that I could make the cause of direct complaint, and it was hard to get into a downright conflict which would involve plain speaking.
conflictnounUS /ˈkɑːnflɪkt/
an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)
From this reading There was nothing that I could make the cause of direct complaint, and it was hard to get into a downright conflict which would involve plain speaking.
consultedverbUS /kənˈsʌltəd/
past form of “consult” — get or ask advice from
From this reading I consulted with Bessie, and she agreed with me, and promised to assume the direction of household affairs.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There was nothing that I could make the cause of direct complaint, and it was hard to get into a downright conflict which would involve plain speaking.
the Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchy
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
characterized by great determination
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
command with authority
From this reading There was nothing that I could make the cause of direct complaint, and it was hard to get into a downright conflict which would involve plain speaking.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading I consulted with Bessie, and she agreed with me, and promised to assume the direction of household affairs.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading How was I to do it?
downrightadverbUS /ˈdaʊnraɪt/
thoroughgoing
From this reading There was nothing that I could make the cause of direct complaint, and it was hard to get into a downright conflict which would involve plain speaking.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading There was nothing that I could make the cause of direct complaint, and it was hard to get into a downright conflict which would involve plain speaking.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
habitualadjectiveUS /həˈbɪtʃuːəl/
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading There was nothing that I could make the cause of direct complaint, and it was hard to get into a downright conflict which would involve plain speaking.
a social unit living together
From this reading I consulted with Bessie, and she agreed with me, and promised to assume the direction of household affairs.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How was I to do it?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There was nothing that I could make the cause of direct complaint, and it was hard to get into a downright conflict which would involve plain speaking.
involveverbUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlv/
connect closely and often incriminatingly
From this reading There was nothing that I could make the cause of direct complaint, and it was hard to get into a downright conflict which would involve plain speaking.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading How was I to do it?
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
engage in
From this reading There was nothing that I could make the cause of direct complaint, and it was hard to get into a downright conflict which would involve plain speaking.
marredadjectiveUS /mɑːrd/
blemished by injury or rough wear
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I consulted with Bessie, and she agreed with me, and promised to assume the direction of household affairs.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
MOTHER-IN-LAWnounUS /ˈmʌðərɪnlɔː/
the mother of your spouse
From this reading MY MOTHER-IN-LAW SUBDUED.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading MY MOTHER-IN-LAW SUBDUED.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
nightmarenounUS /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/
A terrifying or distressing dream.
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was nothing that I could make the cause of direct complaint, and it was hard to get into a downright conflict which would involve plain speaking.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading There was nothing that I could make the cause of direct complaint, and it was hard to get into a downright conflict which would involve plain speaking.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading I consulted with Bessie, and she agreed with me, and promised to assume the direction of household affairs.
puffsnounUS /pʌfs/
plural of “puff” — a short light gust of air
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
reduceverbUS /rəˈduːs/
cut down on; make a reduction in
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I consulted with Bessie, and she agreed with me, and promised to assume the direction of household affairs.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading There was nothing that I could make the cause of direct complaint, and it was hard to get into a downright conflict which would involve plain speaking.
statelyadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪtli/
impressive in appearance
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
SUBDUEDadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading MY MOTHER-IN-LAW SUBDUED.
submissionnounUS /səbˈmɪʃən/
something (manuscripts or architectural plans and models or estimates or works of art of all genres etc.) submitted for the judgment of others (as in a competition)
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
subordinateadjectiveUS /səˈbɔːrdəneɪt/
lower in rank or importance
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was nothing that I could make the cause of direct complaint, and it was hard to get into a downright conflict which would involve plain speaking.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As I was saying, I made up my mind that our happiness was marred by habitual submission to mother-in-law, and I determined to shake off the nightmare, to assert myself, and to reduce that stately crown of gray puffs to a subordinate place.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was nothing that I could make the cause of direct complaint, and it was hard to get into a downright conflict which would involve plain speaking.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I consulted with Bessie, and she agreed with me, and promised to assume the direction of household affairs.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There was nothing that I could make the cause of direct complaint, and it was hard to get into a downright conflict which would involve plain speaking.
