used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
matters of personal concern
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He could take up some quiet pursuit and continue to make a little money as long as he lived, but he could leave only the most trifling income.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “You mean well,” he said, “but you don’t know.”
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading He could take up some quiet pursuit and continue to make a little money as long as he lived, but he could leave only the most trifling income.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could get something for his interest in the business, if he retired, but not enough to make proper provision for her.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You mean well,” he said, “but you don’t know.”
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading And, in his efforts to improve matters, he had only made them worse.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading He could get something for his interest in the business, if he retired, but not enough to make proper provision for her.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He could get something for his interest in the business, if he retired, but not enough to make proper provision for her.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He could get something for his interest in the business, if he retired, but not enough to make proper provision for her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “You mean well,” he said, “but you don’t know.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He could get something for his interest in the business, if he retired, but not enough to make proper provision for her.
husband'snounUS /ˈhʌzbəndz/
possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He could get something for his interest in the business, if he retired, but not enough to make proper provision for her.
improveverbUS /ˌɪmˈpruːv/
to make better
From this reading And, in his efforts to improve matters, he had only made them worse.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
incomenounUS /ˈɪnkʌm/
the financial gain (earned or unearned) accruing over a given period of time
From this reading He could take up some quiet pursuit and continue to make a little money as long as he lived, but he could leave only the most trifling income.
insurancenounUS /ˌɪnˈʃʊrəns/
promise of reimbursement in the case of loss; paid to people or companies so concerned about hazards that they have made prepayments to an insurance company
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading He could get something for his interest in the business, if he retired, but not enough to make proper provision for her.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “You mean well,” he said, “but you don’t know.”
go away from a place
From this reading He could take up some quiet pursuit and continue to make a little money as long as he lived, but he could leave only the most trifling income.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading He could take up some quiet pursuit and continue to make a little money as long as he lived, but he could leave only the most trifling income.
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 He could take up some quiet pursuit and continue to make a little money as long as he lived, but he could leave only the most trifling income.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading And, in his efforts to improve matters, he had only made them worse.
engage in
From this reading He could get something for his interest in the business, if he retired, but not enough to make proper provision for her.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading And, in his efforts to improve matters, he had only made them worse.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading “You mean well,” he said, “but you don’t know.”
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading He could take up some quiet pursuit and continue to make a little money as long as he lived, but he could leave only the most trifling income.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He could take up some quiet pursuit and continue to make a little money as long as he lived, but he could leave only the most trifling income.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
and nothing more
From this reading He could take up some quiet pursuit and continue to make a little money as long as he lived, but he could leave only the most trifling income.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
precautionsnounUS /priˈkɔːʃənz/
plural of “precaution” — a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading He could get something for his interest in the business, if he retired, but not enough to make proper provision for her.
provisionnounUS /prəˈvɪʒən/
a stipulated condition
From this reading He could get something for his interest in the business, if he retired, but not enough to make proper provision for her.
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading He could take up some quiet pursuit and continue to make a little money as long as he lived, but he could leave only the most trifling income.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading He could take up some quiet pursuit and continue to make a little money as long as he lived, but he could leave only the most trifling income.
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading He could get something for his interest in the business, if he retired, but not enough to make proper provision for her.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “You mean well,” he said, “but you don’t know.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He could take up some quiet pursuit and continue to make a little money as long as he lived, but he could leave only the most trifling income.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He could get something for his interest in the business, if he retired, but not enough to make proper provision for her.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
carry out
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading And, in his efforts to improve matters, he had only made them worse.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
triflingnounUS /ˈtraɪflɪŋ/
the deliberate act of delaying and playing instead of working
From this reading He could take up some quiet pursuit and continue to make a little money as long as he lived, but he could leave only the most trifling income.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He could take up some quiet pursuit and continue to make a little money as long as he lived, but he could leave only the most trifling income.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “You mean well,” he said, “but you don’t know.”
Wentworth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Mrs. Wentworth was not a business woman, and she knew little of her husband’s affairs, but she had a feeling that this question of life insurance was all that stood in the way of the precautions that he ought to take.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading And, in his efforts to improve matters, he had only made them worse.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You mean well,” he said, “but you don’t know.”
