used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NEW TROUBLE.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
Ah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah! folks spoil their children now; When I was a young woman 'twas not so."
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading That first day passed--but drearily enough.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading "Ah! folks spoil their children now; When I was a young woman 'twas not so."
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading That first day passed--but drearily enough.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
drearilyadverb
in a cheerless manner
From this reading That first day passed--but drearily enough.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading That first day passed--but drearily enough.
at any time
From this reading Pierson was really very kind--kinder than we had ever known her.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading That first day passed--but drearily enough.
your parents
From this reading "Ah! folks spoil their children now; When I was a young woman 'twas not so."
grumbleverbUS /ˈɡrʌmbəl/
show one's unhappiness or critical attitude
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
grumbly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Pierson was really very kind--kinder than we had ever known her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Pierson was really very kind--kinder than we had ever known her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Ah! folks spoil their children now; When I was a young woman 'twas not so."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Pierson was really very kind--kinder than we had ever known her.
kinderadjectiveUS /ˈkaɪndər/
comparative of “kind” — having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Pierson was really very kind--kinder than we had ever known her.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Pierson was really very kind--kinder than we had ever known her.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading A NEW TROUBLE.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Ah! folks spoil their children now; When I was a young woman 'twas not so."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Ah! folks spoil their children now; When I was a young woman 'twas not so."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
and nothing more
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading That first day passed--but drearily enough.
Pierson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pierson was really very kind--kinder than we had ever known her.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Pierson was really very kind--kinder than we had ever known her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Ah! folks spoil their children now; When I was a young woman 'twas not so."
spoilverbUS /spɔɪl/
make a mess of, destroy or ruin
From this reading "Ah! folks spoil their children now; When I was a young woman 'twas not so."
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Pierson was really very kind--kinder than we had ever known her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That first day passed--but drearily enough.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "Ah! folks spoil their children now; When I was a young woman 'twas not so."
a source of difficulty
From this reading A NEW TROUBLE.
twas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah! folks spoil their children now; When I was a young woman 'twas not so."
unnounUS /ʌn/
an organization of independent states formed in 1945 to promote international peace and security
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
unkindadjectiveUS /ənˈkaɪnd/
lacking kindness
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
precisely as stated
From this reading Pierson was really very kind--kinder than we had ever known her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Ah! folks spoil their children now; When I was a young woman 'twas not so."
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Pierson was really very kind--kinder than we had ever known her.
at the time that
From this reading "Ah! folks spoil their children now; When I was a young woman 'twas not so."
which person or people
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Not that she had ever been _un_kind; only grumbly--but never unkind so that the boys and I could be _afraid_ of her, and when mother was with us, mother who was _always_ cheerful, it didn't matter much if Pierson did grumble.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading "Ah! folks spoil their children now; When I was a young woman 'twas not so."
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading "Ah! folks spoil their children now; When I was a young woman 'twas not so."
