used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Elinor went away from home to keep house for an uncle, she being about this time nineteen.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They had been very, very poor once before, but now they seemed even poorer, and life seemed a misery and an uncertain drag.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
appointmentnounUS /əˈpɔɪntmənt/
the act of putting a person into a non-elective position
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Elinor went away from home to keep house for an uncle, she being about this time nineteen.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They had been very, very poor once before, but now they seemed even poorer, and life seemed a misery and an uncertain drag.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading They had been very, very poor once before, but now they seemed even poorer, and life seemed a misery and an uncertain drag.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Elinor went away from home to keep house for an uncle, she being about this time nineteen.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They had been very, very poor once before, but now they seemed even poorer, and life seemed a misery and an uncertain drag.
CiviladjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəl/
applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
Deborah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
dragverbUS /dræɡ/
pull, as against a resistance
From this reading They had been very, very poor once before, but now they seemed even poorer, and life seemed a misery and an uncertain drag.
a British peer of the highest rank
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
Elinor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
enabledverbUS /eˈneɪbəld/
past form of “enable” — render capable or able for some task
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
divisible by two
From this reading They had been very, very poor once before, but now they seemed even poorer, and life seemed a misery and an uncertain drag.
examinationnounUS /ɪɡˌzæməˈneɪʃən/
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
a person who operates a farm
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Elinor went away from home to keep house for an uncle, she being about this time nineteen.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Elinor went away from home to keep house for an uncle, she being about this time nineteen.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
a small worthless amount
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Elinor went away from home to keep house for an uncle, she being about this time nineteen.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
Maggie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
Marion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune
From this reading They had been very, very poor once before, but now they seemed even poorer, and life seemed a misery and an uncertain drag.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
nineteennounUS /ˈnaɪnˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of eighteen and one
From this reading Elinor went away from home to keep house for an uncle, she being about this time nineteen.
not any; not one
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
noblemannounUS /ˈnoʊbəlmən/
a titled peer of the realm
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
come into possession of
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
past form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
on one occasion
From this reading They had been very, very poor once before, but now they seemed even poorer, and life seemed a misery and an uncertain drag.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading They had been very, very poor once before, but now they seemed even poorer, and life seemed a misery and an uncertain drag.
pooreradjectiveUS /ˈpuːrər/
comparative of “poor” — deserving or inciting pity
From this reading They had been very, very poor once before, but now they seemed even poorer, and life seemed a misery and an uncertain drag.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
Identical; not different.
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Elinor went away from home to keep house for an uncle, she being about this time nineteen.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
a male human offspring
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
not in physical motion
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
tenantnounUS /ˈtenənt/
someone who pays rent to use land or a building or a car that is owned by someone else
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had been very, very poor once before, but now they seemed even poorer, and life seemed a misery and an uncertain drag.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Elinor went away from home to keep house for an uncle, she being about this time nineteen.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Elinor went away from home to keep house for an uncle, she being about this time nineteen.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading They had been very, very poor once before, but now they seemed even poorer, and life seemed a misery and an uncertain drag.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Elinor went away from home to keep house for an uncle, she being about this time nineteen.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
precisely as stated
From this reading They had been very, very poor once before, but now they seemed even poorer, and life seemed a misery and an uncertain drag.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Elinor went away from home to keep house for an uncle, she being about this time nineteen.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It now seemed that a new and different life had begun—one in which the sky was dark and cold and grey, and in which there was no beauty.
which person or people
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
belonging to which person
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would probably have had to give it up but for the kindly help of a nobleman, the son of a duke, whose tenant the farmer had been, and he was thus enabled to obtain an appointment in the same town.
but in spite of that
From this reading There was still Elinor and Maggie and Deborah at home besides Marion, and Jack, who had come home to study for a Civil Service examination, had not yet obtained an appointment, although he had passed.
