used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Maggie won a scholarship which enabled her to take a three years’ course at a better school—and Deborah afterwards won the same.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Maggie won a scholarship which enabled her to take a three years’ course at a better school—and Deborah afterwards won the same.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Maggie won a scholarship which enabled her to take a three years’ course at a better school—and Deborah afterwards won the same.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Deborah did not like teaching; it had only been in father’s lifetime that it had appeared to her the least bit nice.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The years glided by fairly smoothly so far as outward events were concerned.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Maggie won a scholarship which enabled her to take a three years’ course at a better school—and Deborah afterwards won the same.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Maggie became a pupil-teacher in the school where they had gone when they first came to the town, and afterwards Deborah became a pupil-teacher there too.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Deborah did not like teaching; it had only been in father’s lifetime that it had appeared to her the least bit nice.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Maggie won a scholarship which enabled her to take a three years’ course at a better school—and Deborah afterwards won the same.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading Deborah did not like teaching; it had only been in father’s lifetime that it had appeared to her the least bit nice.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The years glided by fairly smoothly so far as outward events were concerned.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Maggie became a pupil-teacher in the school where they had gone when they first came to the town, and afterwards Deborah became a pupil-teacher there too.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading The years glided by fairly smoothly so far as outward events were concerned.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Maggie won a scholarship which enabled her to take a three years’ course at a better school—and Deborah afterwards won the same.
Deborah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maggie won a scholarship which enabled her to take a three years’ course at a better school—and Deborah afterwards won the same.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Deborah did not like teaching; it had only been in father’s lifetime that it had appeared to her the least bit nice.
discernibleadjectiveUS /dɪˈsɜːrnəbəl/
perceptible by the senses or intellect
From this reading You see she had a great many infirmities, some easily discernible, some less so.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading You see she had a great many infirmities, some easily discernible, some less so.
enabledverbUS /eˈneɪbəld/
past form of “enable” — render capable or able for some task
From this reading Maggie won a scholarship which enabled her to take a three years’ course at a better school—and Deborah afterwards won the same.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading The years glided by fairly smoothly so far as outward events were concerned.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading The years glided by fairly smoothly so far as outward events were concerned.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The years glided by fairly smoothly so far as outward events were concerned.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Deborah did not like teaching; it had only been in father’s lifetime that it had appeared to her the least bit nice.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Maggie became a pupil-teacher in the school where they had gone when they first came to the town, and afterwards Deborah became a pupil-teacher there too.
glidedverbUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪd/
past form of “glide” — move smoothly and effortlessly
From this reading The years glided by fairly smoothly so far as outward events were concerned.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Maggie became a pupil-teacher in the school where they had gone when they first came to the town, and afterwards Deborah became a pupil-teacher there too.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading You see she had a great many infirmities, some easily discernible, some less so.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Maggie became a pupil-teacher in the school where they had gone when they first came to the town, and afterwards Deborah became a pupil-teacher there too.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Maggie won a scholarship which enabled her to take a three years’ course at a better school—and Deborah afterwards won the same.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Maggie became a pupil-teacher in the school where they had gone when they first came to the town, and afterwards Deborah became a pupil-teacher there too.
infirmitiesnounUS /ɪnˈfɜːrmɪtiz/
plural of “infirmity” — the state of being weak in health or body (especially from old age)
From this reading You see she had a great many infirmities, some easily discernible, some less so.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Deborah did not like teaching; it had only been in father’s lifetime that it had appeared to her the least bit nice.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Deborah did not like teaching; it had only been in father’s lifetime that it had appeared to her the least bit nice.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading You see she had a great many infirmities, some easily discernible, some less so.
lifetimenounUS /ˈlaɪftaɪm/
the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death)
From this reading Deborah did not like teaching; it had only been in father’s lifetime that it had appeared to her the least bit nice.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Deborah did not like teaching; it had only been in father’s lifetime that it had appeared to her the least bit nice.
Maggie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maggie won a scholarship which enabled her to take a three years’ course at a better school—and Deborah afterwards won the same.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading You see she had a great many infirmities, some easily discernible, some less so.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading Deborah did not like teaching; it had only been in father’s lifetime that it had appeared to her the least bit nice.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Deborah did not like teaching; it had only been in father’s lifetime that it had appeared to her the least bit nice.
and nothing more
From this reading Deborah did not like teaching; it had only been in father’s lifetime that it had appeared to her the least bit nice.
outwardadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtwərd/
relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind
From this reading The years glided by fairly smoothly so far as outward events were concerned.
pupil-teacher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maggie became a pupil-teacher in the school where they had gone when they first came to the town, and afterwards Deborah became a pupil-teacher there too.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Maggie won a scholarship which enabled her to take a three years’ course at a better school—and Deborah afterwards won the same.
scholarshipnounUS /ˈskɑːlərʃɪp/
financial aid provided to a student on the basis of academic merit
From this reading Maggie won a scholarship which enabled her to take a three years’ course at a better school—and Deborah afterwards won the same.
an educational institution
From this reading Maggie won a scholarship which enabled her to take a three years’ course at a better school—and Deborah afterwards won the same.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading You see she had a great many infirmities, some easily discernible, some less so.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading You see she had a great many infirmities, some easily discernible, some less so.
smoothlyadverbUS /ˈsmuːðli/
with no problems or difficulties
From this reading The years glided by fairly smoothly so far as outward events were concerned.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The years glided by fairly smoothly so far as outward events were concerned.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading You see she had a great many infirmities, some easily discernible, some less so.
carry out
From this reading Maggie won a scholarship which enabled her to take a three years’ course at a better school—and Deborah afterwards won the same.
teachingnounUS /ˈtiːtʃɪŋ/
the profession of a teacher
From this reading Deborah did not like teaching; it had only been in father’s lifetime that it had appeared to her the least bit nice.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Deborah did not like teaching; it had only been in father’s lifetime that it had appeared to her the least bit nice.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The years glided by fairly smoothly so far as outward events were concerned.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Maggie became a pupil-teacher in the school where they had gone when they first came to the town, and afterwards Deborah became a pupil-teacher there too.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Maggie became a pupil-teacher in the school where they had gone when they first came to the town, and afterwards Deborah became a pupil-teacher there too.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Maggie won a scholarship which enabled her to take a three years’ course at a better school—and Deborah afterwards won the same.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Maggie won a scholarship which enabled her to take a three years’ course at a better school—and Deborah afterwards won the same.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Maggie became a pupil-teacher in the school where they had gone when they first came to the town, and afterwards Deborah became a pupil-teacher there too.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Maggie became a pupil-teacher in the school where they had gone when they first came to the town, and afterwards Deborah became a pupil-teacher there too.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The years glided by fairly smoothly so far as outward events were concerned.
at the time that
From this reading Maggie became a pupil-teacher in the school where they had gone when they first came to the town, and afterwards Deborah became a pupil-teacher there too.
in or at the place that
From this reading Maggie became a pupil-teacher in the school where they had gone when they first came to the town, and afterwards Deborah became a pupil-teacher there too.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Maggie won a scholarship which enabled her to take a three years’ course at a better school—and Deborah afterwards won the same.
the basic unit of money in South Korea
From this reading Maggie won a scholarship which enabled her to take a three years’ course at a better school—and Deborah afterwards won the same.
a late time of life
From this reading The years glided by fairly smoothly so far as outward events were concerned.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You see she had a great many infirmities, some easily discernible, some less so.
