used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Between the two there existed a lion-and-mouse friendship.
acidadjectiveUS /ˈæsəd/
harsh or corrosive in tone
From this reading Jeannette's ebullient spirits had not undergone years of quenching from the acid stream of Mrs. Payson's criticism.
(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 Most of all had she become indispensable to Mrs. Carrie Payson.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Jeannette's perceptions and valuations were the straightforward simple peasant sort, unhampered by fine distinctions or involved reasoning.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading No one quite knew when or how Jeannette had become indispensable to the Payson household; but she had.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Between the two there existed a lion-and-mouse friendship.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading No one quite knew when or how Jeannette had become indispensable to the Payson household; but she had.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Jeannette's perceptions and valuations were the straightforward simple peasant sort, unhampered by fine distinctions or involved reasoning.
Carrie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of all had she become indispensable to Mrs. Carrie Payson.
criticismnounUS /ˈkrɪtɪsɪzəm/
disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings
From this reading Jeannette's ebullient spirits had not undergone years of quenching from the acid stream of Mrs. Payson's criticism.
distinctionsnounUS /dɪˈstɪŋkʃənz/
plural of “distinction” — a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes
From this reading Jeannette's perceptions and valuations were the straightforward simple peasant sort, unhampered by fine distinctions or involved reasoning.
ebullientadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈbʌljənt/
joyously unrestrained
From this reading Jeannette's ebullient spirits had not undergone years of quenching from the acid stream of Mrs. Payson's criticism.
existedverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪstəd/
past form of “exist” — have an existence, be extant
From this reading Between the two there existed a lion-and-mouse friendship.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Jeannette's perceptions and valuations were the straightforward simple peasant sort, unhampered by fine distinctions or involved reasoning.
the state of being friends (or friendly)
From this reading Between the two there existed a lion-and-mouse friendship.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Jeannette's ebullient spirits had not undergone years of quenching from the acid stream of Mrs. Payson's criticism.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No one quite knew when or how Jeannette had become indispensable to the Payson household; but she had.
a social unit living together
From this reading No one quite knew when or how Jeannette had become indispensable to the Payson household; but she had.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one quite knew when or how Jeannette had become indispensable to the Payson household; but she had.
indispensableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈspensəbəl/
not to be dispensed with; essential
From this reading No one quite knew when or how Jeannette had become indispensable to the Payson household; but she had.
involvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlvd/
connected by participation or association or use
From this reading Jeannette's perceptions and valuations were the straightforward simple peasant sort, unhampered by fine distinctions or involved reasoning.
Jeannette
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one quite knew when or how Jeannette had become indispensable to the Payson household; but she had.
Jeannette's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jeannette's ebullient spirits had not undergone years of quenching from the acid stream of Mrs. Payson's criticism.
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 No one quite knew when or how Jeannette had become indispensable to the Payson household; but she had.
lion-and-mouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between the two there existed a lion-and-mouse friendship.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Most of all had she become indispensable to Mrs. Carrie Payson.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Most of all had she become indispensable to Mrs. Carrie Payson.
not any; not one
From this reading No one quite knew when or how Jeannette had become indispensable to the Payson household; but she had.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Jeannette's ebullient spirits had not undergone years of quenching from the acid stream of Mrs. Payson's criticism.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Most of all had she become indispensable to Mrs. Carrie Payson.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one quite knew when or how Jeannette had become indispensable to the Payson household; but she had.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading No one quite knew when or how Jeannette had become indispensable to the Payson household; but she had.
Payson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one quite knew when or how Jeannette had become indispensable to the Payson household; but she had.
Payson's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jeannette's ebullient spirits had not undergone years of quenching from the acid stream of Mrs. Payson's criticism.
peasantnounUS /ˈpezənt/
a country person
From this reading Jeannette's perceptions and valuations were the straightforward simple peasant sort, unhampered by fine distinctions or involved reasoning.
perceptionsnounUS /pərˈsepʃənz/
plural of “perception” — the representation of what is perceived; basic component in the formation of a concept
From this reading Jeannette's perceptions and valuations were the straightforward simple peasant sort, unhampered by fine distinctions or involved reasoning.
quenchingnounUS /ˈkwentʃɪŋ/
the act of extinguishing; causing to stop burning
From this reading Jeannette's ebullient spirits had not undergone years of quenching from the acid stream of Mrs. Payson's criticism.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading No one quite knew when or how Jeannette had become indispensable to the Payson household; but she had.
reasoningnounUS /ˈriːzənɪŋ/
thinking that is coherent and logical
From this reading Jeannette's perceptions and valuations were the straightforward simple peasant sort, unhampered by fine distinctions or involved reasoning.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No one quite knew when or how Jeannette had become indispensable to the Payson household; but she had.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading Jeannette's perceptions and valuations were the straightforward simple peasant sort, unhampered by fine distinctions or involved reasoning.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Jeannette's perceptions and valuations were the straightforward simple peasant sort, unhampered by fine distinctions or involved reasoning.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading Jeannette's ebullient spirits had not undergone years of quenching from the acid stream of Mrs. Payson's criticism.
straightforwardadjectiveUS /ˈstreɪtˈfɔːrwərd/
free from ambiguity
From this reading Jeannette's perceptions and valuations were the straightforward simple peasant sort, unhampered by fine distinctions or involved reasoning.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading Jeannette's ebullient spirits had not undergone years of quenching from the acid stream of Mrs. Payson's criticism.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading No one quite knew when or how Jeannette had become indispensable to the Payson household; but she had.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Between the two there existed a lion-and-mouse friendship.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No one quite knew when or how Jeannette had become indispensable to the Payson household; but she had.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Between the two there existed a lion-and-mouse friendship.
undergoneverbUS /ˌʌndərˈɡɔːn/
inflected form of “undergo” — pass through
From this reading Jeannette's ebullient spirits had not undergone years of quenching from the acid stream of Mrs. Payson's criticism.
unhamperedadjectiveUS /ənˈhæmpərd/
not slowed or blocked or interfered with
From this reading Jeannette's perceptions and valuations were the straightforward simple peasant sort, unhampered by fine distinctions or involved reasoning.
valuationsnounUS /væljuːˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “valuation” — an appraisal of the value of something
From this reading Jeannette's perceptions and valuations were the straightforward simple peasant sort, unhampered by fine distinctions or involved reasoning.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Jeannette's perceptions and valuations were the straightforward simple peasant sort, unhampered by fine distinctions or involved reasoning.
at the time that
From this reading No one quite knew when or how Jeannette had become indispensable to the Payson household; but she had.
a late time of life
From this reading Jeannette's ebullient spirits had not undergone years of quenching from the acid stream of Mrs. Payson's criticism.
