used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A BAD PENNY.
AbbeynounUS /ˈæbi/
a church associated with a monastery or convent
From this reading Wendover Abbey, wealth, position, independence, the world's respect, were all as far from her as they had been a month ago.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The airy castle which she had built for herself had fallen about her ears, and she was left standing amidst the ruins.
in the past
From this reading Wendover Abbey, wealth, position, independence, the world's respect, were all as far from her as they had been a month ago.
airyadjectiveUS /ˈeri/
open to or abounding in fresh air
From this reading The airy castle which she had built for herself had fallen about her ears, and she was left standing amidst the ruins.
(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 Wendover Abbey, wealth, position, independence, the world's respect, were all as far from her as they had been a month ago.
amidstprepositionUS /əˈmɪdst/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading The airy castle which she had built for herself had fallen about her ears, and she was left standing amidst the ruins.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The airy castle which she had built for herself had fallen about her ears, and she was left standing amidst the ruins.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Wendover Abbey, wealth, position, independence, the world's respect, were all as far from her as they had been a month ago.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Ida made her way back to the Embankment somehow, hardly knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading A BAD PENNY.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Wendover Abbey, wealth, position, independence, the world's respect, were all as far from her as they had been a month ago.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading The airy castle which she had built for herself had fallen about her ears, and she was left standing amidst the ruins.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Her sense of disappointment was keen, but not so keen as the sense of her self-abasement.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading The airy castle which she had built for herself had fallen about her ears, and she was left standing amidst the ruins.
a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading Her sense of disappointment was keen, but not so keen as the sense of her self-abasement.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Ida made her way back to the Embankment somehow, hardly knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading The airy castle which she had built for herself had fallen about her ears, and she was left standing amidst the ruins.
EmbankmentnounUS /emˈbæŋkmənt/
a long artificial mound of stone or earth; built to hold back water or to support a road or as protection
From this reading Ida made her way back to the Embankment somehow, hardly knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The airy castle which she had built for herself had fallen about her ears, and she was left standing amidst the ruins.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Wendover Abbey, wealth, position, independence, the world's respect, were all as far from her as they had been a month ago.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The airy castle which she had built for herself had fallen about her ears, and she was left standing amidst the ruins.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Wendover Abbey, wealth, position, independence, the world's respect, were all as far from her as they had been a month ago.
the act of departing
From this reading Ida made her way back to the Embankment somehow, hardly knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The airy castle which she had built for herself had fallen about her ears, and she was left standing amidst the ruins.
only a very short time before
From this reading Ida made her way back to the Embankment somehow, hardly knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Ida made her way back to the Embankment somehow, hardly knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The airy castle which she had built for herself had fallen about her ears, and she was left standing amidst the ruins.
IdanounUS /ˈaɪdə/
an agency of the United Nations affiliated with the World Bank
From this reading Ida made her way back to the Embankment somehow, hardly knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.
independencenounUS /ˌɪndɪˈpendəns/
freedom from control or influence of another or others
From this reading Wendover Abbey, wealth, position, independence, the world's respect, were all as far from her as they had been a month ago.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading Her sense of disappointment was keen, but not so keen as the sense of her self-abasement.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading Ida made her way back to the Embankment somehow, hardly knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The airy castle which she had built for herself had fallen about her ears, and she was left standing amidst the ruins.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Ida made her way back to the Embankment somehow, hardly knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Wendover Abbey, wealth, position, independence, the world's respect, were all as far from her as they had been a month ago.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Her sense of disappointment was keen, but not so keen as the sense of her self-abasement.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Her sense of disappointment was keen, but not so keen as the sense of her self-abasement.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Ida made her way back to the Embankment somehow, hardly knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.
PENNYnounUS /ˈpeni/
a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound
From this reading A BAD PENNY.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Wendover Abbey, wealth, position, independence, the world's respect, were all as far from her as they had been a month ago.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading Wendover Abbey, wealth, position, independence, the world's respect, were all as far from her as they had been a month ago.
ruinsnounUS /ˈruːənz/
plural of “ruin” — an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading The airy castle which she had built for herself had fallen about her ears, and she was left standing amidst the ruins.
self-abasementnoun
voluntary self-punishment in order to atone for some wrongdoing
From this reading Her sense of disappointment was keen, but not so keen as the sense of her self-abasement.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Her sense of disappointment was keen, but not so keen as the sense of her self-abasement.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ida made her way back to the Embankment somehow, hardly knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Her sense of disappointment was keen, but not so keen as the sense of her self-abasement.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading Ida made her way back to the Embankment somehow, hardly knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.
having a supporting base
From this reading The airy castle which she had built for herself had fallen about her ears, and she was left standing amidst the ruins.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Ida made her way back to the Embankment somehow, hardly knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Wendover Abbey, wealth, position, independence, the world's respect, were all as far from her as they had been a month ago.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ida made her way back to the Embankment somehow, hardly knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Ida made her way back to the Embankment somehow, hardly knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Ida made her way back to the Embankment somehow, hardly knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.
the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money
From this reading Wendover Abbey, wealth, position, independence, the world's respect, were all as far from her as they had been a month ago.
Wendover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wendover Abbey, wealth, position, independence, the world's respect, were all as far from her as they had been a month ago.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Wendover Abbey, wealth, position, independence, the world's respect, were all as far from her as they had been a month ago.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Ida made her way back to the Embankment somehow, hardly knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.
in or at the place that
From this reading Ida made her way back to the Embankment somehow, hardly knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The airy castle which she had built for herself had fallen about her ears, and she was left standing amidst the ruins.
world'snounUS /wɜːrldz/
possessive form of “world” — everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Wendover Abbey, wealth, position, independence, the world's respect, were all as far from her as they had been a month ago.
