used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
abortiveadjectiveUS /əˈbɔːrtɪv/
failing to accomplish an intended result
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
(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 Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Both she and her husband died young, in short, and the orphan Christmas, heiress to an intestate estate, was consigned to his charge for her education and upbringing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She was a ward in Chancery, as I understood, and as such committed to the custody of her nearest kinsman, my stepfather.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
bestowverbUS /bɪˈstoʊ/
present
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both she and her husband died young, in short, and the orphan Christmas, heiress to an intestate estate, was consigned to his charge for her education and upbringing.
a youthful male person
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
ChancerynounUS /ˈtʃænsəri/
a court with jurisdiction in equity
From this reading She was a ward in Chancery, as I understood, and as such committed to the custody of her nearest kinsman, my stepfather.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading Both she and her husband died young, in short, and the orphan Christmas, heiress to an intestate estate, was consigned to his charge for her education and upbringing.
charitynounUS /ˈtʃerɪti/
a foundation created to promote the public good (not for assistance to any particular individuals)
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
Charlie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading She was a ward in Chancery, as I understood, and as such committed to the custody of her nearest kinsman, my stepfather.
consignedverbUS /kənˈsaɪnd/
past form of “consign” — commit forever; commit irrevocably
From this reading Both she and her husband died young, in short, and the orphan Christmas, heiress to an intestate estate, was consigned to his charge for her education and upbringing.
covetedadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvətɪd/
greatly desired
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
custodynounUS /ˈkʌstədi/
a state of being confined (usually for a short time)
From this reading She was a ward in Chancery, as I understood, and as such committed to the custody of her nearest kinsman, my stepfather.
recognizable; marked
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Both she and her husband died young, in short, and the orphan Christmas, heiress to an intestate estate, was consigned to his charge for her education and upbringing.
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading Both she and her husband died young, in short, and the orphan Christmas, heiress to an intestate estate, was consigned to his charge for her education and upbringing.
elsewhereadverbUS /ˈelswer/
in or to another place
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities
From this reading Both she and her husband died young, in short, and the orphan Christmas, heiress to an intestate estate, was consigned to his charge for her education and upbringing.
Evercreech
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
goodwillnounUS /ˈɡʊˈdwɪl/
(accounting) an intangible asset valued according to the advantage or reputation a business has acquired (over and above its tangible assets)
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
hatedadjectiveUS /ˈheɪtəd/
treated with dislike or contempt
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
heiressnounUS /ˈerəs/
a female heir
From this reading Both she and her husband died young, in short, and the orphan Christmas, heiress to an intestate estate, was consigned to his charge for her education and upbringing.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Both she and her husband died young, in short, and the orphan Christmas, heiress to an intestate estate, was consigned to his charge for her education and upbringing.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was a ward in Chancery, as I understood, and as such committed to the custody of her nearest kinsman, my stepfather.
intestateadjective
having made no legally valid will before death or not disposed of by a legal will
From this reading Both she and her husband died young, in short, and the orphan Christmas, heiress to an intestate estate, was consigned to his charge for her education and upbringing.
IranounUS /ˈaɪrə/
a militant organization of Irish nationalists who used terrorism and guerilla warfare in an effort to drive British forces from Northern Ireland and achieve a united independent Ireland
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
ironynounUS /ˈaɪrəni/
witty language used to convey insults or scorn
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
kinsmannounUS /ˈkɪnzmæn/
a male relative
From this reading She was a ward in Chancery, as I understood, and as such committed to the custody of her nearest kinsman, my stepfather.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading She was a ward in Chancery, as I understood, and as such committed to the custody of her nearest kinsman, my stepfather.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
on one occasion
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
orphannounUS /ˈɔːrfən/
a child who has lost both parents
From this reading Both she and her husband died young, in short, and the orphan Christmas, heiress to an intestate estate, was consigned to his charge for her education and upbringing.
perversitynounUS /pərˈvɜːrsəti/
deliberate and stubborn unruliness and resistance to guidance or discipline
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
remoteadjectiveUS /rɪˈmoʊt/
located far away spatially
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
residuenounUS /ˈrezəduː/
matter that remains after something has been removed
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
revertedverbUS /rɪˈvɜːrtɪd/
past form of “revert” — go back to a previous state
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Both she and her husband died young, in short, and the orphan Christmas, heiress to an intestate estate, was consigned to his charge for her education and upbringing.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
a male human offspring
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
express in speech
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
stepfathernounUS /ˈstepfɑːðər/
the husband of your mother by a subsequent marriage
From this reading She was a ward in Chancery, as I understood, and as such committed to the custody of her nearest kinsman, my stepfather.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading She was a ward in Chancery, as I understood, and as such committed to the custody of her nearest kinsman, my stepfather.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Her mother’s hand, as I came to learn, had once been coveted by him for his son Charlie; but the lady had decided to bestow her fortune elsewhere; and, by the very irony of fate, the residue of her perversity, so to speak, was all that reverted to him from that abortive scheme.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading She was a ward in Chancery, as I understood, and as such committed to the custody of her nearest kinsman, my stepfather.
upbringingnounUS /ˈʌpbrɪŋɪŋ/
properties acquired during a person's formative years
From this reading Both she and her husband died young, in short, and the orphan Christmas, heiress to an intestate estate, was consigned to his charge for her education and upbringing.
precisely as stated
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
wardnounUS /wɔːrd/
a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading She was a ward in Chancery, as I understood, and as such committed to the custody of her nearest kinsman, my stepfather.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
at the time that
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This was Miss Ira Christmas; but very remote from the charity and goodwill which her name suggested, she had always appeared to me.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Once, when I was a boy of twelve or so, there had come to stay at Evercreech a little lady whom I hated with all my heart.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Both she and her husband died young, in short, and the orphan Christmas, heiress to an intestate estate, was consigned to his charge for her education and upbringing.
