used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A month before her marriage she went to Boston again to buy her best things.
the state of being absent
From this reading Ellen, during his absence, had kept closer and closer to her high mood.
having companions or an escort
From this reading I accompanied Mrs. Sylvester and Ellen.
anew
From this reading A month before her marriage she went to Boston again to buy her best things.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ellen, during his absence, had kept closer and closer to her high mood.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A month before her marriage she went to Boston again to buy her best things.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading A month before her marriage she went to Boston again to buy her best things.
state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
From this reading A month before her marriage she went to Boston again to buy her best things.
obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading A month before her marriage she went to Boston again to buy her best things.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Ellen, during his absence, had kept closer and closer to her high mood.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Ellen, during his absence, had kept closer and closer to her high mood.
Ellen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ellen, during his absence, had kept closer and closer to her high mood.
Ellen's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Sylvester had had a small legacy left her, and insisted that it must go to Ellen's trousseau.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
forgetfulnessnoun
tendency to forget
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Mrs. Sylvester had had a small legacy left her, and insisted that it must go to Ellen's trousseau.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Ellen, during his absence, had kept closer and closer to her high mood.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Ellen, during his absence, had kept closer and closer to her high mood.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Ellen, during his absence, had kept closer and closer to her high mood.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ellen, during his absence, had kept closer and closer to her high mood.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I accompanied Mrs. Sylvester and Ellen.
past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading Mrs. Sylvester had had a small legacy left her, and insisted that it must go to Ellen's trousseau.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Sylvester had had a small legacy left her, and insisted that it must go to Ellen's trousseau.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Ellen, during his absence, had kept closer and closer to her high mood.
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 She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
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 Mrs. Sylvester had had a small legacy left her, and insisted that it must go to Ellen's trousseau.
legacynounUS /ˈleɡəsi/
(law) a gift of personal property by will
From this reading Mrs. Sylvester had had a small legacy left her, and insisted that it must go to Ellen's trousseau.
for more time
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading A month before her marriage she went to Boston again to buy her best things.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading A month before her marriage she went to Boston again to buy her best things.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading Ellen, during his absence, had kept closer and closer to her high mood.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Sylvester had had a small legacy left her, and insisted that it must go to Ellen's trousseau.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Mrs. Sylvester had had a small legacy left her, and insisted that it must go to Ellen's trousseau.
neglectverbUS /nəˈɡlekt/
leave undone or leave out
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
not any; not one
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
Roger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Mrs. Sylvester had had a small legacy left her, and insisted that it must go to Ellen's trousseau.
plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
Sylvester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Sylvester had had a small legacy left her, and insisted that it must go to Ellen's trousseau.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ellen, during his absence, had kept closer and closer to her high mood.
trousseaunoun
the personal outfit of a bride; clothes and accessories and linens
From this reading Mrs. Sylvester had had a small legacy left her, and insisted that it must go to Ellen's trousseau.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading A month before her marriage she went to Boston again to buy her best things.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
people who are wounded
From this reading She knew that certain sorts of happiness were not for her with Roger, and that certain things he did and his moments of neglect and forgetfulness no longer wounded her to death.
