used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading The afternoon had seen one of those periodical struggles between her and Hannah, which did so much to keep life at Needham Farm from stagnating into anything like comfort.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Hannah Grieve, the children's aunt, and mistress of the farm, thought it an offence to talk at meals.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Hannah Grieve, the children's aunt, and mistress of the farm, thought it an offence to talk at meals.
any person at all
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
any thing at all
From this reading The afternoon had seen one of those periodical struggles between her and Hannah, which did so much to keep life at Needham Farm from stagnating into anything like comfort.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Hannah Grieve, the children's aunt, and mistress of the farm, thought it an offence to talk at meals.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The afternoon had seen one of those periodical struggles between her and Hannah, which did so much to keep life at Needham Farm from stagnating into anything like comfort.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading She had not been so brought up.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Louie this evening was in a state of nerves.
children's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hannah Grieve, the children's aunt, and mistress of the farm, thought it an offence to talk at meals.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading The afternoon had seen one of those periodical struggles between her and Hannah, which did so much to keep life at Needham Farm from stagnating into anything like comfort.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The afternoon had seen one of those periodical struggles between her and Hannah, which did so much to keep life at Needham Farm from stagnating into anything like comfort.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
inflected form of “eat” — take in solid food
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
being one more than seven
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading But Louie this evening was in a state of nerves.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
set up or found
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The afternoon had seen one of those periodical struggles between her and Hannah, which did so much to keep life at Needham Farm from stagnating into anything like comfort.
GrieveverbUS /ɡriːv/
feel grief
From this reading Hannah Grieve, the children's aunt, and mistress of the farm, thought it an offence to talk at meals.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had not been so brought up.
Hannah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hannah Grieve, the children's aunt, and mistress of the farm, thought it an offence to talk at meals.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The afternoon had seen one of those periodical struggles between her and Hannah, which did so much to keep life at Needham Farm from stagnating into anything like comfort.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
inmatesnounUS /ˈɪnmeɪts/
plural of “inmate” — one of several resident of a dwelling (especially someone confined to a prison or hospital)
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The afternoon had seen one of those periodical struggles between her and Hannah, which did so much to keep life at Needham Farm from stagnating into anything like comfort.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Hannah Grieve, the children's aunt, and mistress of the farm, thought it an offence to talk at meals.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The afternoon had seen one of those periodical struggles between her and Hannah, which did so much to keep life at Needham Farm from stagnating into anything like comfort.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The afternoon had seen one of those periodical struggles between her and Hannah, which did so much to keep life at Needham Farm from stagnating into anything like comfort.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The afternoon had seen one of those periodical struggles between her and Hannah, which did so much to keep life at Needham Farm from stagnating into anything like comfort.
Louie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Louie this evening was in a state of nerves.
meagreadjective
deficient in amount or quality or extent
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
mealsnounUS /miːlz/
plural of “meal” — the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading Hannah Grieve, the children's aunt, and mistress of the farm, thought it an offence to talk at meals.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading Hannah Grieve, the children's aunt, and mistress of the farm, thought it an offence to talk at meals.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The afternoon had seen one of those periodical struggles between her and Hannah, which did so much to keep life at Needham Farm from stagnating into anything like comfort.
Needham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading But Louie this evening was in a state of nerves.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She had not been so brought up.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
offencenoun
the action of attacking an enemy
From this reading Hannah Grieve, the children's aunt, and mistress of the farm, thought it an offence to talk at meals.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The afternoon had seen one of those periodical struggles between her and Hannah, which did so much to keep life at Needham Farm from stagnating into anything like comfort.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
periodicalnounUS /ˌpɪriˈɑːdɪkəl/
a publication that appears at fixed intervals
From this reading The afternoon had seen one of those periodical struggles between her and Hannah, which did so much to keep life at Needham Farm from stagnating into anything like comfort.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The afternoon had seen one of those periodical struggles between her and Hannah, which did so much to keep life at Needham Farm from stagnating into anything like comfort.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had not been so brought up.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She had not been so brought up.
stagnatingverbUS /ˈstæɡneɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “stagnate” — stand still
From this reading The afternoon had seen one of those periodical struggles between her and Hannah, which did so much to keep life at Needham Farm from stagnating into anything like comfort.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading But Louie this evening was in a state of nerves.
strugglesnounUS /ˈstrʌɡəlz/
plural of “struggle” — an energetic attempt to achieve something
From this reading The afternoon had seen one of those periodical struggles between her and Hannah, which did so much to keep life at Needham Farm from stagnating into anything like comfort.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Hannah Grieve, the children's aunt, and mistress of the farm, thought it an offence to talk at meals.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But Louie this evening was in a state of nerves.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The afternoon had seen one of those periodical struggles between her and Hannah, which did so much to keep life at Needham Farm from stagnating into anything like comfort.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Hannah Grieve, the children's aunt, and mistress of the farm, thought it an offence to talk at meals.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She had not been so brought up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But Louie this evening was in a state of nerves.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Anyone opening the door of Needham Farm kitchen that night at eight would have found the inmates at supper--a meagre supper, which should, according to the rule of the house, have been eaten in complete silence.
