used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Miss Starke was a miserable woman.
a positive feeling of liking
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
(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 Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
amidstprepositionUS /əˈmɪdst/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She looked upon the members of that class as the unrelenting and sleepless enemies of the unfortunate householders condemned to employ them.
annuitynounUS /əˈnuːəti/
income from capital investment paid in a series of regular payments
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading She thought they ate and drank to their villanous utmost, in order to ruin their benefactors--that they lived in one constant conspiracy with one another and the tradesmen, the object of which was to cheat and pilfer.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She looked upon the members of that class as the unrelenting and sleepless enemies of the unfortunate householders condemned to employ them.
goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment
From this reading She thought they ate and drank to their villanous utmost, in order to ruin their benefactors--that they lived in one constant conspiracy with one another and the tradesmen, the object of which was to cheat and pilfer.
benefactorsnounUS /ˈbenəfæktərz/
plural of “benefactor” — a person who helps people or institutions (especially with financial help)
From this reading She thought they ate and drank to their villanous utmost, in order to ruin their benefactors--that they lived in one constant conspiracy with one another and the tradesmen, the object of which was to cheat and pilfer.
boundsnounUS /baʊndz/
the line or plane indicating the limit or extent of something
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
cheatverbUS /tʃiːt/
deprive somebody of something by deceit
From this reading She thought they ate and drank to their villanous utmost, in order to ruin their benefactors--that they lived in one constant conspiracy with one another and the tradesmen, the object of which was to cheat and pilfer.
civiladjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəl/
applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading She looked upon the members of that class as the unrelenting and sleepless enemies of the unfortunate householders condemned to employ them.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
condemnedverbUS /kənˈdemd/
past form of “condemn” — express strong disapproval of
From this reading She looked upon the members of that class as the unrelenting and sleepless enemies of the unfortunate householders condemned to employ them.
conspiracynounUS /kənˈspɪrəsi/
a secret agreement between two or more people to perform an unlawful act
From this reading She thought they ate and drank to their villanous utmost, in order to ruin their benefactors--that they lived in one constant conspiracy with one another and the tradesmen, the object of which was to cheat and pilfer.
unvarying in nature
From this reading She thought they ate and drank to their villanous utmost, in order to ruin their benefactors--that they lived in one constant conspiracy with one another and the tradesmen, the object of which was to cheat and pilfer.
cousinsnounUS /ˈkʌzənz/
plural of “cousin” — the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
direstadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪrəst/
superlative of “dire” — fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
distrustnounUS /dɪˈstrʌst/
doubt about someone's honesty
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
inflected form of “drink” — take in liquids
From this reading She thought they ate and drank to their villanous utmost, in order to ruin their benefactors--that they lived in one constant conspiracy with one another and the tradesmen, the object of which was to cheat and pilfer.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
employverbUS /emˈplɔɪ/
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
From this reading She looked upon the members of that class as the unrelenting and sleepless enemies of the unfortunate householders condemned to employ them.
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading She looked upon the members of that class as the unrelenting and sleepless enemies of the unfortunate householders condemned to employ them.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
existverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪst/
have an existence, be extant
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
foesnounUS /foʊz/
plural of “foe” — an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
characteristic of or befitting a friend
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
householdersnounUS /ˈhaʊshoʊldərz/
plural of “householder” — someone who owns a home
From this reading She looked upon the members of that class as the unrelenting and sleepless enemies of the unfortunate householders condemned to employ them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
incomenounUS /ˈɪnkʌm/
the financial gain (earned or unearned) accruing over a given period of time
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading She thought they ate and drank to their villanous utmost, in order to ruin their benefactors--that they lived in one constant conspiracy with one another and the tradesmen, the object of which was to cheat and pilfer.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She looked upon the members of that class as the unrelenting and sleepless enemies of the unfortunate householders condemned to employ them.
plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading She looked upon the members of that class as the unrelenting and sleepless enemies of the unfortunate householders condemned to employ them.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading Miss Starke was a miserable woman.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
nephewsnounUS /ˈnefjuːz/
plural of “nephew” — a son of your brother or sister
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
niecesnounUS /ˈniːsɪz/
plural of “niece” — a daughter of your brother or sister
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
not any; not one
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading She thought they ate and drank to their villanous utmost, in order to ruin their benefactors--that they lived in one constant conspiracy with one another and the tradesmen, the object of which was to cheat and pilfer.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading She thought they ate and drank to their villanous utmost, in order to ruin their benefactors--that they lived in one constant conspiracy with one another and the tradesmen, the object of which was to cheat and pilfer.
go across or through
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
pilferverbUS /ˈpɪlfər/
make off with belongings of others
From this reading She thought they ate and drank to their villanous utmost, in order to ruin their benefactors--that they lived in one constant conspiracy with one another and the tradesmen, the object of which was to cheat and pilfer.
reducingnounUS /rəˈduːsɪŋ/
any process in which electrons are added to an atom or ion (as by removing oxygen or adding hydrogen); always occurs accompanied by oxidation of the reducing agent
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
resourcenounUS /ˈriːsɔːrs/
available source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading She thought they ate and drank to their villanous utmost, in order to ruin their benefactors--that they lived in one constant conspiracy with one another and the tradesmen, the object of which was to cheat and pilfer.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
have in common
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She looked upon the members of that class as the unrelenting and sleepless enemies of the unfortunate householders condemned to employ them.
sleeplessadjectiveUS /ˈsliːpləs/
experiencing or accompanied by sleeplessness
From this reading She looked upon the members of that class as the unrelenting and sleepless enemies of the unfortunate householders condemned to employ them.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
Starke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
strictadjectiveUS /strɪkt/
rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
strifenounUS /straɪf/
lack of agreement or harmony
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She looked upon the members of that class as the unrelenting and sleepless enemies of the unfortunate householders condemned to employ them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She looked upon the members of that class as the unrelenting and sleepless enemies of the unfortunate householders condemned to employ them.
therebyadverbUS /ˈðerˈbaɪ/
by that means or because of that
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She thought they ate and drank to their villanous utmost, in order to ruin their benefactors--that they lived in one constant conspiracy with one another and the tradesmen, the object of which was to cheat and pilfer.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She thought they ate and drank to their villanous utmost, in order to ruin their benefactors--that they lived in one constant conspiracy with one another and the tradesmen, the object of which was to cheat and pilfer.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She looked upon the members of that class as the unrelenting and sleepless enemies of the unfortunate householders condemned to employ them.
tradesmennounUS /ˈtreɪdzmən/
plural of “tradesman” — a merchant who owns or manages a shop
From this reading She thought they ate and drank to their villanous utmost, in order to ruin their benefactors--that they lived in one constant conspiracy with one another and the tradesmen, the object of which was to cheat and pilfer.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune
From this reading She looked upon the members of that class as the unrelenting and sleepless enemies of the unfortunate householders condemned to employ them.
unrelentingadjectiveUS /ˌʌnriˈlentɪŋ/
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading She looked upon the members of that class as the unrelenting and sleepless enemies of the unfortunate householders condemned to employ them.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She looked upon the members of that class as the unrelenting and sleepless enemies of the unfortunate householders condemned to employ them.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading She thought they ate and drank to their villanous utmost, in order to ruin their benefactors--that they lived in one constant conspiracy with one another and the tradesmen, the object of which was to cheat and pilfer.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
venaladjectiveUS /ˈviːnəl/
capable of being corrupted
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
villanous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She thought they ate and drank to their villanous utmost, in order to ruin their benefactors--that they lived in one constant conspiracy with one another and the tradesmen, the object of which was to cheat and pilfer.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She thought they ate and drank to their villanous utmost, in order to ruin their benefactors--that they lived in one constant conspiracy with one another and the tradesmen, the object of which was to cheat and pilfer.
which person or people
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Miss Starke was one of those ladies who pass their lives in the direst of all civil strife--war with their servants.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Miss Starke was a miserable woman.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading As she had no relations or friends who cared enough for her to share her solitary struggle against her domestic foes; and her income, though easy, was an annuity that died with herself, thereby reducing various nephews, nieces, or cousins, to the strict bounds of a natural affection--that did not exist; and as she felt the want of some friendly face amidst this world of distrust and hate, so she had tried the resource of venal companions.
