used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
speak to
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
(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 “It is really very good of you all,” she said, “to take compassion upon my loneliness.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
approbationnounUS /ˌæprəˈbeɪʃən/
official approval
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
bear'snounUS /berz/
possessive form of “bear” — massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, where I had many friends, and I find the change very great, and the life here very solitary.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Before I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, where I had many friends, and I find the change very great, and the life here very solitary.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading Before I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, where I had many friends, and I find the change very great, and the life here very solitary.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
compassionnounUS /kəmˈpæʃən/
a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering
From this reading “It is really very good of you all,” she said, “to take compassion upon my loneliness.
a small house with a single story
From this reading Before I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, where I had many friends, and I find the change very great, and the life here very solitary.
dearly loved
From this reading Indeed, if it were not for my dear little Toto, I should lead quite the life of a hermit.”
made known or openly avowed
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Before I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, where I had many friends, and I find the change very great, and the life here very solitary.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Before I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, where I had many friends, and I find the change very great, and the life here very solitary.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
in a gradual manner
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Before I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, where I had many friends, and I find the change very great, and the life here very solitary.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Before I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, where I had many friends, and I find the change very great, and the life here very solitary.
hermitnounUS /ˈhɜːrmət/
one retired from society for religious reasons
From this reading Indeed, if it were not for my dear little Toto, I should lead quite the life of a hermit.”
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Before I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, where I had many friends, and I find the change very great, and the life here very solitary.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Indeed, if it were not for my dear little Toto, I should lead quite the life of a hermit.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, if it were not for my dear little Toto, I should lead quite the life of a hermit.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It is really very good of you all,” she said, “to take compassion upon my loneliness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It is really very good of you all,” she said, “to take compassion upon my loneliness.
knitting-needles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Before I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, where I had many friends, and I find the change very great, and the life here very solitary.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading Indeed, if it were not for my dear little Toto, I should lead quite the life of a hermit.”
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Before I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, where I had many friends, and I find the change very great, and the life here very solitary.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Before I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, where I had many friends, and I find the change very great, and the life here very solitary.
lonelinessnounUS /ˈloʊnlinəs/
the state of being alone in solitary isolation
From this reading “It is really very good of you all,” she said, “to take compassion upon my loneliness.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Before I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, where I had many friends, and I find the change very great, and the life here very solitary.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “It is really very good of you all,” she said, “to take compassion upon my loneliness.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “It is really very good of you all,” she said, “to take compassion upon my loneliness.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Indeed, if it were not for my dear little Toto, I should lead quite the life of a hermit.”
raccoon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading “It is really very good of you all,” she said, “to take compassion upon my loneliness.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “It is really very good of you all,” she said, “to take compassion upon my loneliness.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Indeed, if it were not for my dear little Toto, I should lead quite the life of a hermit.”
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading Before I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, where I had many friends, and I find the change very great, and the life here very solitary.
not in physical motion
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
carry out
From this reading “It is really very good of you all,” she said, “to take compassion upon my loneliness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Before I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, where I had many friends, and I find the change very great, and the life here very solitary.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
tighteradjectiveUS /ˈtaɪtər/
comparative of “tight” — closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
Toto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, if it were not for my dear little Toto, I should lead quite the life of a hermit.”
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Before I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, where I had many friends, and I find the change very great, and the life here very solitary.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “It is really very good of you all,” she said, “to take compassion upon my loneliness.
past form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
precisely as stated
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Indeed, if it were not for my dear little Toto, I should lead quite the life of a hermit.”
at the time that
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
in or at the place that
From this reading Before I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, where I had many friends, and I find the change very great, and the life here very solitary.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE raccoon’s story was received with general approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, declared she had not passed so pleasant an hour for a very long time.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The good woman was gradually becoming accustomed to her strange visitors, and ventured to address them with a little more freedom, though she still trembled and clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she heard the bear’s deep tones.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “It is really very good of you all,” she said, “to take compassion upon my loneliness.
