used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE HEIR RETURNS AT Windyhough, Martha the dairymaid was restless, like all the women left about the house.
(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 THE HEIR RETURNS AT Windyhough, Martha the dairymaid was restless, like all the women left about the house.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She could not settle to her work, though it was churning-day, and good cream was likely to be wasted.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The prospect had never shown so cheerless as it did just now.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE HEIR RETURNS AT Windyhough, Martha the dairymaid was restless, like all the women left about the house.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She could not settle to her work, though it was churning-day, and good cream was likely to be wasted.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
blindnessnounUS /ˈblaɪndnəs/
the state of being blind or lacking sight
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
brought into existence
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
placed in a grave
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
cheerlessadjective
causing sad feelings of gloom and inadequacy
From this reading The prospect had never shown so cheerless as it did just now.
churchyardnounUS /ˈtʃɜːrtʃjɑːrd/
the yard associated with a church
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
churning-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not settle to her work, though it was churning-day, and good cream was likely to be wasted.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could not settle to her work, though it was churning-day, and good cream was likely to be wasted.
creamnounUS /kriːm/
the best people or things in a group
From this reading She could not settle to her work, though it was churning-day, and good cream was likely to be wasted.
placed crosswise
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
dairyingnounUS /ˈderiɪŋ/
the business of a dairy
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
dairymaidnoun
a woman who works in a dairy
From this reading THE HEIR RETURNS AT Windyhough, Martha the dairymaid was restless, like all the women left about the house.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The prospect had never shown so cheerless as it did just now.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
the act of consuming food
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
farmer-folk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
five-and-thirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
set up or found
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading She could not settle to her work, though it was churning-day, and good cream was likely to be wasted.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
HEIRnounUS /er/
A person legally or magically entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.
From this reading THE HEIR RETURNS AT Windyhough, Martha the dairymaid was restless, like all the women left about the house.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She could not settle to her work, though it was churning-day, and good cream was likely to be wasted.
hinderedverbUS /ˈhɪndərd/
past form of “hinder” — be a hindrance or obstacle to
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE HEIR RETURNS AT Windyhough, Martha the dairymaid was restless, like all the women left about the house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She could not settle to her work, though it was churning-day, and good cream was likely to be wasted.
John'snounUS /dʒɑːnz/
possessive form of “john” — a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
and nothing more
From this reading The prospect had never shown so cheerless as it did just now.
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 And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
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 THE HEIR RETURNS AT Windyhough, Martha the dairymaid was restless, like all the women left about the house.
lengthenverbUS /ˈleŋθən/
make longer
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading THE HEIR RETURNS AT Windyhough, Martha the dairymaid was restless, like all the women left about the house.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading She could not settle to her work, though it was churning-day, and good cream was likely to be wasted.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
Martha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HEIR RETURNS AT Windyhough, Martha the dairymaid was restless, like all the women left about the house.
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
matronhood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The prospect had never shown so cheerless as it did just now.
not any; not one
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She could not settle to her work, though it was churning-day, and good cream was likely to be wasted.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The prospect had never shown so cheerless as it did just now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
a course of conduct
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
the possibility of future success
From this reading The prospect had never shown so cheerless as it did just now.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
restlessadjectiveUS /ˈrestləs/
worried and uneasy
From this reading THE HEIR RETURNS AT Windyhough, Martha the dairymaid was restless, like all the women left about the house.
RETURNSnounUS /rɪˈtɜːrnz/
plural of “return” — document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability
From this reading THE HEIR RETURNS AT Windyhough, Martha the dairymaid was restless, like all the women left about the house.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground
From this reading She could not settle to her work, though it was churning-day, and good cream was likely to be wasted.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could not settle to her work, though it was churning-day, and good cream was likely to be wasted.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The prospect had never shown so cheerless as it did just now.
the state of being asleep
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The prospect had never shown so cheerless as it did just now.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
suppleadjectiveUS /ˈsʌpəl/
gracefully thin and bending and moving with ease
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HEIR RETURNS AT Windyhough, Martha the dairymaid was restless, like all the women left about the house.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She could not settle to her work, though it was churning-day, and good cream was likely to be wasted.
up to a particular time
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She could not settle to her work, though it was churning-day, and good cream was likely to be wasted.
precisely as stated
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE HEIR RETURNS AT Windyhough, Martha the dairymaid was restless, like all the women left about the house.
wastedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪstɪd/
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
From this reading She could not settle to her work, though it was churning-day, and good cream was likely to be wasted.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And, in her quiet, practical way, she knew that the shadows were beginning to lengthen down her road, that she might very well go on dairying, eating, sleeping, till they buried her in the churchyard of St. John’s--no more, no less.
at the time that
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
Windyhough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HEIR RETURNS AT Windyhough, Martha the dairymaid was restless, like all the women left about the house.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading THE HEIR RETURNS AT Windyhough, Martha the dairymaid was restless, like all the women left about the house.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading She could not settle to her work, though it was churning-day, and good cream was likely to be wasted.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
but in spite of that
From this reading Martha at five-and-thirty, had not found a mate, yet she would have made a good wife to any man; strong, supple, with wind and roses in her cheeks, she was born to matronhood; though, by some blindness that had hindered the farmer-folk about her when she crossed their path, she had not found her road in life.
