in the past
From this reading His stepmother, the Dowager Duchess, had long ago washed her hands of him.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading There is always some good in the worst of us.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “He always wants the things he can’t have and he never likes the things he can have,” she used to say of him.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Now, no one had ever been troubled to search for the spark in the Duke of Kilkenty’s nature,—that is, not since the death of his second wife.
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “He always wants the things he can’t have and he never likes the things he can have,” she used to say of him.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “He always wants the things he can’t have and he never likes the things he can have,” she used to say of him.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Now, no one had ever been troubled to search for the spark in the Duke of Kilkenty’s nature,—that is, not since the death of his second wife.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
DowagernounUS /ˈdaʊədʒər/
a widow holding property received from her deceased husband
From this reading His stepmother, the Dowager Duchess, had long ago washed her hands of him.
DuchessnounUS /ˈdʌtʃəs/
the wife of a duke or a woman holding ducal title in her own right
From this reading His stepmother, the Dowager Duchess, had long ago washed her hands of him.
a British peer of the highest rank
From this reading Now, no one had ever been troubled to search for the spark in the Duke of Kilkenty’s nature,—that is, not since the death of his second wife.
at any time
From this reading Now, no one had ever been troubled to search for the spark in the Duke of Kilkenty’s nature,—that is, not since the death of his second wife.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now, no one had ever been troubled to search for the spark in the Duke of Kilkenty’s nature,—that is, not since the death of his second wife.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading There is always some good in the worst of us.
that which is pleasing or valuable or useful
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Now, no one had ever been troubled to search for the spark in the Duke of Kilkenty’s nature,—that is, not since the death of his second wife.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading His stepmother, the Dowager Duchess, had long ago washed her hands of him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “He always wants the things he can’t have and he never likes the things he can have,” she used to say of him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “He always wants the things he can’t have and he never likes the things he can have,” she used to say of him.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading His stepmother, the Dowager Duchess, had long ago washed her hands of him.
not accessible to view
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His stepmother, the Dowager Duchess, had long ago washed her hands of him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Now, no one had ever been troubled to search for the spark in the Duke of Kilkenty’s nature,—that is, not since the death of his second wife.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There is always some good in the worst of us.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is always some good in the worst of us.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
Kilkenty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, no one had ever been troubled to search for the spark in the Duke of Kilkenty’s nature,—that is, not since the death of his second wife.
plural of “like” — a similar kind
From this reading “He always wants the things he can’t have and he never likes the things he can have,” she used to say of him.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
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 His stepmother, the Dowager Duchess, had long ago washed her hands of him.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Now, no one had ever been troubled to search for the spark in the Duke of Kilkenty’s nature,—that is, not since the death of his second wife.
naturesnounUS /ˈneɪtʃərz/
plural of “nature” — the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “He always wants the things he can’t have and he never likes the things he can have,” she used to say of him.
not any; not one
From this reading Now, no one had ever been troubled to search for the spark in the Duke of Kilkenty’s nature,—that is, not since the death of his second wife.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Now, no one had ever been troubled to search for the spark in the Duke of Kilkenty’s nature,—that is, not since the death of his second wife.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, no one had ever been troubled to search for the spark in the Duke of Kilkenty’s nature,—that is, not since the death of his second wife.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There is always some good in the worst of us.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Now, no one had ever been troubled to search for the spark in the Duke of Kilkenty’s nature,—that is, not since the death of his second wife.
and nothing more
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
express in words
From this reading “He always wants the things he can’t have and he never likes the things he can have,” she used to say of him.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading Now, no one had ever been troubled to search for the spark in the Duke of Kilkenty’s nature,—that is, not since the death of his second wife.
searchernounUS /ˈsɜːrtʃər/
someone making a search or inquiry
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Now, no one had ever been troubled to search for the spark in the Duke of Kilkenty’s nature,—that is, not since the death of his second wife.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “He always wants the things he can’t have and he never likes the things he can have,” she used to say of him.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Now, no one had ever been troubled to search for the spark in the Duke of Kilkenty’s nature,—that is, not since the death of his second wife.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There is always some good in the worst of us.
sparknounUS /spɑːrk/
a momentary flash of light
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
stepmothernounUS /ˈstepmʌðər/
the wife of your father by a subsequent marriage
From this reading His stepmother, the Dowager Duchess, had long ago washed her hands of him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There is always some good in the worst of us.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is always some good in the worst of us.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading “He always wants the things he can’t have and he never likes the things he can have,” she used to say of him.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading Now, no one had ever been troubled to search for the spark in the Duke of Kilkenty’s nature,—that is, not since the death of his second wife.
unexploredadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪkˈsplɔːrd/
not yet discovered
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There is always some good in the worst of us.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading “He always wants the things he can’t have and he never likes the things he can have,” she used to say of him.
plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty
From this reading “He always wants the things he can’t have and he never likes the things he can have,” she used to say of him.
clean by virtue of having been washed in water
From this reading His stepmother, the Dowager Duchess, had long ago washed her hands of him.
at the time that
From this reading But there are times when it is difficult to find the little spark of goodness; it is so small, so carefully hidden in the unexplored depths of some natures that only the blind faith of the searcher may discover it.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Now, no one had ever been troubled to search for the spark in the Duke of Kilkenty’s nature,—that is, not since the death of his second wife.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading There is always some good in the worst of us.
