used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading My father was a light porter in a warehouse, earning fifteen shillings a week; and my mother took in washing to obtain a few shillings more.
(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 We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
in addition
From this reading My father had a good suit of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my dress.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Neither of them ever went to the public-house except just to fetch the beer for dinner and supper; and they were always regular in their attendance at church.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "My parents were very poor, but very honest; and I was their only child.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Neither of them ever went to the public-house except just to fetch the beer for dinner and supper; and they were always regular in their attendance at church.
attendancenounUS /əˈtendəns/
the act of being present (at a meeting or event etc.)
From this reading Neither of them ever went to the public-house except just to fetch the beer for dinner and supper; and they were always regular in their attendance at church.
beernounUS /bɪr/
a general name for alcoholic beverages made by fermenting a cereal (or mixture of cereals) flavored with hops
From this reading Neither of them ever went to the public-house except just to fetch the beer for dinner and supper; and they were always regular in their attendance at church.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
bonnetnounUS /ˈbɑːnət/
a hat tied under the chin
From this reading My father had a good suit of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my dress.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "My parents were very poor, but very honest; and I was their only child.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading My father had a good suit of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my dress.
a young person of either sex
From this reading "My parents were very poor, but very honest; and I was their only child.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading Neither of them ever went to the public-house except just to fetch the beer for dinner and supper; and they were always regular in their attendance at church.
clothing in general
From this reading My father had a good suit of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my dress.
a state at a particular time
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
decentadjectiveUS /ˈdiːsənt/
socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous
From this reading My father had a good suit of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my dress.
decentlyadverbUS /ˈdiːsəntli/
in a decent manner
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading Neither of them ever went to the public-house except just to fetch the beer for dinner and supper; and they were always regular in their attendance at church.
put on clothes
From this reading My father had a good suit of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my dress.
earningverbUS /ˈɜːrnɪŋ/
-ing form of “earn” — earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
From this reading My father was a light porter in a warehouse, earning fifteen shillings a week; and my mother took in washing to obtain a few shillings more.
at any time
From this reading Neither of them ever went to the public-house except just to fetch the beer for dinner and supper; and they were always regular in their attendance at church.
apart from; not including
From this reading Neither of them ever went to the public-house except just to fetch the beer for dinner and supper; and they were always regular in their attendance at church.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading My father was a light porter in a warehouse, earning fifteen shillings a week; and my mother took in washing to obtain a few shillings more.
go or come after and bring or take back
From this reading Neither of them ever went to the public-house except just to fetch the beer for dinner and supper; and they were always regular in their attendance at church.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading My father was a light porter in a warehouse, earning fifteen shillings a week; and my mother took in washing to obtain a few shillings more.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading My father was a light porter in a warehouse, earning fifteen shillings a week; and my mother took in washing to obtain a few shillings more.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading My father had a good suit of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my dress.
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading My father had a good suit of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my dress.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading My father had a good suit of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my dress.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
Holborn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
holidaysnounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪz/
plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading My father had a good suit of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my dress.
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading "My parents were very poor, but very honest; and I was their only child.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "My parents were very poor, but very honest; and I was their only child.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading My father was a light porter in a warehouse, earning fifteen shillings a week; and my mother took in washing to obtain a few shillings more.
and nothing more
From this reading Neither of them ever went to the public-house except just to fetch the beer for dinner and supper; and they were always regular in their attendance at church.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading My father had a good suit of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my dress.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading My father was a light porter in a warehouse, earning fifteen shillings a week; and my mother took in washing to obtain a few shillings more.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My father had a good suit of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my dress.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading My father was a light porter in a warehouse, earning fifteen shillings a week; and my mother took in washing to obtain a few shillings more.
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading My father was a light porter in a warehouse, earning fifteen shillings a week; and my mother took in washing to obtain a few shillings more.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My parents were very poor, but very honest; and I was their only child.
neatadjectiveUS /niːt/
clean or organized
From this reading My father had a good suit of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my dress.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Neither of them ever went to the public-house except just to fetch the beer for dinner and supper; and they were always regular in their attendance at church.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading My father had a good suit of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my dress.
come into possession of
From this reading My father was a light porter in a warehouse, earning fifteen shillings a week; and my mother took in washing to obtain a few shillings more.
held or filled or in use
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
and nothing more
From this reading "My parents were very poor, but very honest; and I was their only child.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading "My parents were very poor, but very honest; and I was their only child.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading "My parents were very poor, but very honest; and I was their only child.
porternounUS /ˈpɔːrtər/
a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading My father was a light porter in a warehouse, earning fifteen shillings a week; and my mother took in washing to obtain a few shillings more.
public-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither of them ever went to the public-house except just to fetch the beer for dinner and supper; and they were always regular in their attendance at church.
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading Neither of them ever went to the public-house except just to fetch the beer for dinner and supper; and they were always regular in their attendance at church.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
shawlnounUS /ʃɔːl/
cloak consisting of an oblong piece of cloth used to cover the head and shoulders
From this reading My father had a good suit of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my dress.
shillingsnounUS /ˈʃɪlɪŋz/
plural of “shilling” — the basic unit of money in Uganda; equal to 100 cents
From this reading My father was a light porter in a warehouse, earning fifteen shillings a week; and my mother took in washing to obtain a few shillings more.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading My father had a good suit of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my dress.
SundaysnounUS /ˈsʌndeɪz/
plural of “sunday” — first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading My father had a good suit of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my dress.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading Neither of them ever went to the public-house except just to fetch the beer for dinner and supper; and they were always regular in their attendance at church.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "My parents were very poor, but very honest; and I was their only child.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Neither of them ever went to the public-house except just to fetch the beer for dinner and supper; and they were always regular in their attendance at church.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading My father had a good suit of clothes, and my mother a nice gown, bonnet, and shawl, for Sundays and holidays; and they also took care to keep me neat and decent in my dress.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading My father was a light porter in a warehouse, earning fifteen shillings a week; and my mother took in washing to obtain a few shillings more.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading My father was a light porter in a warehouse, earning fifteen shillings a week; and my mother took in washing to obtain a few shillings more.
precisely as stated
From this reading "My parents were very poor, but very honest; and I was their only child.
warehousenounUS /ˈwerhaʊs/
a storehouse for goods and merchandise
From this reading My father was a light porter in a warehouse, earning fifteen shillings a week; and my mother took in washing to obtain a few shillings more.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "My parents were very poor, but very honest; and I was their only child.
washingnounUS /ˈwɑːʃɪŋ/
the work of cleansing (usually with soap and water)
From this reading My father was a light porter in a warehouse, earning fifteen shillings a week; and my mother took in washing to obtain a few shillings more.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading My father was a light porter in a warehouse, earning fifteen shillings a week; and my mother took in washing to obtain a few shillings more.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Neither of them ever went to the public-house except just to fetch the beer for dinner and supper; and they were always regular in their attendance at church.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "My parents were very poor, but very honest; and I was their only child.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We lived in a court leading out of High Holborn, and occupied one room, which was very decently furnished for people in my parents' condition of life, the things moreover being all their own.
