used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "Neither Horace nor Muriel has ever had it, and germs can certainly be conveyed through notepaper.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
conveyedverbUS /kənˈveɪd/
past form of “convey” — (of information) make known; pass on
From this reading "Neither Horace nor Muriel has ever had it, and germs can certainly be conveyed through notepaper.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading "I have such a horror of scarlet fever," she declared.
without deviation
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
at any time
From this reading "Neither Horace nor Muriel has ever had it, and germs can certainly be conveyed through notepaper.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
accept an excuse for
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
opinion or judgment
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
a social unit living together
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
festivalnounUS /ˈfestəvəl/
a day or period of time set aside for feasting and celebration
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection
From this reading "I have such a horror of scarlet fever," she declared.
start firing a weapon
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
germsnounUS /dʒɜːrmz/
plural of “germ” — anything that provides inspiration for later work
From this reading "Neither Horace nor Muriel has ever had it, and germs can certainly be conveyed through notepaper.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
harderadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdər/
comparative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Neither Horace nor Muriel has ever had it, and germs can certainly be conveyed through notepaper.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I have such a horror of scarlet fever," she declared.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
HoracenounUS /ˈhɔːrəs/
Roman lyric poet said to have influenced English poetry (65-8 BC)
From this reading "Neither Horace nor Muriel has ever had it, and germs can certainly be conveyed through notepaper.
intense and profound fear
From this reading "I have such a horror of scarlet fever," she declared.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
Kirkstone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
much-disinfected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
Muriel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Neither Horace nor Muriel has ever had it, and germs can certainly be conveyed through notepaper.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading "Neither Horace nor Muriel has ever had it, and germs can certainly be conveyed through notepaper.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
niecenounUS /niːs/
a daughter of your brother or sister
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
not any; not one
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading "Neither Horace nor Muriel has ever had it, and germs can certainly be conveyed through notepaper.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
notepapernoun
writing paper intended for writing short notes or letters
From this reading "Neither Horace nor Muriel has ever had it, and germs can certainly be conveyed through notepaper.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
PattynounUS /ˈpæti/
small flat mass of chopped food
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
presentsnounUS /ˈprezənts/
plural of “present” — the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
be shown or be found to be
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
on the contrary
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
respectsnounUS /rɪˈspekts/
(often used with “pay”) a formal expression of esteem
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
rubverbUS /rʌb/
move over something with pressure
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
scarletnounUS /ˈskɑːrlət/
a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge
From this reading "I have such a horror of scarlet fever," she declared.
an educational institution
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
carry out
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
in or at that place or location
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading "Neither Horace nor Muriel has ever had it, and germs can certainly be conveyed through notepaper.
propel through the air
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
uneasinessnounUS /ˌʌˈniːzinəs/
feelings of anxiety that make you tense and irritable
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
viewedverbUS /vjuːd/
past form of “view” — deem to be
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
vigorouslyadverbUS /ˈvɪɡərəsli/
with vigor; in a vigorous manner
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were, of course, no presents for Patty from Kirkstone, nothing but a much-disinfected letter, which Aunt Lucy viewed with great uneasiness, and insisted that her niece should throw into the fire directly she had read it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading To be in a home which was not her own home seemed in some respects almost harder than being at school, for however kind relations may prove, they can never quite take the place of one's family on such a festival as Christmas Day.
in the company of; together with
From this reading An Afternoon with Jean If Patty had to rub her eyes rather vigorously with her pocket handkerchief on Christmas morning, I think there was every excuse for her.
