used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Thirty pounds a year," she said softly to herself, "thirty pounds certain, and a lump sum of two hundred in the bank.
tending to become more severe or wider in scope
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading That leaves a balance of one hundred and sixty; just enough to put away for emergencies, illness, and so forth.
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading That leaves a balance of one hundred and sixty; just enough to put away for emergencies, illness, and so forth.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading "Thirty pounds a year," she said softly to herself, "thirty pounds certain, and a lump sum of two hundred in the bank.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading They probably owe quite thirty pounds of that, and to make it safe, I had better say forty.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading "Thirty pounds a year," she said softly to herself, "thirty pounds certain, and a lump sum of two hundred in the bank.
without doubt; certainly
From this reading Doubtless they owe some of that for their mother's funeral and their own mourning.
emergenciesnounUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsiz/
plural of “emergency” — a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
From this reading That leaves a balance of one hundred and sixty; just enough to put away for emergencies, illness, and so forth.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading That leaves a balance of one hundred and sixty; just enough to put away for emergencies, illness, and so forth.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Doubtless they owe some of that for their mother's funeral and their own mourning.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading That leaves a balance of one hundred and sixty; just enough to put away for emergencies, illness, and so forth.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading They probably owe quite thirty pounds of that, and to make it safe, I had better say forty.
funeralnounUS /ˈfjuːnərəl/
a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated
From this reading Doubtless they owe some of that for their mother's funeral and their own mourning.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They probably owe quite thirty pounds of that, and to make it safe, I had better say forty.
harmonizesverbUS /ˈhɑːrmənaɪzɪz/
third-person singular of “harmonize” — go together
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading "Thirty pounds a year," she said softly to herself, "thirty pounds certain, and a lump sum of two hundred in the bank.
ten 10s
From this reading "Thirty pounds a year," she said softly to herself, "thirty pounds certain, and a lump sum of two hundred in the bank.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading They probably owe quite thirty pounds of that, and to make it safe, I had better say forty.
illnessnounUS /ˈɪlnəs/
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
From this reading That leaves a balance of one hundred and sixty; just enough to put away for emergencies, illness, and so forth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Thirty pounds a year," she said softly to herself, "thirty pounds certain, and a lump sum of two hundred in the bank.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They probably owe quite thirty pounds of that, and to make it safe, I had better say forty.
and nothing more
From this reading That leaves a balance of one hundred and sixty; just enough to put away for emergencies, illness, and so forth.
KnittingnounUS /ˈnɪtɪŋ/
needlework created by interlacing yarn in a series of connected loops using straight eyeless needles or by machine
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
lady'snounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
possessive form of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading That leaves a balance of one hundred and sixty; just enough to put away for emergencies, illness, and so forth.
lumpnounUS /lʌmp/
a compact mass
From this reading "Thirty pounds a year," she said softly to herself, "thirty pounds certain, and a lump sum of two hundred in the bank.
engage in
From this reading They probably owe quite thirty pounds of that, and to make it safe, I had better say forty.
mittensnounUS /ˈmɪtənz/
plural of “mitten” — glove that encases the thumb separately and the other four fingers together
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Doubtless they owe some of that for their mother's funeral and their own mourning.
mourningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
From this reading Doubtless they owe some of that for their mother's funeral and their own mourning.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
occupationnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Thirty pounds a year," she said softly to herself, "thirty pounds certain, and a lump sum of two hundred in the bank.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading That leaves a balance of one hundred and sixty; just enough to put away for emergencies, illness, and so forth.
be obliged to pay or repay
From this reading Doubtless they owe some of that for their mother's funeral and their own mourning.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Doubtless they owe some of that for their mother's funeral and their own mourning.
plural of “pound” — 16 ounces avoirdupois
From this reading "Thirty pounds a year," she said softly to herself, "thirty pounds certain, and a lump sum of two hundred in the bank.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading They probably owe quite thirty pounds of that, and to make it safe, I had better say forty.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading That leaves a balance of one hundred and sixty; just enough to put away for emergencies, illness, and so forth.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading They probably owe quite thirty pounds of that, and to make it safe, I had better say forty.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading They probably owe quite thirty pounds of that, and to make it safe, I had better say forty.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Thirty pounds a year," she said softly to herself, "thirty pounds certain, and a lump sum of two hundred in the bank.
express in words
From this reading They probably owe quite thirty pounds of that, and to make it safe, I had better say forty.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Thirty pounds a year," she said softly to herself, "thirty pounds certain, and a lump sum of two hundred in the bank.
sixtyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪksti/
being ten more than fifty
From this reading That leaves a balance of one hundred and sixty; just enough to put away for emergencies, illness, and so forth.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading That leaves a balance of one hundred and sixty; just enough to put away for emergencies, illness, and so forth.
with low volume
From this reading "Thirty pounds a year," she said softly to herself, "thirty pounds certain, and a lump sum of two hundred in the bank.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Doubtless they owe some of that for their mother's funeral and their own mourning.
a quantity of money
From this reading "Thirty pounds a year," she said softly to herself, "thirty pounds certain, and a lump sum of two hundred in the bank.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Doubtless they owe some of that for their mother's funeral and their own mourning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Doubtless they owe some of that for their mother's funeral and their own mourning.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Doubtless they owe some of that for their mother's funeral and their own mourning.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading "Thirty pounds a year," she said softly to herself, "thirty pounds certain, and a lump sum of two hundred in the bank.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Thirty pounds a year," she said softly to herself, "thirty pounds certain, and a lump sum of two hundred in the bank.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "Thirty pounds a year," she said softly to herself, "thirty pounds certain, and a lump sum of two hundred in the bank.
precisely as stated
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
(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 Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
woollennounUS /ˈwʊlən/
a fabric made from the hair of sheep
From this reading Knitting woollen mittens is an occupation which harmonizes very well with reflection and while the old lady's active fingers moved her thoughts were busy.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading "Thirty pounds a year," she said softly to herself, "thirty pounds certain, and a lump sum of two hundred in the bank.
