used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That was a hard winter for Rowe.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Aside from the financial stress, the elements seemed to conspire against the people who were so ill-prepared to meet their fury.
a quantity of money
From this reading The Brewsters managed to keep up the interest on the house mortgage, but their living expenses were reduced to the smallest possible amount.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was the coldest winter which had been known for years; coal was higher, and the poor people had less coal to burn.
on or to one side
From this reading Aside from the financial stress, the elements seemed to conspire against the people who were so ill-prepared to meet their fury.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was the coldest winter which had been known for years; coal was higher, and the poor people had less coal to burn.
billsnounUS /bɪlz/
plural of “bill” — a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
Brewsters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Brewsters managed to keep up the interest on the house mortgage, but their living expenses were reduced to the smallest possible amount.
To consume or be consumed by fire.
From this reading It was the coldest winter which had been known for years; coal was higher, and the poor people had less coal to burn.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Brewsters managed to keep up the interest on the house mortgage, but their living expenses were reduced to the smallest possible amount.
obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
coalnounUS /koʊl/
fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading It was the coldest winter which had been known for years; coal was higher, and the poor people had less coal to burn.
coldestadjectiveUS /ˈkoʊldəst/
superlative of “cold” — having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading It was the coldest winter which had been known for years; coal was higher, and the poor people had less coal to burn.
conspireverbUS /kənˈspaɪər/
engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together
From this reading Aside from the financial stress, the elements seemed to conspire against the people who were so ill-prepared to meet their fury.
dearly loved
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
doctorsnounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/
plural of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
elementsnounUS /ˈeləmənts/
violent or severe weather (viewed as caused by the action of the four elements)
From this reading Aside from the financial stress, the elements seemed to conspire against the people who were so ill-prepared to meet their fury.
epidemicnounUS /ˌepəˈdemɪk/
a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people are infected at the same time
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
expensesnounUS /ɪkˈspensəz/
plural of “expense” — amounts paid for goods and services that may be currently tax deductible (as opposed to capital expenditures)
From this reading The Brewsters managed to keep up the interest on the house mortgage, but their living expenses were reduced to the smallest possible amount.
financialadjectiveUS /fəˈnænʃəl/
involving financial matters
From this reading Aside from the financial stress, the elements seemed to conspire against the people who were so ill-prepared to meet their fury.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That was a hard winter for Rowe.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Aside from the financial stress, the elements seemed to conspire against the people who were so ill-prepared to meet their fury.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading Aside from the financial stress, the elements seemed to conspire against the people who were so ill-prepared to meet their fury.
grippenoun
an acute febrile highly contagious viral disease
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was the coldest winter which had been known for years; coal was higher, and the poor people had less coal to burn.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading That was a hard winter for Rowe.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading It was the coldest winter which had been known for years; coal was higher, and the poor people had less coal to burn.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The Brewsters managed to keep up the interest on the house mortgage, but their living expenses were reduced to the smallest possible amount.
ill-prepared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aside from the financial stress, the elements seemed to conspire against the people who were so ill-prepared to meet their fury.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading The Brewsters managed to keep up the interest on the house mortgage, but their living expenses were reduced to the smallest possible amount.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the coldest winter which had been known for years; coal was higher, and the poor people had less coal to burn.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The Brewsters managed to keep up the interest on the house mortgage, but their living expenses were reduced to the smallest possible amount.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading It was the coldest winter which had been known for years; coal was higher, and the poor people had less coal to burn.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading It was the coldest winter which had been known for years; coal was higher, and the poor people had less coal to burn.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading The Brewsters managed to keep up the interest on the house mortgage, but their living expenses were reduced to the smallest possible amount.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading The Brewsters managed to keep up the interest on the house mortgage, but their living expenses were reduced to the smallest possible amount.
come together
From this reading Aside from the financial stress, the elements seemed to conspire against the people who were so ill-prepared to meet their fury.
mortgagenounUS /ˈmɔːrɡədʒ/
a conditional conveyance of property as security for the repayment of a loan
From this reading The Brewsters managed to keep up the interest on the house mortgage, but their living expenses were reduced to the smallest possible amount.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Brewsters managed to keep up the interest on the house mortgage, but their living expenses were reduced to the smallest possible amount.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Aside from the financial stress, the elements seemed to conspire against the people who were so ill-prepared to meet their fury.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading It was the coldest winter which had been known for years; coal was higher, and the poor people had less coal to burn.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading The Brewsters managed to keep up the interest on the house mortgage, but their living expenses were reduced to the smallest possible amount.
quininenounUS /ˈkwaɪnaɪn/
a bitter alkaloid extracted from chinchona bark; used in malaria therapy
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
reducedadjectiveUS /rəˈduːst/
made less in size or amount or degree
From this reading The Brewsters managed to keep up the interest on the house mortgage, but their living expenses were reduced to the smallest possible amount.
Rowe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was a hard winter for Rowe.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Aside from the financial stress, the elements seemed to conspire against the people who were so ill-prepared to meet their fury.
smallestadjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːləst/
superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The Brewsters managed to keep up the interest on the house mortgage, but their living expenses were reduced to the smallest possible amount.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Aside from the financial stress, the elements seemed to conspire against the people who were so ill-prepared to meet their fury.
orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
stressnounUS /stres/
the relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch)
From this reading Aside from the financial stress, the elements seemed to conspire against the people who were so ill-prepared to meet their fury.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That was a hard winter for Rowe.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Aside from the financial stress, the elements seemed to conspire against the people who were so ill-prepared to meet their fury.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Aside from the financial stress, the elements seemed to conspire against the people who were so ill-prepared to meet their fury.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Aside from the financial stress, the elements seemed to conspire against the people who were so ill-prepared to meet their fury.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The Brewsters managed to keep up the interest on the house mortgage, but their living expenses were reduced to the smallest possible amount.
precisely as stated
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was a hard winter for Rowe.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Aside from the financial stress, the elements seemed to conspire against the people who were so ill-prepared to meet their fury.
at the time that
From this reading Storm succeeded storm; then, when there came a warm spell, there was an epidemic of the grippe, and doctors' bills to pay and quinine to buy--and quinine was very dear.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was the coldest winter which had been known for years; coal was higher, and the poor people had less coal to burn.
which person or people
From this reading Aside from the financial stress, the elements seemed to conspire against the people who were so ill-prepared to meet their fury.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading That was a hard winter for Rowe.
a late time of life
From this reading It was the coldest winter which had been known for years; coal was higher, and the poor people had less coal to burn.
