used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “But I am better pleased to-night than I have been for many a day,” said Mrs Laurie.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
approbationnounUS /ˌæprəˈbeɪʃən/
official approval
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
bairnnoun
a child: son or daughter
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “But I am better pleased to-night than I have been for many a day,” said Mrs Laurie.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
(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 “But I am better pleased to-night than I have been for many a day,” said Mrs Laurie.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
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 But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Whisht, Menie--my darling, what makes you cry?”
a special loved one
From this reading Whisht, Menie--my darling, what makes you cry?”
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading “But I am better pleased to-night than I have been for many a day,” said Mrs Laurie.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
estrangedadjectiveUS /eˈstreɪndʒd/
caused to be unloved
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “But I am better pleased to-night than I have been for many a day,” said Mrs Laurie.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
Laurie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
go away from a place
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading Whisht, Menie--my darling, what makes you cry?”
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading “But I am better pleased to-night than I have been for many a day,” said Mrs Laurie.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
Menie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
and nothing more
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
permittingverbUS /pərˈmɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading “But I am better pleased to-night than I have been for many a day,” said Mrs Laurie.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
Randall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
not in physical motion
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
of high or superior quality or performance
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
express in words
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “But I am better pleased to-night than I have been for many a day,” said Mrs Laurie.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But I am better pleased to-night than I have been for many a day,” said Mrs Laurie.
unseasonableadjective
not in keeping with (and usually undesirable for) the season
From this reading But Menie could not tell; the night air was still cold at her heart, and she could not keep back these unseasonable tears.
precisely as stated
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Whisht, Menie--my darling, what makes you cry?”
Whisht
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whisht, Menie--my darling, what makes you cry?”
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading “Randall Home is a very superior young man,” said Mrs Laurie, with quiet approbation.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Do you know, Menie, I had begun to have serious thoughts about permitting your engagement so early?--if my only bairn should leave me--leave me, and get estranged into another house and home, with a man that was a stranger in his heart to me.
