used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
Anstruther
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Certainly he had never spoken to her of any.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As far as she knew, she had no other relatives.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Certainly he had never spoken to her of any.
conventnounUS /ˈkɑːnvənt/
a religious residence especially for nuns
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
at any time
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading As far as she knew, she had no other relatives.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
governessnounUS /ˈɡʌvərnəs/
a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
Greystones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Certainly he had never spoken to her of any.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
infancynounUS /ˈɪnfənsi/
the early stage of growth or development
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading As far as she knew, she had no other relatives.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
lessonsnounUS /ˈlesənz/
plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
MARGARET
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
Margaret's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
a form of address for a man
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Certainly he had never spoken to her of any.
not any; not one
From this reading As far as she knew, she had no other relatives.
nunnounUS /nʌn/
a woman religious
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Certainly he had never spoken to her of any.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
opensnounUS /ˈoʊpənz/
plural of “open” — a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading As far as she knew, she had no other relatives.
OVERHEARSverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhiːrz/
third-person singular of “overhear” — hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
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 MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
relativesnounUS /ˈrelətɪvz/
plural of “relative” — a person related by blood or marriage
From this reading As far as she knew, she had no other relatives.
resideverbUS /rɪˈzaɪd/
make one's home in a particular place or community
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading When she grew old enough to begin lessons, Mr. Anstruther had engaged an excellent governess to reside at Greystones, and at her hands Margaret had received a careful, sound education.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Certainly he had never spoken to her of any.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Certainly he had never spoken to her of any.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
at the time that
From this reading MARGARET OVERHEARS A CONVERSATION Margaret's parents had died when she was in her infancy, and she had been brought up entirely by her grandfather.
a late time of life
From this reading No nun in a convent ever led a more regular existence than Margaret had led from the time she was five years old until a few weeks before this story opens.
