used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
Abbé's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mention has before been made of the Abbé’s two sisters.
highly skilled
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Mention has before been made of the Abbé’s two sisters.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Mention has before been made of the Abbé’s two sisters.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
borderingverbUS /ˈbɔːrdərɪŋ/
-ing form of “border” — extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it is more than probable that this success was interrupted and finally destroyed by the wayward and very eccentric character and conduct of the younger.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But it is more than probable that this success was interrupted and finally destroyed by the wayward and very eccentric character and conduct of the younger.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading But it is more than probable that this success was interrupted and finally destroyed by the wayward and very eccentric character and conduct of the younger.
spoiled or ruined or demolished
From this reading But it is more than probable that this success was interrupted and finally destroyed by the wayward and very eccentric character and conduct of the younger.
the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
From this reading She was of the Wolstoncraft school, a great stickler for the dignity of the sex, and the rights of women.
eccentricadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsentrɪk/
conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
From this reading But it is more than probable that this success was interrupted and finally destroyed by the wayward and very eccentric character and conduct of the younger.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading But it is more than probable that this success was interrupted and finally destroyed by the wayward and very eccentric character and conduct of the younger.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
fortunesnounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənz/
plural of “fortune” — an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading She was of the Wolstoncraft school, a great stickler for the dignity of the sex, and the rights of women.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mention has before been made of the Abbé’s two sisters.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
discontinued temporarily
From this reading But it is more than probable that this success was interrupted and finally destroyed by the wayward and very eccentric character and conduct of the younger.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it is more than probable that this success was interrupted and finally destroyed by the wayward and very eccentric character and conduct of the younger.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it is more than probable that this success was interrupted and finally destroyed by the wayward and very eccentric character and conduct of the younger.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Mention has before been made of the Abbé’s two sisters.
make reference to
From this reading Mention has before been made of the Abbé’s two sisters.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But it is more than probable that this success was interrupted and finally destroyed by the wayward and very eccentric character and conduct of the younger.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mention has before been made of the Abbé’s two sisters.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
probableadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːbəbəl/
likely but not certain to be or become true or real
From this reading But it is more than probable that this success was interrupted and finally destroyed by the wayward and very eccentric character and conduct of the younger.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
provincialadjectiveUS /prəˈvɪnʃəl/
of or associated with a province
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
refinementnounUS /rəˈfaɪnmənt/
a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
plural of “right” — an abstract idea of that which is due to a person or governmental body by law or tradition or nature
From this reading She was of the Wolstoncraft school, a great stickler for the dignity of the sex, and the rights of women.
romanticadjectiveUS /roʊˈmæntɪk/
belonging to or characteristic of Romanticism or the Romantic Movement in the arts
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
an educational institution
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
schoolsnounUS /skuːlz/
plural of “school” — an educational institution
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
activities associated with sexual intercourse
From this reading She was of the Wolstoncraft school, a great stickler for the dignity of the sex, and the rights of women.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was of the Wolstoncraft school, a great stickler for the dignity of the sex, and the rights of women.
unusual or striking
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Mention has before been made of the Abbé’s two sisters.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
sticklernounUS /ˈstɪkələr/
someone who insists on something
From this reading She was of the Wolstoncraft school, a great stickler for the dignity of the sex, and the rights of women.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading But it is more than probable that this success was interrupted and finally destroyed by the wayward and very eccentric character and conduct of the younger.
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But it is more than probable that this success was interrupted and finally destroyed by the wayward and very eccentric character and conduct of the younger.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mention has before been made of the Abbé’s two sisters.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But it is more than probable that this success was interrupted and finally destroyed by the wayward and very eccentric character and conduct of the younger.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Mention has before been made of the Abbé’s two sisters.
precisely as stated
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The character of one of them was so very singular, and her fortunes so bordering on the romantic, that they ought not entirely to be passed over.
waywardadjectiveUS /ˈweɪwərd/
resistant to guidance or discipline
From this reading But it is more than probable that this success was interrupted and finally destroyed by the wayward and very eccentric character and conduct of the younger.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
Wolstoncraft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was of the Wolstoncraft school, a great stickler for the dignity of the sex, and the rights of women.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading She was of the Wolstoncraft school, a great stickler for the dignity of the sex, and the rights of women.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The sisters at first kept a school for young ladies, and as they were clever and accomplished, and promised something of refinement, beyond the ordinary level of provincial schools, they were for a time very successful.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading But it is more than probable that this success was interrupted and finally destroyed by the wayward and very eccentric character and conduct of the younger.
