used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Maria worked as if her heart were in it: it was for her child.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
BOBBINGverbUS /ˈbɑːbɪŋ/
inflected form of “bob” — move up and down repeatedly
From this reading BOBBING JOAN.
braidingnounUS /ˈbreɪdɪŋ/
trimming used to decorate clothes or curtains
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Maria worked as if her heart were in it: it was for her child.
convertedverbUS /kənˈvɜːrtɪd/
past form of “convert” — change from one system to another or to a new plan or policy
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
at any time
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
frocknounUS /frɑːk/
a long, loose outer garment
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
Godolphin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maria Godolphin was in her own pretty sitting-room upstairs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Maria worked as if her heart were in it: it was for her child.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Maria Godolphin was in her own pretty sitting-room upstairs.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Maria worked as if her heart were in it: it was for her child.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Maria Godolphin was in her own pretty sitting-room upstairs.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
intricateadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəkət/
having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
JOAN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BOBBING JOAN.
a dark region of considerable extent on the surface of the moon
From this reading Maria Godolphin was in her own pretty sitting-room upstairs.
Meta
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
needlenounUS /ˈniːdəl/
the leaf of a conifer
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
the middle of the day
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Maria Godolphin was in her own pretty sitting-room upstairs.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
plyingverbUS /ˈplaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “ply” — give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Maria Godolphin was in her own pretty sitting-room upstairs.
with speed
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
sewingnounUS /ˈsoʊɪŋ/
joining or attaching by stitches
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maria Godolphin was in her own pretty sitting-room upstairs.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
on a floor above
From this reading Maria Godolphin was in her own pretty sitting-room upstairs.
precisely as stated
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Maria Godolphin was in her own pretty sitting-room upstairs.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Maria worked as if her heart were in it: it was for her child.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Not fond of sewing in a general way, she was plying her needle quickly now: some work of fine intricate braiding, to be converted into a frock for Miss Meta.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Maria worked as if her heart were in it: it was for her child.
but in spite of that
From this reading She had been sitting there ever since breakfast: had not yet stirred from it, though noon had passed, for she was very busy.
