used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
abstractverbUS /æbˈstrækt/
consider a concept without thinking of a specific example; consider abstractly or theoretically
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading Not only her mother, but all the matrons of her acquaintance had concentrated on the extreme desirability of this wifely virtue.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Not only her mother, but all the matrons of her acquaintance had concentrated on the extreme desirability of this wifely virtue.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
any thing at all
From this reading "Domestic difficulties" meant, apparently, anything disagreeable that happened to one.
from appearances alone
From this reading "Domestic difficulties" meant, apparently, anything disagreeable that happened to one.
assortmentnounUS /əˈsɔːrtmənt/
a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
a person who is in charge
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
concentratedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnsəntreɪtɪd/
gathered together or made less diffuse
From this reading Not only her mother, but all the matrons of her acquaintance had concentrated on the extreme desirability of this wifely virtue.
direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
desirabilitynounUS /dɪˌzaɪrəˈbɪlɪti/
the quality of being worthy of desiring
From this reading Not only her mother, but all the matrons of her acquaintance had concentrated on the extreme desirability of this wifely virtue.
plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
disagreeableadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbəl/
not to your liking
From this reading "Domestic difficulties" meant, apparently, anything disagreeable that happened to one.
of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading Not only her mother, but all the matrons of her acquaintance had concentrated on the extreme desirability of this wifely virtue.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
feweradjectiveUS /ˈfjuːər/
(comparative of “few” used with count nouns) quantifier meaning a smaller number of
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading "Domestic difficulties" meant, apparently, anything disagreeable that happened to one.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
idealsnounUS /aɪˈdiːlz/
plural of “ideal” — the idea of something that is perfect; something that one hopes to attain
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It pays!
conformity or harmony
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
Lydia's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
matronsnounUS /ˈmeɪtrənz/
plural of “matron” — a married woman (usually middle-aged with children) who is staid and dignified
From this reading Not only her mother, but all the matrons of her acquaintance had concentrated on the extreme desirability of this wifely virtue.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "Domestic difficulties" meant, apparently, anything disagreeable that happened to one.
moralitynounUS /mərˈæləti/
concern with the distinction between good and evil or right and wrong; right or good conduct
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Not only her mother, but all the matrons of her acquaintance had concentrated on the extreme desirability of this wifely virtue.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not only her mother, but all the matrons of her acquaintance had concentrated on the extreme desirability of this wifely virtue.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Not only her mother, but all the matrons of her acquaintance had concentrated on the extreme desirability of this wifely virtue.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Domestic difficulties" meant, apparently, anything disagreeable that happened to one.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
and nothing more
From this reading Not only her mother, but all the matrons of her acquaintance had concentrated on the extreme desirability of this wifely virtue.
paysnounUS /peɪz/
plural of “pay” — something that remunerates
From this reading "It pays!
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
regulationnounUS /ˌreɡjəˈleɪʃən/
an authoritative rule
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
self-disciplinenoun
the trait of practicing self discipline
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
not in physical motion
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
SUITABLEadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtəbəl/
meant or adapted for an occasion or use
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Not only her mother, but all the matrons of her acquaintance had concentrated on the extreme desirability of this wifely virtue.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
unmarriedadjectiveUS /ənˈmerid/
not married or related to the unmarried state
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
unworriedadjectiveUS /ənˈwɜːrid/
free of trouble and worry and care
From this reading A SUITABLE MARRIAGE TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION Lydia's unmarried life had given her but few abstract ideas for the regulation of conduct, and fewer still ideals of self-discipline, but chief among the small assortment that she took away from her mother's house had been the high morality of keeping one's husband unworried by one's domestic difficulties.
Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.
From this reading Not only her mother, but all the matrons of her acquaintance had concentrated on the extreme desirability of this wifely virtue.
wifelyadjective
befitting or characteristic of a wife
From this reading Not only her mother, but all the matrons of her acquaintance had concentrated on the extreme desirability of this wifely virtue.
