used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The First Peal Mabel was twenty-one when her cousin Isobel Leighton came to make her home at the White House.
attractiveadjectiveUS /əˈtræktɪv/
pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm
From this reading The girls got a room ready for her, and took pains towards having it specially attractive.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was the most natural thing in the world that everybody should be pleased.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The First Peal Mabel was twenty-one when her cousin Isobel Leighton came to make her home at the White House.
changesnounUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒəz/
plural of “change” — an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading The First Peal Mabel was twenty-one when her cousin Isobel Leighton came to make her home at the White House.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
elsewhereadverbUS /ˈelswer/
in or to another place
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
every person
From this reading It was the most natural thing in the world that everybody should be pleased.
a social unit living together
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The First Peal Mabel was twenty-one when her cousin Isobel Leighton came to make her home at the White House.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The girls got a room ready for her, and took pains towards having it specially attractive.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The girls got a room ready for her, and took pains towards having it specially attractive.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The girls got a room ready for her, and took pains towards having it specially attractive.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The First Peal Mabel was twenty-one when her cousin Isobel Leighton came to make her home at the White House.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The First Peal Mabel was twenty-one when her cousin Isobel Leighton came to make her home at the White House.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The First Peal Mabel was twenty-one when her cousin Isobel Leighton came to make her home at the White House.
imperativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈperətɪv/
requiring attention or action
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
Isobel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The First Peal Mabel was twenty-one when her cousin Isobel Leighton came to make her home at the White House.
Isobel's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
Leighton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The First Peal Mabel was twenty-one when her cousin Isobel Leighton came to make her home at the White House.
Mabel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The First Peal Mabel was twenty-one when her cousin Isobel Leighton came to make her home at the White House.
engage in
From this reading The First Peal Mabel was twenty-one when her cousin Isobel Leighton came to make her home at the White House.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
used to form the superlative
From this reading It was the most natural thing in the world that everybody should be pleased.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
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 Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading It was the most natural thing in the world that everybody should be pleased.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
painsnounUS /peɪnz/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading The girls got a room ready for her, and took pains towards having it specially attractive.
PealnounUS /piːl/
a deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells)
From this reading The First Peal Mabel was twenty-one when her cousin Isobel Leighton came to make her home at the White House.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading It was the most natural thing in the world that everybody should be pleased.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading The girls got a room ready for her, and took pains towards having it specially attractive.
recentadjectiveUS /ˈriːsənt/
new
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The girls got a room ready for her, and took pains towards having it specially attractive.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
speciallyadverbUS /ˈspeʃəli/
in a special manner
From this reading The girls got a room ready for her, and took pains towards having it specially attractive.
past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The First Peal Mabel was twenty-one when her cousin Isobel Leighton came to make her home at the White House.
a special situation
From this reading It was the most natural thing in the world that everybody should be pleased.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The First Peal Mabel was twenty-one when her cousin Isobel Leighton came to make her home at the White House.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The girls got a room ready for her, and took pains towards having it specially attractive.
in the direction of
From this reading The girls got a room ready for her, and took pains towards having it specially attractive.
twenty-onenounUS /ˈtwentiwɔːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty and one
From this reading The First Peal Mabel was twenty-one when her cousin Isobel Leighton came to make her home at the White House.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The First Peal Mabel was twenty-one when her cousin Isobel Leighton came to make her home at the White House.
at the time that
From this reading The First Peal Mabel was twenty-one when her cousin Isobel Leighton came to make her home at the White House.
a Caucasian
From this reading The First Peal Mabel was twenty-one when her cousin Isobel Leighton came to make her home at the White House.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Now, suddenly, it seemed imperative that Mr. Leighton should offer her a place in his own family, since various changes elsewhere left her without a home.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading It was the most natural thing in the world that everybody should be pleased.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
a late time of life
From this reading Isobel’s mother had died ten years before, and since the more recent death of her father, she had stayed for a year or two with her mother’s relations.
