used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
(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 And yet as she looked back over her busy days she realized that she neither studied nor practised all the time.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading JEAN'S TELEGRAM AND WHAT IT SAID The winter in Pittsburgh passed rapidly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading And yet as she looked back over her busy days she realized that she neither studied nor practised all the time.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading And yet as she looked back over her busy days she realized that she neither studied nor practised all the time.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading And yet as she looked back over her busy days she realized that she neither studied nor practised all the time.
despiteprepositionUS /dɪˈspaɪt/
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
drumnounUS /drʌm/
a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
exercisesnounUS /ˈeksərsaɪzəz/
plural of “exercise” — the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
Fraeulein
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
a person of German nationality
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
a young female
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading No, there was many a good time interspersed in her routine.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And yet as she looked back over her busy days she realized that she neither studied nor practised all the time.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading JEAN'S TELEGRAM AND WHAT IT SAID The winter in Pittsburgh passed rapidly.
interspersedverbUS /ˌɪntərˈspɜːrst/
past form of “intersperse” — place at intervals in or among
From this reading No, there was many a good time interspersed in her routine.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading JEAN'S TELEGRAM AND WHAT IT SAID The winter in Pittsburgh passed rapidly.
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
JEAN'SnounUS /dʒiːnz/
possessive form of “jean” — a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading JEAN'S TELEGRAM AND WHAT IT SAID The winter in Pittsburgh passed rapidly.
lessonsnounUS /ˈlesənz/
plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
hear with intention
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading And yet as she looked back over her busy days she realized that she neither studied nor practised all the time.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading No, there was many a good time interspersed in her routine.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading And yet as she looked back over her busy days she realized that she neither studied nor practised all the time.
not any; not one
From this reading No, there was many a good time interspersed in her routine.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading And yet as she looked back over her busy days she realized that she neither studied nor practised all the time.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading JEAN'S TELEGRAM AND WHAT IT SAID The winter in Pittsburgh passed rapidly.
pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/
a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
PittsburghnounUS /ˈpɪtsbərɡ/
a city in southwestern Pennsylvania where the confluence of the Allegheny River and Monongahela River forms the Ohio River; long an important urban industrial area; site of Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh
From this reading JEAN'S TELEGRAM AND WHAT IT SAID The winter in Pittsburgh passed rapidly.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
practisedadjectiveUS /ˈpræktɪst/
skillful after much practice
From this reading And yet as she looked back over her busy days she realized that she neither studied nor practised all the time.
practising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
with speed
From this reading JEAN'S TELEGRAM AND WHAT IT SAID The winter in Pittsburgh passed rapidly.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading And yet as she looked back over her busy days she realized that she neither studied nor practised all the time.
routinenounUS /ruːˈtiːn/
an unvarying or habitual method or procedure
From this reading No, there was many a good time interspersed in her routine.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading JEAN'S TELEGRAM AND WHAT IT SAID The winter in Pittsburgh passed rapidly.
Identical; not different.
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
scalesnounUS /skeɪlz/
plural of “scale” — an ordered reference standard
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
an educational institution
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading And yet as she looked back over her busy days she realized that she neither studied nor practised all the time.
TELEGRAMnounUS /ˈteləɡræm/
a message transmitted by telegraph
From this reading JEAN'S TELEGRAM AND WHAT IT SAID The winter in Pittsburgh passed rapidly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And yet as she looked back over her busy days she realized that she neither studied nor practised all the time.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JEAN'S TELEGRAM AND WHAT IT SAID The winter in Pittsburgh passed rapidly.
in or at that place or location
From this reading No, there was many a good time interspersed in her routine.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading And yet as she looked back over her busy days she realized that she neither studied nor practised all the time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
male cat
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading JEAN'S TELEGRAM AND WHAT IT SAID The winter in Pittsburgh passed rapidly.
at the time that
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
which person or people
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading JEAN'S TELEGRAM AND WHAT IT SAID The winter in Pittsburgh passed rapidly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading It seemed as if the scales and finger exercises were endless and sometimes the girl wondered which had the more miserable fate--she who was forced to drum the same old things over and over, or poor Uncle Tom who had to listen when she was doing it.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading For Jean it was a happy year despite much hard work at school, German lessons with Fraeulein, and long hours of piano practising.
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet as she looked back over her busy days she realized that she neither studied nor practised all the time.
