used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading For there is something thrilling about driving wounded, something eternally picturesque about nursing them, but there is no glamour about being a general servant....
admirableadjectiveUS /ˈædmərəbəl/
deserving of the highest esteem or admiration
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
(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 GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I think heroism can no higher go, and I am not trying to be funny; I mean it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading For there is something thrilling about driving wounded, something eternally picturesque about nursing them, but there is no glamour about being a general servant....
the time when something begins (especially life)
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
breedingnounUS /ˈbriːdɪŋ/
elegance by virtue of fineness of manner and expression
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading I think heroism can no higher go, and I am not trying to be funny; I mean it.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
deliberatelyadverbUS /dɪˈlɪbərətli/
with intention; in an intentional manner
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation
From this reading I mean that of the Domestic Staffs.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading For there is something thrilling about driving wounded, something eternally picturesque about nursing them, but there is no glamour about being a general servant....
dullestadjectiveUS /ˈdʌləst/
superlative of “dull” — lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
eternallyadverbUS /ɪˈtɜːrnəli/
for a limitless time
From this reading For there is something thrilling about driving wounded, something eternally picturesque about nursing them, but there is no glamour about being a general servant....
floorsnounUS /flɔːrz/
plural of “floor” — the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For there is something thrilling about driving wounded, something eternally picturesque about nursing them, but there is no glamour about being a general servant....
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading I think heroism can no higher go, and I am not trying to be funny; I mean it.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
glamournounUS /ˈɡlæmər/
alluring beauty or charm (often with sex-appeal)
From this reading For there is something thrilling about driving wounded, something eternally picturesque about nursing them, but there is no glamour about being a general servant....
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I think heroism can no higher go, and I am not trying to be funny; I mean it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
heroismnounUS /ˈheroʊɪzəm/
the qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger (especially in battle)
From this reading I think heroism can no higher go, and I am not trying to be funny; I mean it.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading I think heroism can no higher go, and I am not trying to be funny; I mean it.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I think heroism can no higher go, and I am not trying to be funny; I mean it.
immediately past
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
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 GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading I mean that of the Domestic Staffs.
used to form the superlative
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
not any; not one
From this reading For there is something thrilling about driving wounded, something eternally picturesque about nursing them, but there is no glamour about being a general servant....
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I think heroism can no higher go, and I am not trying to be funny; I mean it.
nursingnounUS /ˈnɜːrsɪŋ/
the work of caring for the sick or injured or infirm
From this reading For there is something thrilling about driving wounded, something eternally picturesque about nursing them, but there is no glamour about being a general servant....
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
by chance
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
picturesqueadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/
suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture
From this reading For there is something thrilling about driving wounded, something eternally picturesque about nursing them, but there is no glamour about being a general servant....
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading For there is something thrilling about driving wounded, something eternally picturesque about nursing them, but there is no glamour about being a general servant....
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
slopsnoun
wet feed (especially for pigs) consisting of mostly kitchen waste mixed with water or skimmed or sour milk
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading For there is something thrilling about driving wounded, something eternally picturesque about nursing them, but there is no glamour about being a general servant....
spectacularadjectiveUS /spekˈtækjələr/
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
StaffsnounUS /stæfs/
plural of “staff” — personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading I mean that of the Domestic Staffs.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I mean that of the Domestic Staffs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For there is something thrilling about driving wounded, something eternally picturesque about nursing them, but there is no glamour about being a general servant....
in or at that place or location
From this reading For there is something thrilling about driving wounded, something eternally picturesque about nursing them, but there is no glamour about being a general servant....
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading I think heroism can no higher go, and I am not trying to be funny; I mean it.
thrillingadjectiveUS /ˈθrɪlɪŋ/
causing a surge of emotion or excitement
From this reading For there is something thrilling about driving wounded, something eternally picturesque about nursing them, but there is no glamour about being a general servant....
up to a particular time
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
hard to endure
From this reading I think heroism can no higher go, and I am not trying to be funny; I mean it.
undertakeverbUS /ˈʌndərteɪk/
enter upon an activity or enterprise
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
voluntaryadjectiveUS /ˈvɑːlənteri/
of your own free will or design; done by choice; not forced or compelled
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
wagesnounUS /ˈweɪdʒəz/
a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
washverbUS /wɑːʃ/
clean with some chemical process
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
which person or people
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading GENERAL SERVANTS AND A GENERAL QUESTION I have left till the last what to some people will be the dullest and what is certainly the least spectacular of all the work done by the women in France, but what is to me perhaps the most wonderful and admirable of all.
people who are wounded
From this reading For there is something thrilling about driving wounded, something eternally picturesque about nursing them, but there is no glamour about being a general servant....
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading A general servant, year in, year out, and with no wages at that, for I talk of the voluntary staffs, girls of gentle birth and breeding who deliberately undertake to wash dishes and clean floors and empty slops day after day.
