used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SMILING WORLD.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She had got over her first discomfort; her conscience no longer pricked her; she took an interest in the situation, and sometimes laughed softly to herself.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
atticnounUS /ˈætɪk/
floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
Aylmer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things were going well now with Florence Aylmer.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading She knew that she was losing a good deal: that the worth and stability of her character were being slowly undermined.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading She knew that she was losing a good deal: that the worth and stability of her character were being slowly undermined.
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading She had got over her first discomfort; her conscience no longer pricked her; she took an interest in the situation, and sometimes laughed softly to herself.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading She knew that she was losing a good deal: that the worth and stability of her character were being slowly undermined.
discomfortnounUS /dɪˈskʌmfərt/
the state of being tense and feeling pain
From this reading She had got over her first discomfort; her conscience no longer pricked her; she took an interest in the situation, and sometimes laughed softly to herself.
earningverbUS /ˈɜːrnɪŋ/
-ing form of “earn” — earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading She had got over her first discomfort; her conscience no longer pricked her; she took an interest in the situation, and sometimes laughed softly to herself.
FlorencenounUS /ˈflɔːrəns/
a city in central Italy on the Arno; provincial capital of Tuscany; center of the Italian Renaissance from 14th to 16th centuries
From this reading Things were going well now with Florence Aylmer.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
the act of departing
From this reading Things were going well now with Florence Aylmer.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading She knew that she was losing a good deal: that the worth and stability of her character were being slowly undermined.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading She had got over her first discomfort; her conscience no longer pricked her; she took an interest in the situation, and sometimes laughed softly to herself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had got over her first discomfort; her conscience no longer pricked her; she took an interest in the situation, and sometimes laughed softly to herself.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She had got over her first discomfort; her conscience no longer pricked her; she took an interest in the situation, and sometimes laughed softly to herself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading She had got over her first discomfort; her conscience no longer pricked her; she took an interest in the situation, and sometimes laughed softly to herself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She knew that she was losing a good deal: that the worth and stability of her character were being slowly undermined.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading She had got over her first discomfort; her conscience no longer pricked her; she took an interest in the situation, and sometimes laughed softly to herself.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
for more time
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
-ing form of “lose” — fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading She knew that she was losing a good deal: that the worth and stability of her character were being slowly undermined.
MansionsnounUS /ˈmæntʃənz/
plural of “mansion” — (astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
not any; not one
From this reading She had got over her first discomfort; her conscience no longer pricked her; she took an interest in the situation, and sometimes laughed softly to herself.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Things were going well now with Florence Aylmer.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She had got over her first discomfort; her conscience no longer pricked her; she took an interest in the situation, and sometimes laughed softly to herself.
prickedverbUS /prɪkt/
past form of “prick” — make a small hole into, as with a needle or a thorn
From this reading She had got over her first discomfort; her conscience no longer pricked her; she took an interest in the situation, and sometimes laughed softly to herself.
Prince'snounUS /ˈprɪnsɪz/
possessive form of “prince” — a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading She had got over her first discomfort; her conscience no longer pricked her; she took an interest in the situation, and sometimes laughed softly to herself.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading She knew that she was losing a good deal: that the worth and stability of her character were being slowly undermined.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading A SMILING WORLD.
with low volume
From this reading She had got over her first discomfort; her conscience no longer pricked her; she took an interest in the situation, and sometimes laughed softly to herself.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading She had got over her first discomfort; her conscience no longer pricked her; she took an interest in the situation, and sometimes laughed softly to herself.
stabilitynounUS /stəˈbɪlɪti/
the quality or attribute of being firm and steadfast
From this reading She knew that she was losing a good deal: that the worth and stability of her character were being slowly undermined.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She knew that she was losing a good deal: that the worth and stability of her character were being slowly undermined.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Things were going well now with Florence Aylmer.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading She had got over her first discomfort; her conscience no longer pricked her; she took an interest in the situation, and sometimes laughed softly to herself.
the upper part of anything
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
underminedverbUS /ˌʌndərˈmaɪnd/
past form of “undermine” — destroy property or hinder normal operations
From this reading She knew that she was losing a good deal: that the worth and stability of her character were being slowly undermined.
unnecessaryadjectiveUS /ənˈnesəseri/
not necessary
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was earning money, and it was unnecessary for her to live any longer in the top attic of Prince's Mansions.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Things were going well now with Florence Aylmer.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Things were going well now with Florence Aylmer.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Things were going well now with Florence Aylmer.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading A SMILING WORLD.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading She knew that she was losing a good deal: that the worth and stability of her character were being slowly undermined.
