used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mine was not a very regular or, perhaps, a very good kind of education.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading My mother had been a governess before me, and not one of very high pretensions, as governesses are nowadays.
any thing at all
From this reading I don’t think she ever knew anything herself, except a little music and a little French, which she had forgotten before my time.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading My mother had been a governess before me, and not one of very high pretensions, as governesses are nowadays.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I had been “out” before, but only as nursery governess.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When I went to be governess at Mrs Durham’s I was quite young.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When I went to be governess at Mrs Durham’s I was quite young.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I had been “out” before, but only as nursery governess.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I had been “out” before, but only as nursery governess.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I had been “out” before, but only as nursery governess.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I don’t think she ever knew anything herself, except a little music and a little French, which she had forgotten before my time.
Durham's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I went to be governess at Mrs Durham’s I was quite young.
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading Mine was not a very regular or, perhaps, a very good kind of education.
at any time
From this reading I don’t think she ever knew anything herself, except a little music and a little French, which she had forgotten before my time.
apart from; not including
From this reading I don’t think she ever knew anything herself, except a little music and a little French, which she had forgotten before my time.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading I don’t think she ever knew anything herself, except a little music and a little French, which she had forgotten before my time.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading I don’t think she ever knew anything herself, except a little music and a little French, which she had forgotten before my time.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Mine was not a very regular or, perhaps, a very good kind of education.
governessnounUS /ˈɡʌvərnəs/
a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)
From this reading When I went to be governess at Mrs Durham’s I was quite young.
governesses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My mother had been a governess before me, and not one of very high pretensions, as governesses are nowadays.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had been “out” before, but only as nursery governess.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading I don’t think she ever knew anything herself, except a little music and a little French, which she had forgotten before my time.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading My mother had been a governess before me, and not one of very high pretensions, as governesses are nowadays.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When I went to be governess at Mrs Durham’s I was quite young.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Mine was not a very regular or, perhaps, a very good kind of education.
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 I don’t think she ever knew anything herself, except a little music and a little French, which she had forgotten before my time.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I don’t think she ever knew anything herself, except a little music and a little French, which she had forgotten before my time.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My mother had been a governess before me, and not one of very high pretensions, as governesses are nowadays.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Mine was not a very regular or, perhaps, a very good kind of education.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading My mother had been a governess before me, and not one of very high pretensions, as governesses are nowadays.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading When I went to be governess at Mrs Durham’s I was quite young.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading I don’t think she ever knew anything herself, except a little music and a little French, which she had forgotten before my time.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My mother had been a governess before me, and not one of very high pretensions, as governesses are nowadays.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mine was not a very regular or, perhaps, a very good kind of education.
nowadaysnounUS /ˈnaʊədeɪz/
the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
From this reading My mother had been a governess before me, and not one of very high pretensions, as governesses are nowadays.
nurserynounUS /ˈnɜːrsəri/
a child's room for a baby
From this reading I had been “out” before, but only as nursery governess.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mine was not a very regular or, perhaps, a very good kind of education.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading My mother had been a governess before me, and not one of very high pretensions, as governesses are nowadays.
and nothing more
From this reading I had been “out” before, but only as nursery governess.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Mine was not a very regular or, perhaps, a very good kind of education.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I had been “out” before, but only as nursery governess.
by chance
From this reading Mine was not a very regular or, perhaps, a very good kind of education.
pretensionsnounUS /prəˈtenʃənz/
plural of “pretension” — a false or unsupportable quality
From this reading My mother had been a governess before me, and not one of very high pretensions, as governesses are nowadays.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading When I went to be governess at Mrs Durham’s I was quite young.
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading Mine was not a very regular or, perhaps, a very good kind of education.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I don’t think she ever knew anything herself, except a little music and a little French, which she had forgotten before my time.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading I don’t think she ever knew anything herself, except a little music and a little French, which she had forgotten before my time.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I don’t think she ever knew anything herself, except a little music and a little French, which she had forgotten before my time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When I went to be governess at Mrs Durham’s I was quite young.
precisely as stated
From this reading Mine was not a very regular or, perhaps, a very good kind of education.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When I went to be governess at Mrs Durham’s I was quite young.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When I went to be governess at Mrs Durham’s I was quite young.
at the time that
From this reading When I went to be governess at Mrs Durham’s I was quite young.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I don’t think she ever knew anything herself, except a little music and a little French, which she had forgotten before my time.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading When I went to be governess at Mrs Durham’s I was quite young.
