used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
absorptionnounUS /əbˈzɔːrpʃən/
(chemistry) a process in which one substance permeates another; a fluid permeates or is dissolved by a liquid or solid
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
BrentnounUS /brent/
small dark geese that breed in the north and migrate southward
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But nature and Time have been kinder,--or more cruel, if you will.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
careersnounUS /kərˈɪrz/
plural of “career” — the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
combinedadjectiveUS /kəmˈbaɪnd/
made or joined or united into one
From this reading They have combined with trouble and hard work to kill one of Fred's earliest friends.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading But nature and Time have been kinder,--or more cruel, if you will.
DavisnounUS /ˈdeɪvəs/
English navigator who explored the Arctic while searching for the Northwest Passage (1550-1605)
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
Davises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
day'snounUS /deɪz/
possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
dry-goods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
earliestadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrliəst/
(comparative and superlative of “early”) more early than; most early
From this reading They have combined with trouble and hard work to kill one of Fred's earliest friends.
Eliphalet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
Fred's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They have combined with trouble and hard work to kill one of Fred's earliest friends.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading They have combined with trouble and hard work to kill one of Fred's earliest friends.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
a young female
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading They have combined with trouble and hard work to kill one of Fred's earliest friends.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
Hodges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But nature and Time have been kinder,--or more cruel, if you will.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading They have combined with trouble and hard work to kill one of Fred's earliest friends.
kinderadjectiveUS /ˈkaɪndər/
comparative of “kind” — having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading But nature and Time have been kinder,--or more cruel, if you will.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
MelissanounUS /məˈlɪsə/
a genus of Old World mints of the family Labiatae
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But nature and Time have been kinder,--or more cruel, if you will.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading But nature and Time have been kinder,--or more cruel, if you will.
neglectedadjectiveUS /nəˈɡlektəd/
disregarded
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading They have neither passed over nor neglected them.
not any; not one
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading They have neither passed over nor neglected them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
oldestadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldəst/
superlative of “old” — (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They have combined with trouble and hard work to kill one of Fred's earliest friends.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But nature and Time have been kinder,--or more cruel, if you will.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They have neither passed over nor neglected them.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading They have neither passed over nor neglected them.
PrimeadjectiveUS /praɪm/
first in rank or degree
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
in an unfortunate way
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
saleswomannounUS /ˈseɪlzwʊmən/
a woman salesperson
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
Sophy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
supplementsnounUS /ˈsʌpləmənts/
plural of “supplement” — textual matter that is added onto a publication; usually at the end
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They have neither passed over nor neglected them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They have neither passed over nor neglected them.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But nature and Time have been kinder,--or more cruel, if you will.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They have combined with trouble and hard work to kill one of Fred's earliest friends.
a source of difficulty
From this reading They have combined with trouble and hard work to kill one of Fred's earliest friends.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
belonging to which person
From this reading So great has been our absorption in the careers of Fred Brent, Miss Prime, and Eliphalet Hodges that we have sadly neglected some of the characters whose acquaintance we made at the beginning of our story.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading But nature and Time have been kinder,--or more cruel, if you will.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They have combined with trouble and hard work to kill one of Fred's earliest friends.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading They have combined with trouble and hard work to kill one of Fred's earliest friends.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading But nature and Time have been kinder,--or more cruel, if you will.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading Melissa Davis is no more, and the oldest girl, Sophy, supplements her day's work of saleswoman in a dry-goods store by getting supper in the evening and making the younger Davises step around.
