used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
adequateadjectiveUS /ˈædəkwət/
having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
(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 There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Then it is just debt and nothing worse,” Mrs. Buchanan said.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
BuchanannounUS /bjuːˈkænən/
15th President of the United States (1791-1868)
From this reading “Then it is just debt and nothing worse,” Mrs. Buchanan said.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
CONFESSIONnounUS /kənˈfeʃən/
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading CONFESSION.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Nothing worse! what is there that is worse?” cried the minister, turning round upon her.
debtnounUS /det/
the state of owing something (especially money)
From this reading “Then it is just debt and nothing worse,” Mrs. Buchanan said.
a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He had been walking up and down the study, that study which had been made a purgatory to him by the money of which she spoke so lightly.
dramaticadjectiveUS /drəˈmætɪk/
suitable to or characteristic of drama
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
responsible for or chargeable with a reprehensible act
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been walking up and down the study, that study which had been made a purgatory to him by the money of which she spoke so lightly.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had been walking up and down the study, that study which had been made a purgatory to him by the money of which she spoke so lightly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Then it is just debt and nothing worse,” Mrs. Buchanan said.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Then it is just debt and nothing worse,” Mrs. Buchanan said.
and nothing more
From this reading “Then it is just debt and nothing worse,” Mrs. Buchanan said.
without good reason
From this reading He had been walking up and down the study, that study which had been made a purgatory to him by the money of which she spoke so lightly.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He had been walking up and down the study, that study which had been made a purgatory to him by the money of which she spoke so lightly.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading “Nothing worse! what is there that is worse?” cried the minister, turning round upon her.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading He had been walking up and down the study, that study which had been made a purgatory to him by the money of which she spoke so lightly.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
Mowbray's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading “Then it is just debt and nothing worse,” Mrs. Buchanan said.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “Then it is just debt and nothing worse,” Mrs. Buchanan said.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
purgatorynounUS /ˈpɜːrɡətɔːri/
a temporary condition of torment or suffering
From this reading He had been walking up and down the study, that study which had been made a purgatory to him by the money of which she spoke so lightly.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading “Nothing worse! what is there that is worse?” cried the minister, turning round upon her.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Then it is just debt and nothing worse,” Mrs. Buchanan said.
only a very short time before
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He had been walking up and down the study, that study which had been made a purgatory to him by the money of which she spoke so lightly.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading He had been walking up and down the study, that study which had been made a purgatory to him by the money of which she spoke so lightly.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading He had been walking up and down the study, that study which had been made a purgatory to him by the money of which she spoke so lightly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “Then it is just debt and nothing worse,” Mrs. Buchanan said.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
a source of difficulty
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading “Nothing worse! what is there that is worse?” cried the minister, turning round upon her.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He had been walking up and down the study, that study which had been made a purgatory to him by the money of which she spoke so lightly.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “Nothing worse! what is there that is worse?” cried the minister, turning round upon her.
visitsnounUS /ˈvɪzɪts/
plural of “visit” — the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading He had been walking up and down the study, that study which had been made a purgatory to him by the money of which she spoke so lightly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Nothing worse! what is there that is worse?” cried the minister, turning round upon her.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading There was a slight air of disappointment in her face; not that she wished the woman to be more guilty, but that this was scarcely an adequate cause for all the dramatic excitement which had been caused in her own mind by Mrs. Mowbray’s visits and the trouble in her face.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading “Then it is just debt and nothing worse,” Mrs. Buchanan said.
