used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR INHERITANCE.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading If she had to earn her own living, she should at least have the best education that money could give; and Sally had made the best use of her opportunity.
a youthful male person
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
assets available for use in the production of further assets
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Her name was high in the honour list, and Paul decreed that, before any plans were discussed for her future, they should dedicate a certain sum to a foreign tour.
the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
continentnounUS /ˈkɑːntənənt/
one of the large landmasses of the earth
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If she had to earn her own living, she should at least have the best education that money could give; and Sally had made the best use of her opportunity.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
decreedadjectiveUS /dɪˈkriːd/
fixed or established especially by order or command
From this reading Her name was high in the honour list, and Paul decreed that, before any plans were discussed for her future, they should dedicate a certain sum to a foreign tour.
dedicateverbUS /ˈdedəkeɪt/
give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
From this reading Her name was high in the honour list, and Paul decreed that, before any plans were discussed for her future, they should dedicate a certain sum to a foreign tour.
discussedverbUS /dɪˈskʌst/
past form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading Her name was high in the honour list, and Paul decreed that, before any plans were discussed for her future, they should dedicate a certain sum to a foreign tour.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
earnverbUS /ɜːrn/
earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
From this reading If she had to earn her own living, she should at least have the best education that money could give; and Sally had made the best use of her opportunity.
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading If she had to earn her own living, she should at least have the best education that money could give; and Sally had made the best use of her opportunity.
enableverbUS /eˈneɪbəl/
render capable or able for some task
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
enjoymentnounUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪmənt/
the pleasure felt when having a good time
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading Her name was high in the honour list, and Paul decreed that, before any plans were discussed for her future, they should dedicate a certain sum to a foreign tour.
yet to be or coming
From this reading Her name was high in the honour list, and Paul decreed that, before any plans were discussed for her future, they should dedicate a certain sum to a foreign tour.
a young female
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
Girton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading If she had to earn her own living, she should at least have the best education that money could give; and Sally had made the best use of her opportunity.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If she had to earn her own living, she should at least have the best education that money could give; and Sally had made the best use of her opportunity.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Her name was high in the honour list, and Paul decreed that, before any plans were discussed for her future, they should dedicate a certain sum to a foreign tour.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
the state of being honored
From this reading Her name was high in the honour list, and Paul decreed that, before any plans were discussed for her future, they should dedicate a certain sum to a foreign tour.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If she had to earn her own living, she should at least have the best education that money could give; and Sally had made the best use of her opportunity.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Her name was high in the honour list, and Paul decreed that, before any plans were discussed for her future, they should dedicate a certain sum to a foreign tour.
INHERITANCEnounUS /ˌɪnˈherətəns/
hereditary succession to a title or an office or property
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR INHERITANCE.
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 If she had to earn her own living, she should at least have the best education that money could give; and Sally had made the best use of her opportunity.
LessingnounUS /ˈlesɪŋ/
German playwright and leader of the Enlightenment (1729-1781)
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
light-heartedadjective
carefree and happy and lighthearted
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of
From this reading Her name was high in the honour list, and Paul decreed that, before any plans were discussed for her future, they should dedicate a certain sum to a foreign tour.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading If she had to earn her own living, she should at least have the best education that money could give; and Sally had made the best use of her opportunity.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading If she had to earn her own living, she should at least have the best education that money could give; and Sally had made the best use of her opportunity.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading If she had to earn her own living, she should at least have the best education that money could give; and Sally had made the best use of her opportunity.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Her name was high in the honour list, and Paul decreed that, before any plans were discussed for her future, they should dedicate a certain sum to a foreign tour.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
and nothing more
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading If she had to earn her own living, she should at least have the best education that money could give; and Sally had made the best use of her opportunity.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
orphansnounUS /ˈɔːrfənz/
plural of “orphan” — a child who has lost both parents
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading If she had to earn her own living, she should at least have the best education that money could give; and Sally had made the best use of her opportunity.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading Her name was high in the honour list, and Paul decreed that, before any plans were discussed for her future, they should dedicate a certain sum to a foreign tour.
SallynounUS /ˈsæli/
witty remark
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If she had to earn her own living, she should at least have the best education that money could give; and Sally had made the best use of her opportunity.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading If she had to earn her own living, she should at least have the best education that money could give; and Sally had made the best use of her opportunity.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
a quantity of money
From this reading Her name was high in the honour list, and Paul decreed that, before any plans were discussed for her future, they should dedicate a certain sum to a foreign tour.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
carry out
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If she had to earn her own living, she should at least have the best education that money could give; and Sally had made the best use of her opportunity.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
tournounUS /tʊr/
a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
UNLOOKED-FORadjective
not anticipated
From this reading AN UNLOOKED-FOR INHERITANCE.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
the act of using
From this reading If she had to earn her own living, she should at least have the best education that money could give; and Sally had made the best use of her opportunity.
vacationnounUS /veɪˈkeɪʃən/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her name was high in the honour list, and Paul decreed that, before any plans were discussed for her future, they should dedicate a certain sum to a foreign tour.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
week'snounUS /wiːks/
possessive form of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were orphans, with only each other to care for; and Paul had not feared to take up some of their slender capital to enable his sister to complete her college course at Girton.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A week before, Paul Lessing and his only sister Sally had started for a three week's tour on the continent, with as light-hearted a sense of enjoyment as any boy or girl home for the summer vacation.
