1807
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Endorsed Oct., 1807.]
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading You know, I make a pretence not to interfere; but like all old maids I feel a mighty solicitude about the event of love stories.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
(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 You know, I make a pretence not to interfere; but like all old maids I feel a mighty solicitude about the event of love stories.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
comicaladjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmɪkəl/
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
the specified day of the month
From this reading MARY LAMB TO SARAH STODDART [No date.
dearly loved
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
debtnounUS /det/
the state of owing something (especially money)
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading I learn from the Lover that he has not been so remiss in his duty as you supposed.
EndorsedverbUS /enˈdɔːrst/
past form of “endorse” — be behind; approve of
From this reading Endorsed Oct., 1807.]
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading You know, I make a pretence not to interfere; but like all old maids I feel a mighty solicitude about the event of love stories.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading You know, I make a pretence not to interfere; but like all old maids I feel a mighty solicitude about the event of love stories.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I learn from the Lover that he has not been so remiss in his duty as you supposed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I learn from the Lover that he has not been so remiss in his duty as you supposed.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
idlenessnounUS /ˈaɪdəlnəs/
having no employment
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
interfereverbUS /ˌɪntərˈfɪr/
come between so as to be hindrance or obstacle
From this reading You know, I make a pretence not to interfere; but like all old maids I feel a mighty solicitude about the event of love stories.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading You know, I make a pretence not to interfere; but like all old maids I feel a mighty solicitude about the event of love stories.
LAMBnounUS /læm/
young sheep
From this reading MARY LAMB TO SARAH STODDART [No date.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading I learn from the Lover that he has not been so remiss in his duty as you supposed.
the literary culture
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading You know, I make a pretence not to interfere; but like all old maids I feel a mighty solicitude about the event of love stories.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading I learn from the Lover that he has not been so remiss in his duty as you supposed.
maidsnounUS /meɪdz/
plural of “maid” — a female domestic
From this reading You know, I make a pretence not to interfere; but like all old maids I feel a mighty solicitude about the event of love stories.
engage in
From this reading You know, I make a pretence not to interfere; but like all old maids I feel a mighty solicitude about the event of love stories.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading MARY LAMB TO SARAH STODDART [No date.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading You know, I make a pretence not to interfere; but like all old maids I feel a mighty solicitude about the event of love stories.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
not any; not one
From this reading MARY LAMB TO SARAH STODDART [No date.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
OctnounUS /ɔːkt/
the month following September and preceding November
From this reading Endorsed Oct., 1807.]
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading You know, I make a pretence not to interfere; but like all old maids I feel a mighty solicitude about the event of love stories.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading You know, I make a pretence not to interfere; but like all old maids I feel a mighty solicitude about the event of love stories.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
pretencenoun
a false or unsupportable quality
From this reading You know, I make a pretence not to interfere; but like all old maids I feel a mighty solicitude about the event of love stories.
remissadjectiveUS /riˈmɪs/
failing in what duty requires
From this reading I learn from the Lover that he has not been so remiss in his duty as you supposed.
SARAHnounUS /ˈserə/
(Old Testament) the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac
From this reading MARY LAMB TO SARAH STODDART [No date.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
solicitudenounUS /səˈlɪsɪtuːd/
a feeling of excessive concern
From this reading You know, I make a pretence not to interfere; but like all old maids I feel a mighty solicitude about the event of love stories.
STODDART
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARY LAMB TO SARAH STODDART [No date.
plural of “story” — 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 You know, I make a pretence not to interfere; but like all old maids I feel a mighty solicitude about the event of love stories.
required or under orders
From this reading I learn from the Lover that he has not been so remiss in his duty as you supposed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I learn from the Lover that he has not been so remiss in his duty as you supposed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading You know, I make a pretence not to interfere; but like all old maids I feel a mighty solicitude about the event of love stories.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MARY LAMB TO SARAH STODDART [No date.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You know, I make a pretence not to interfere; but like all old maids I feel a mighty solicitude about the event of love stories.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading My dear Sarah,--I am two letters in your debt; but it has not been so much from idleness, as a wish first to see how your comical love affair would turn out.
