used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The war was six months old and Margaret was still a pantry-maid in the private hospital in St. Alphege's Square.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Margaret was now visiting an aunt in a northern town, drinking in the keen air of the winter hills and the resin of the pine-woods.
Alphege's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The war was six months old and Margaret was still a pantry-maid in the private hospital in St. Alphege's Square.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Margaret was now visiting an aunt in a northern town, drinking in the keen air of the winter hills and the resin of the pine-woods.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The war was six months old and Margaret was still a pantry-maid in the private hospital in St. Alphege's Square.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Margaret was now visiting an aunt in a northern town, drinking in the keen air of the winter hills and the resin of the pine-woods.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She was to be promoted to the wards in a few weeks' time, to fill the place of a V.A.D. who was going out to France.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
of short duration or distance
From this reading She was conscientiously building up her tired system, fitting herself for fresh endeavours; she considered that her brief holiday had been given her for this purpose.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading She was conscientiously building up her tired system, fitting herself for fresh endeavours; she considered that her brief holiday had been given her for this purpose.
an onerous or difficult concern
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
collapsenounUS /kəˈlæps/
an abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
conscientiouslyadverbUS /ˌkɑːntʃiˈentʃəsli/
with extreme conscientiousness
From this reading She was conscientiously building up her tired system, fitting herself for fresh endeavours; she considered that her brief holiday had been given her for this purpose.
carefully weighed
From this reading She was conscientiously building up her tired system, fitting herself for fresh endeavours; she considered that her brief holiday had been given her for this purpose.
a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets
From this reading She was to be promoted to the wards in a few weeks' time, to fill the place of a V.A.D. who was going out to France.
the act of consuming liquids
From this reading Margaret was now visiting an aunt in a northern town, drinking in the keen air of the winter hills and the resin of the pine-woods.
endeavours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was conscientiously building up her tired system, fitting herself for fresh endeavours; she considered that her brief holiday had been given her for this purpose.
eventuallyadverbUS /ɪˈventʃəwəli/
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
exactingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzæktɪŋ/
having complicated nutritional requirements; especially growing only in special artificial cultures
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading She was to be promoted to the wards in a few weeks' time, to fill the place of a V.A.D. who was going out to France.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading She was to be promoted to the wards in a few weeks' time, to fill the place of a V.A.D. who was going out to France.
fittingadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtɪŋ/
in harmony with the spirit of particular persons or occasion
From this reading She was conscientiously building up her tired system, fitting herself for fresh endeavours; she considered that her brief holiday had been given her for this purpose.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She was conscientiously building up her tired system, fitting herself for fresh endeavours; she considered that her brief holiday had been given her for this purpose.
fortnight's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading She was to be promoted to the wards in a few weeks' time, to fill the place of a V.A.D. who was going out to France.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading She was conscientiously building up her tired system, fitting herself for fresh endeavours; she considered that her brief holiday had been given her for this purpose.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading She was conscientiously building up her tired system, fitting herself for fresh endeavours; she considered that her brief holiday had been given her for this purpose.
the act of departing
From this reading She was to be promoted to the wards in a few weeks' time, to fill the place of a V.A.D. who was going out to France.
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
hardestadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdəst/
superlative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She was conscientiously building up her tired system, fitting herself for fresh endeavours; she considered that her brief holiday had been given her for this purpose.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Margaret was now visiting an aunt in a northern town, drinking in the keen air of the winter hills and the resin of the pine-woods.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading She was conscientiously building up her tired system, fitting herself for fresh endeavours; she considered that her brief holiday had been given her for this purpose.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
a health facility where patients receive treatment
From this reading The war was six months old and Margaret was still a pantry-maid in the private hospital in St. Alphege's Square.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The war was six months old and Margaret was still a pantry-maid in the private hospital in St. Alphege's Square.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading Margaret was now visiting an aunt in a northern town, drinking in the keen air of the winter hills and the resin of the pine-woods.
go away from a place
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The war was six months old and Margaret was still a pantry-maid in the private hospital in St. Alphege's Square.
matronnounUS /ˈmeɪtrən/
a married woman (usually middle-aged with children) who is staid and dignified
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading The war was six months old and Margaret was still a pantry-maid in the private hospital in St. Alphege's Square.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
northernadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrðərn/
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Margaret was now visiting an aunt in a northern town, drinking in the keen air of the winter hills and the resin of the pine-woods.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Margaret was now visiting an aunt in a northern town, drinking in the keen air of the winter hills and the resin of the pine-woods.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was to be promoted to the wards in a few weeks' time, to fill the place of a V.A.D. who was going out to France.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The war was six months old and Margaret was still a pantry-maid in the private hospital in St. Alphege's Square.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She was to be promoted to the wards in a few weeks' time, to fill the place of a V.A.D. who was going out to France.
pantry-maid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The war was six months old and Margaret was still a pantry-maid in the private hospital in St. Alphege's Square.
pine-woods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Margaret was now visiting an aunt in a northern town, drinking in the keen air of the winter hills and the resin of the pine-woods.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading She was to be promoted to the wards in a few weeks' time, to fill the place of a V.A.D. who was going out to France.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading The war was six months old and Margaret was still a pantry-maid in the private hospital in St. Alphege's Square.
promotedverbUS /prəˈmoʊtɪd/
past form of “promote” — contribute to the progress or growth of
From this reading She was to be promoted to the wards in a few weeks' time, to fill the place of a V.A.D. who was going out to France.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading She was conscientiously building up her tired system, fitting herself for fresh endeavours; she considered that her brief holiday had been given her for this purpose.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
resinnounUS /ˈrezən/
any of a class of solid or semisolid viscous substances obtained either as exudations from certain plants or prepared by polymerization of simple molecules
From this reading Margaret was now visiting an aunt in a northern town, drinking in the keen air of the winter hills and the resin of the pine-woods.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was to be promoted to the wards in a few weeks' time, to fill the place of a V.A.D. who was going out to France.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading The war was six months old and Margaret was still a pantry-maid in the private hospital in St. Alphege's Square.
make square
From this reading The war was six months old and Margaret was still a pantry-maid in the private hospital in St. Alphege's Square.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The war was six months old and Margaret was still a pantry-maid in the private hospital in St. Alphege's Square.
not in physical motion
From this reading The war was six months old and Margaret was still a pantry-maid in the private hospital in St. Alphege's Square.
instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
From this reading She was conscientiously building up her tired system, fitting herself for fresh endeavours; she considered that her brief holiday had been given her for this purpose.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The war was six months old and Margaret was still a pantry-maid in the private hospital in St. Alphege's Square.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She was conscientiously building up her tired system, fitting herself for fresh endeavours; she considered that her brief holiday had been given her for this purpose.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading She was to be promoted to the wards in a few weeks' time, to fill the place of a V.A.D. who was going out to France.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading She was conscientiously building up her tired system, fitting herself for fresh endeavours; she considered that her brief holiday had been given her for this purpose.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was to be promoted to the wards in a few weeks' time, to fill the place of a V.A.D. who was going out to France.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Margaret was now visiting an aunt in a northern town, drinking in the keen air of the winter hills and the resin of the pine-woods.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
a unit of potential equal to the potential difference between two points on a conductor carrying a current of 1 ampere when the power dissipated between the two points is 1 watt
From this reading She was to be promoted to the wards in a few weeks' time, to fill the place of a V.A.D. who was going out to France.
visitingnounUS /ˈvɪzɪtɪŋ/
the activity of making visits
From this reading Margaret was now visiting an aunt in a northern town, drinking in the keen air of the winter hills and the resin of the pine-woods.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading The war was six months old and Margaret was still a pantry-maid in the private hospital in St. Alphege's Square.
wardsnounUS /wɔːrdz/
plural of “ward” — a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading She was to be promoted to the wards in a few weeks' time, to fill the place of a V.A.D. who was going out to France.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The war was six months old and Margaret was still a pantry-maid in the private hospital in St. Alphege's Square.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading She was to be promoted to the wards in a few weeks' time, to fill the place of a V.A.D. who was going out to France.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
which person or people
From this reading She was to be promoted to the wards in a few weeks' time, to fill the place of a V.A.D. who was going out to France.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Margaret was now visiting an aunt in a northern town, drinking in the keen air of the winter hills and the resin of the pine-woods.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading Before taking up her more interesting work, she had been granted a fortnight's leave; the exacting matron realized that the willing horse which works its hardest is one which will eventually collapse under its burden.
