1
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
1685
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I had been having a pretty hard time for some days.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
achesnounUS /eɪks/
plural of “ache” — a dull persistent (usually moderately intense) pain
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
ailmentnounUS /ˈeɪlmənt/
an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
(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 Then she would veer round to the other extreme: Mrs. Williams had an infectious fever, even the plague; she would die in the house, and give us all the infection, and there would be the funeral.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then she would veer round to the other extreme: Mrs. Williams had an infectious fever, even the plague; she would die in the house, and give us all the infection, and there would be the funeral.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I had been having a pretty hard time for some days.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
travel across or pass over
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading I had been having a pretty hard time for some days.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Then she would veer round to the other extreme: Mrs. Williams had an infectious fever, even the plague; she would die in the house, and give us all the infection, and there would be the funeral.
divisible by two
From this reading Then she would veer round to the other extreme: Mrs. Williams had an infectious fever, even the plague; she would die in the house, and give us all the infection, and there would be the funeral.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading Then she would veer round to the other extreme: Mrs. Williams had an infectious fever, even the plague; she would die in the house, and give us all the infection, and there would be the funeral.
a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection
From this reading Then she would veer round to the other extreme: Mrs. Williams had an infectious fever, even the plague; she would die in the house, and give us all the infection, and there would be the funeral.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I had been having a pretty hard time for some days.
funeralnounUS /ˈfjuːnərəl/
a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated
From this reading Then she would veer round to the other extreme: Mrs. Williams had an infectious fever, even the plague; she would die in the house, and give us all the infection, and there would be the funeral.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Then she would veer round to the other extreme: Mrs. Williams had an infectious fever, even the plague; she would die in the house, and give us all the infection, and there would be the funeral.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had been having a pretty hard time for some days.
handfulnounUS /ˈhændfʊl/
a small number or amount
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading I had been having a pretty hard time for some days.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading I had been having a pretty hard time for some days.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then she would veer round to the other extreme: Mrs. Williams had an infectious fever, even the plague; she would die in the house, and give us all the infection, and there would be the funeral.
infectionnounUS /ˌɪnˈfekʃən/
the pathological state resulting from the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms
From this reading Then she would veer round to the other extreme: Mrs. Williams had an infectious fever, even the plague; she would die in the house, and give us all the infection, and there would be the funeral.
infectiousadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfekʃəs/
caused by infection or capable of causing infection
From this reading Then she would veer round to the other extreme: Mrs. Williams had an infectious fever, even the plague; she would die in the house, and give us all the infection, and there would be the funeral.
immediately past
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
and nothing more
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Then she would veer round to the other extreme: Mrs. Williams had an infectious fever, even the plague; she would die in the house, and give us all the infection, and there would be the funeral.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
plagueverbUS /pleɪɡ/
cause to suffer a blight
From this reading Then she would veer round to the other extreme: Mrs. Williams had an infectious fever, even the plague; she would die in the house, and give us all the infection, and there would be the funeral.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading I had been having a pretty hard time for some days.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Then she would veer round to the other extreme: Mrs. Williams had an infectious fever, even the plague; she would die in the house, and give us all the infection, and there would be the funeral.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
smallestadjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːləst/
superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading I had been having a pretty hard time for some days.
sticksnounUS /stɪks/
plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then she would veer round to the other extreme: Mrs. Williams had an infectious fever, even the plague; she would die in the house, and give us all the infection, and there would be the funeral.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I had been having a pretty hard time for some days.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then she would veer round to the other extreme: Mrs. Williams had an infectious fever, even the plague; she would die in the house, and give us all the infection, and there would be the funeral.
veerverbUS /vɪr/
turn sharply; change direction abruptly
From this reading Then she would veer round to the other extreme: Mrs. Williams had an infectious fever, even the plague; she would die in the house, and give us all the infection, and there would be the funeral.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
at the time that
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
which person or people
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
WilliamsnounUS /ˈwɪljəmz/
United States country singer and songwriter (1923-1953)
From this reading Mrs. Williams was ill for a week, and not able to get out of bed: so I had the whole care of my mistress; and a handful she was, to be sure, and as cross as two sticks.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She who takes to her bed on the smallest ailment, and will have the whole house running if her little finger aches, was quite sure there was nothing the matter with Mrs. Williams, and that she could get up if she only thought so.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading _August 1, 1685._ LITTLE did I think, when I closed the last book, that the new one would open under such changed circumstances.
