used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Colmers, mother and daughter, dwelt at the further end of the village in a cottage adjoining the shop.
adjoiningverbUS /əˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjoin” — lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading The Colmers, mother and daughter, dwelt at the further end of the village in a cottage adjoining the shop.
administratrix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was an admirable administratrix.
admirableadjectiveUS /ˈædmərəbəl/
deserving of the highest esteem or admiration
From this reading She was an admirable administratrix.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The former was small, but the latter was quite an imposing structure for so sparsely-populated a neighbourhood.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Colmers, mother and daughter, dwelt at the further end of the village in a cottage adjoining the shop.
Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Colmers, mother and daughter, dwelt at the further end of the village in a cottage adjoining the shop.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The former was small, but the latter was quite an imposing structure for so sparsely-populated a neighbourhood.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
Colmers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Colmers, mother and daughter, dwelt at the further end of the village in a cottage adjoining the shop.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
a small house with a single story
From this reading The Colmers, mother and daughter, dwelt at the further end of the village in a cottage adjoining the shop.
a female human offspring
From this reading The Colmers, mother and daughter, dwelt at the further end of the village in a cottage adjoining the shop.
dressmakingnounUS /ˈdresmeɪkɪŋ/
the craft of making dresses
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
dweltverbUS /dwelt/
inflected form of “dwell” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading The Colmers, mother and daughter, dwelt at the further end of the village in a cottage adjoining the shop.
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The Colmers, mother and daughter, dwelt at the further end of the village in a cottage adjoining the shop.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The former was small, but the latter was quite an imposing structure for so sparsely-populated a neighbourhood.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading The former was small, but the latter was quite an imposing structure for so sparsely-populated a neighbourhood.
set up or found
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading The Colmers, mother and daughter, dwelt at the further end of the village in a cottage adjoining the shop.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
imposingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpoʊzɪŋ/
impressive in appearance
From this reading The former was small, but the latter was quite an imposing structure for so sparsely-populated a neighbourhood.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Colmers, mother and daughter, dwelt at the further end of the village in a cottage adjoining the shop.
incomenounUS /ˈɪnkʌm/
the financial gain (earned or unearned) accruing over a given period of time
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The former was small, but the latter was quite an imposing structure for so sparsely-populated a neighbourhood.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading The Colmers, mother and daughter, dwelt at the further end of the village in a cottage adjoining the shop.
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading The former was small, but the latter was quite an imposing structure for so sparsely-populated a neighbourhood.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Colmers, mother and daughter, dwelt at the further end of the village in a cottage adjoining the shop.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
ownersnounUS /ˈoʊnərz/
plural of “owner” — (law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The former was small, but the latter was quite an imposing structure for so sparsely-populated a neighbourhood.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was an admirable administratrix.
do one's shopping
From this reading The Colmers, mother and daughter, dwelt at the further end of the village in a cottage adjoining the shop.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The former was small, but the latter was quite an imposing structure for so sparsely-populated a neighbourhood.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The former was small, but the latter was quite an imposing structure for so sparsely-populated a neighbourhood.
sparsely-populated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The former was small, but the latter was quite an imposing structure for so sparsely-populated a neighbourhood.
structurenounUS /ˈstrʌktʃər/
a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts
From this reading The former was small, but the latter was quite an imposing structure for so sparsely-populated a neighbourhood.
supervisingnounUS /ˈsuːpərvaɪzɪŋ/
management by overseeing the performance or operation of a person or group
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Colmers, mother and daughter, dwelt at the further end of the village in a cottage adjoining the shop.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
underlingsnounUS /ˈʌndərlɪŋz/
plural of “underling” — an assistant subject to the authority or control of another
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading The Colmers, mother and daughter, dwelt at the further end of the village in a cottage adjoining the shop.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The former was small, but the latter was quite an imposing structure for so sparsely-populated a neighbourhood.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Indeed its owners made an excellent income out of the dressmaking business; and they were fairly comfortable in the position of life into which they had been forced by circumstances.
workroomnounUS /ˈwɜːrkruːm/
room where work is done
From this reading They employed five or six girls in the workroom and three in the shop, so that Anne found her hands full in looking after these underlings, and in supervising the general run of the business.
