used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Vixen had been more than a year in the island of Jersey.
how long something has existed
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had lived her lonely and monotonous existence, and made no moan.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Then there would be the wide world for her to wander over, instead of this sea-girdled garden of Jersey.
have
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Vixen had been more than a year in the island of Jersey.
plural of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Wedding Bells.
an onerous or difficult concern
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
dawdleverbUS /ˈdɔːdəl/
take one's time; proceed slowly
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
exileverbUS /ˈeɡzaɪl/
expel from a country
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading She had lived her lonely and monotonous existence, and made no moan.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Then there would be the wide world for her to wander over, instead of this sea-girdled garden of Jersey.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Vixen had been more than a year in the island of Jersey.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had lived her lonely and monotonous existence, and made no moan.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Vixen had been more than a year in the island of Jersey.
independentadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈpendənt/
free from external control and constraint
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Then there would be the wide world for her to wander over, instead of this sea-girdled garden of Jersey.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Vixen had been more than a year in the island of Jersey.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
JerseynounUS /ˈdʒɜːrzi/
a Mid-Atlantic state on the Atlantic; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading Vixen had been more than a year in the island of Jersey.
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 It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading She had lived her lonely and monotonous existence, and made no moan.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading She had lived her lonely and monotonous existence, and made no moan.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She had lived her lonely and monotonous existence, and made no moan.
moannounUS /moʊn/
an utterance expressing pain or disapproval
From this reading She had lived her lonely and monotonous existence, and made no moan.
monotonousadjectiveUS /məˈnɑːtənəs/
tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
From this reading She had lived her lonely and monotonous existence, and made no moan.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Vixen had been more than a year in the island of Jersey.
not any; not one
From this reading She had lived her lonely and monotonous existence, and made no moan.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Vixen had been more than a year in the island of Jersey.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Then there would be the wide world for her to wander over, instead of this sea-girdled garden of Jersey.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
sea-girdled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there would be the wide world for her to wander over, instead of this sea-girdled garden of Jersey.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had lived her lonely and monotonous existence, and made no moan.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Vixen had been more than a year in the island of Jersey.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Vixen had been more than a year in the island of Jersey.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then there would be the wide world for her to wander over, instead of this sea-girdled garden of Jersey.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Then there would be the wide world for her to wander over, instead of this sea-girdled garden of Jersey.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
VixennounUS /ˈvɪksɪn/
a malicious woman with a fierce temper
From this reading Vixen had been more than a year in the island of Jersey.
wanderverbUS /ˈwɑːndər/
move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading Then there would be the wide world for her to wander over, instead of this sea-girdled garden of Jersey.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading Wedding Bells.
in or at the place that
From this reading It was a dreary exile; but it seemed to her that there was little else for her to do in life but dawdle through the long slow days, and bear the burden of living; at least until she came of age, and was independent, and could go where she pleased.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Then there would be the wide world for her to wander over, instead of this sea-girdled garden of Jersey.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Then there would be the wide world for her to wander over, instead of this sea-girdled garden of Jersey.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Then there would be the wide world for her to wander over, instead of this sea-girdled garden of Jersey.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Vixen had been more than a year in the island of Jersey.
