used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
a proposal for an appropriate course of action
From this reading I have need of your advice, dear brother.
acted upon; influenced
From this reading This affected me very much; I attempted to comfort her and find out the cause of her grief, and at last I discovered it.
in the past
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
(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 But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping.
alleviateverbUS /əˈliːvieɪt/
provide physical relief, as from pain
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This affected me very much; I attempted to comfort her and find out the cause of her grief, and at last I discovered it.
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading This affected me very much; I attempted to comfort her and find out the cause of her grief, and at last I discovered it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading I have need of your advice, dear brother.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading This affected me very much; I attempted to comfort her and find out the cause of her grief, and at last I discovered it.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading This affected me very much; I attempted to comfort her and find out the cause of her grief, and at last I discovered it.
deem to be
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping.
dearly loved
From this reading I have need of your advice, dear brother.
designedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪnd/
done or made or performed with purpose and intent
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
dressingnounUS /ˈdresɪŋ/
savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type
From this reading But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping.
enquiring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
at any time
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading This affected me very much; I attempted to comfort her and find out the cause of her grief, and at last I discovered it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
a young female
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading This affected me very much; I attempted to comfort her and find out the cause of her grief, and at last I discovered it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I have need of your advice, dear brother.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
hiredadjectiveUS /ˈhaɪərd/
having services engaged for a fee
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I have need of your advice, dear brother.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This affected me very much; I attempted to comfort her and find out the cause of her grief, and at last I discovered it.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
immediately past
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
a female domestic
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading This affected me very much; I attempted to comfort her and find out the cause of her grief, and at last I discovered it.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading I have need of your advice, dear brother.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I have need of your advice, dear brother.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading This affected me very much; I attempted to comfort her and find out the cause of her grief, and at last I discovered it.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping.
by chance
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
recommendedverbUS /ˌrekəˈmendɪd/
past form of “recommend” — push for something
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
sorrowsnounUS /ˈsɑːroʊz/
plural of “sorrow” — an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
express in words
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This affected me very much; I attempted to comfort her and find out the cause of her grief, and at last I discovered it.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping.
experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent
From this reading But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping.
precisely as stated
From this reading But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
showing sorrow
From this reading But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping.
at the time that
From this reading But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping.
which person or people
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I have need of your advice, dear brother.
