Question 1
answer: one inference that can be made is that the narrators mother does not care about Chinese culture involving women’s work. She wants to work regardless.
question 2
answer: “But why shouldn’t i?” she argued. “Lots of peoples mothers work”
hope this helps :)
I believe that Eurycleia doesn't want Telemachus to leave because she doesn't want to leave the palace unprotected.
She believes that if he leaves, the suitors will try to plunder the palace and steal everything, and there will be no one to protect either the palace, or Penelope.
The Oxford English Dictionary is best for finding the "Descriptive" meaning. This is the literal meaning, known also as denotative. It can also help you with figurative meanings, but it is not its primary purpose.
