used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AN UNHAPPY ENDING There was a gasp of astonishment and dismay from the girls.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
(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 Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNHAPPY ENDING There was a gasp of astonishment and dismay from the girls.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN UNHAPPY ENDING There was a gasp of astonishment and dismay from the girls.
a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
From this reading There had been no anger in Eleanor's voice--only sorrow and distress.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading AN UNHAPPY ENDING There was a gasp of astonishment and dismay from the girls.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been no anger in Eleanor's voice--only sorrow and distress.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
(often used in combination) having a specified direction
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
dismaynounUS /dɪˈsmeɪ/
the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
From this reading AN UNHAPPY ENDING There was a gasp of astonishment and dismay from the girls.
psychological suffering
From this reading There had been no anger in Eleanor's voice--only sorrow and distress.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Why, what do you mean, Miss Mercer?"
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
Eleanor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
ENDINGnounUS /ˈendɪŋ/
the end of a word (a suffix or inflectional ending or final morpheme)
From this reading AN UNHAPPY ENDING There was a gasp of astonishment and dismay from the girls.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading AN UNHAPPY ENDING There was a gasp of astonishment and dismay from the girls.
gaspnounUS /ɡæsp/
a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open
From this reading AN UNHAPPY ENDING There was a gasp of astonishment and dismay from the girls.
past form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading Gladys gasped.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading AN UNHAPPY ENDING There was a gasp of astonishment and dismay from the girls.
Gladys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
GuardiannounUS /ˈɡɑːrdiən/
a person who cares for persons or property
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There had been no anger in Eleanor's voice--only sorrow and distress.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There had been no anger in Eleanor's voice--only sorrow and distress.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "Why, what do you mean, Miss Mercer?"
MercernounUS /ˈmɜːrsər/
a dealer in textiles (especially silks)
From this reading "Why, what do you mean, Miss Mercer?"
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "Why, what do you mean, Miss Mercer?"
not any; not one
From this reading There had been no anger in Eleanor's voice--only sorrow and distress.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN UNHAPPY ENDING There was a gasp of astonishment and dismay from the girls.
and nothing more
From this reading There had been no anger in Eleanor's voice--only sorrow and distress.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
reproachnounUS /riˈproʊtʃ/
a mild rebuke or criticism
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
only a very short time before
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement
From this reading There had been no anger in Eleanor's voice--only sorrow and distress.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN UNHAPPY ENDING There was a gasp of astonishment and dismay from the girls.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
in or at that place or location
From this reading AN UNHAPPY ENDING There was a gasp of astonishment and dismay from the girls.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent
From this reading AN UNHAPPY ENDING There was a gasp of astonishment and dismay from the girls.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading There had been no anger in Eleanor's voice--only sorrow and distress.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AN UNHAPPY ENDING There was a gasp of astonishment and dismay from the girls.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Why, what do you mean, Miss Mercer?"
which person or people
From this reading Somehow all seemed to feel as if Eleanor's reproach were directed at them instead of at the pale and angry Gladys, who stood, scarcely able to believe her ears, looking at the Guardian.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why, what do you mean, Miss Mercer?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Why, what do you mean, Miss Mercer?"
