used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
AFTERprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
(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 On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The point to which her life had been steadily drifting would be reached to-night.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
consummationnounUS /ˌkɑːnsəˈmeɪʃən/
the completion of marriage by sexual intercourse
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
dependverbUS /dɪˈpend/
be contingent upon (something that is elided)
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading The point to which her life had been steadily drifting would be reached to-night.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
fatefuladjectiveUS /ˈfeɪtfəl/
having momentous consequences; of decisive importance
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
yet to be or coming
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
girlishadjectiveUS /ˈɡɜːrlɪʃ/
befitting or characteristic of a young girl
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The point to which her life had been steadily drifting would be reached to-night.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The point to which her life had been steadily drifting would be reached to-night.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
Madeline
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
by chance
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The point to which her life had been steadily drifting would be reached to-night.
probabilitynounUS /ˌprɑːbəˈbɪlətiː/
a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The point to which her life had been steadily drifting would be reached to-night.
realisedadjectiveUS /ˈriːəlaɪzd/
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
Rufus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading The point to which her life had been steadily drifting would be reached to-night.
SternenounUS /stɜːrn/
English writer (born in Ireland) (1713-1766)
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
thoughtfuladjectiveUS /ˈθɔːtfəl/
having intellectual depth
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The point to which her life had been steadily drifting would be reached to-night.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
precisely as stated
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The point to which her life had been steadily drifting would be reached to-night.
which person or people
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
in the company of; together with
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
a late time of life
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
