used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Frances could not talk about anything.
absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading She could not eat; her mind was absorbed in what was coming.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It seemed to her that she must speak: and yet how gladly would she have escaped from or postponed the explanation!
any thing at all
From this reading Frances could not talk about anything.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading She could not eat; her mind was absorbed in what was coming.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Frances could not talk about anything.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
take in solid food
From this reading She could not eat; her mind was absorbed in what was coming.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading It seemed to her that she must speak: and yet how gladly would she have escaped from or postponed the explanation!
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading It seemed to her that she must speak: and yet how gladly would she have escaped from or postponed the explanation!
FrancesnounUS /ˈfrænsɪs/
plural of “france” — a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading Frances could not talk about anything.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It seemed to her that she must speak: and yet how gladly would she have escaped from or postponed the explanation!
gladlyadverbUS /ˈɡlædli/
in a willing manner
From this reading It seemed to her that she must speak: and yet how gladly would she have escaped from or postponed the explanation!
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It seemed to her that she must speak: and yet how gladly would she have escaped from or postponed the explanation!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She could not eat; her mind was absorbed in what was coming.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to her that she must speak: and yet how gladly would she have escaped from or postponed the explanation!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to her that she must speak: and yet how gladly would she have escaped from or postponed the explanation!
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
engage in
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It seemed to her that she must speak: and yet how gladly would she have escaped from or postponed the explanation!
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It seemed to her that she must speak: and yet how gladly would she have escaped from or postponed the explanation!
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
postponedverbUS /poʊstˈpoʊnd/
past form of “postpone” — hold back to a later time
From this reading It seemed to her that she must speak: and yet how gladly would she have escaped from or postponed the explanation!
preliminaryadjectiveUS /prɪˈlɪməneri/
denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
preparationnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃən/
the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
reopenverbUS /riˈoʊpən/
open again or anew
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
satisfactoryadjectiveUS /ˌsætəˈsfæktri/
giving satisfaction
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to her that she must speak: and yet how gladly would she have escaped from or postponed the explanation!
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could not eat; her mind was absorbed in what was coming.
express in speech
From this reading It seemed to her that she must speak: and yet how gladly would she have escaped from or postponed the explanation!
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Frances could not talk about anything.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed to her that she must speak: and yet how gladly would she have escaped from or postponed the explanation!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
tremornounUS /ˈtremər/
an involuntary vibration (as if from illness or fear)
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
under normal conditions
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
precisely as stated
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She could not eat; her mind was absorbed in what was coming.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She could not eat; her mind was absorbed in what was coming.
at the time that
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When one has made up one’s mind to reopen a painful subject after dinner, the preliminary meal is not usually a very pleasant one; nor, with the tremor of preparation in one’s mind, is one likely to make a satisfactory dinner.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It seemed to her that she must speak: and yet how gladly would she have escaped from or postponed the explanation!
but in spite of that
From this reading It seemed to her that she must speak: and yet how gladly would she have escaped from or postponed the explanation!
