used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
in the past
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was as if she feared something, like a ghost, in which she did not believe.
on or to one side
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It would be ridiculous, unkind, to store up such slight evidence.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading It was as if she feared something, like a ghost, in which she did not believe.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
discussverbUS /dɪˈskʌs/
to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
estimatingverbUS /ˈestəmeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “estimate” — judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time)
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
divisible by two
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading It would be ridiculous, unkind, to store up such slight evidence.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading It was as if she feared something, like a ghost, in which she did not believe.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
set up or found
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading It was as if she feared something, like a ghost, in which she did not believe.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was as if she feared something, like a ghost, in which she did not believe.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was as if she feared something, like a ghost, in which she did not believe.
a single distinct event
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
inclinationnounUS /ˌɪnkləˈneɪʃən/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
James'snounUS /ˈdʒeɪmzɪz/
possessive form of “james” — a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
immediately past
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It was as if she feared something, like a ghost, in which she did not believe.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
permanentadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrmənənt/
continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
repetitionnounUS /ˌrepəˈtɪʃən/
an event that repeats
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
inspiring scornful pity
From this reading It would be ridiculous, unkind, to store up such slight evidence.
precisely, exactly
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
the state of being asleep
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading It would be ridiculous, unkind, to store up such slight evidence.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It was as if she feared something, like a ghost, in which she did not believe.
express in speech
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading It would be ridiculous, unkind, to store up such slight evidence.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It would be ridiculous, unkind, to store up such slight evidence.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
trivialadjectiveUS /ˈtrɪviəl/
(informal) small and of little importance
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
unkindadjectiveUS /ənˈkaɪnd/
lacking kindness
From this reading It would be ridiculous, unkind, to store up such slight evidence.
unwillingnessnounUS /ənˈwɪlɪŋnɪs/
the trait of being unwilling
From this reading But she found now that the incident seemed to have left behind it a permanent unwillingness to run any risk of its repetition--an inclination to let sleeping dogs lie.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading She believed that she had long ago put aside, estimating it at its right trivial value, James's reception of her last efforts to discuss the subject.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was as if she feared something, like a ghost, in which she did not believe.
at the time that
From this reading EVEN when she had made up her mind to speak to James, Mary did not find it easy to do so.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was as if she feared something, like a ghost, in which she did not believe.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would be ridiculous, unkind, to store up such slight evidence.
