used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading It was one of the objects she had formerly always locked up in a closet in Via San Martino when she left Rome for the summer.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
with anger
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
approximatelyadverbUS /əˈprɑːksəmətli/
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
From this reading As for knowing even approximately when the theft had taken place, that was impossible.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
blackmailverbUS /ˈblækmeɪl/
exert pressure on someone through threats
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
closetnounUS /ˈklɑːzət/
a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space
From this reading It was one of the objects she had formerly always locked up in a closet in Via San Martino when she left Rome for the summer.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
being one more than seven
From this reading She had opened the writing-case for the last time in May, and nearly eight months had now elapsed.
elapsedadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæpst/
(of time) having passed or slipped by
From this reading She had opened the writing-case for the last time in May, and nearly eight months had now elapsed.
divisible by two
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
excusedadjectiveUS /ɪksˈkjuːzd/
granted exemption
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
extremitynounUS /ekˈstreməti/
an external body part that projects from the body
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
formerlyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrmərli/
at a previous time
From this reading It was one of the objects she had formerly always locked up in a closet in Via San Martino when she left Rome for the summer.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading As for knowing even approximately when the theft had taken place, that was impossible.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading As for knowing even approximately when the theft had taken place, that was impossible.
immediately past
From this reading She had opened the writing-case for the last time in May, and nearly eight months had now elapsed.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
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 It was one of the objects she had formerly always locked up in a closet in Via San Martino when she left Rome for the summer.
the literary culture
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading It was one of the objects she had formerly always locked up in a closet in Via San Martino when she left Rome for the summer.
a dark region of considerable extent on the surface of the moon
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
Martino
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was one of the objects she had formerly always locked up in a closet in Via San Martino when she left Rome for the summer.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading She had opened the writing-case for the last time in May, and nearly eight months had now elapsed.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading She had opened the writing-case for the last time in May, and nearly eight months had now elapsed.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She had opened the writing-case for the last time in May, and nearly eight months had now elapsed.
not any; not one
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She had opened the writing-case for the last time in May, and nearly eight months had now elapsed.
plural of “object” — a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading It was one of the objects she had formerly always locked up in a closet in Via San Martino when she left Rome for the summer.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was one of the objects she had formerly always locked up in a closet in Via San Martino when she left Rome for the summer.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was one of the objects she had formerly always locked up in a closet in Via San Martino when she left Rome for the summer.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading She had opened the writing-case for the last time in May, and nearly eight months had now elapsed.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
a human being
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading As for knowing even approximately when the theft had taken place, that was impossible.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
robbedverbUS /rɑːbd/
inflected form of “rob” — take something away by force or without the consent of the owner
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire
From this reading It was one of the objects she had formerly always locked up in a closet in Via San Martino when she left Rome for the summer.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was one of the objects she had formerly always locked up in a closet in Via San Martino when she left Rome for the summer.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
in the near future
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
comparatives of “soon” or “early”
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading It was one of the objects she had formerly always locked up in a closet in Via San Martino when she left Rome for the summer.
suspectingverbUS /səˈspektɪŋ/
-ing form of “suspect” — imagine to be the case or true or probable
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading As for knowing even approximately when the theft had taken place, that was impossible.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
theftnounUS /θeft/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading As for knowing even approximately when the theft had taken place, that was impossible.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading She had opened the writing-case for the last time in May, and nearly eight months had now elapsed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
ungenerousadjective
lacking in magnanimity
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
unworthyadjectiveUS /ənˈwɜːrði/
lacking in value or merit
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was one of the objects she had formerly always locked up in a closet in Via San Martino when she left Rome for the summer.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
ViaprepositionUS /ˈvaɪə/
by way of; passing through
From this reading It was one of the objects she had formerly always locked up in a closet in Via San Martino when she left Rome for the summer.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
at the time that
From this reading As for knowing even approximately when the theft had taken place, that was impossible.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Such a thought could have no real hold upon Maria, and she put it away angrily, as unworthy and ungenerous, even in an extremity which might have excused her for suspecting some innocent person.
which person or people
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was much more likely, she soon told herself, that she had been robbed by some servant in the house, who would sooner or later attempt to blackmail her by threatening to show the letters to her husband.
writing-case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had opened the writing-case for the last time in May, and nearly eight months had now elapsed.
