used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
(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 A fresh outburst of delirium was of all things to be warded off if possible, and there was a faint hope that he might sleep.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A fresh outburst of delirium was of all things to be warded off if possible, and there was a faint hope that he might sleep.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was hardly likely that sleep would come so soon.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But it was hardly likely that sleep would come so soon.
CynthianounUS /ˈsɪnθiə/
(Greek mythology) the virgin goddess of the hunt and the Moon; daughter of Leto and twin sister of Apollo; identified with Roman Diana
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
deliriumnounUS /dɪˈlɪriəm/
state of violent mental agitation
From this reading A fresh outburst of delirium was of all things to be warded off if possible, and there was a faint hope that he might sleep.
put on clothes
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
fadingnounUS /ˈfeɪdɪŋ/
weakening in force or intensity
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading A fresh outburst of delirium was of all things to be warded off if possible, and there was a faint hope that he might sleep.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading A fresh outburst of delirium was of all things to be warded off if possible, and there was a faint hope that he might sleep.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
only a very short time before
From this reading But it was hardly likely that sleep would come so soon.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
high-heeled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading If he slept, his life, humanly speaking, was saved.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading A fresh outburst of delirium was of all things to be warded off if possible, and there was a faint hope that he might sleep.
Hubert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
humanlyadverbUS /ˈhjuːmənli/
in the manner of human beings
From this reading If he slept, his life, humanly speaking, was saved.
become quiet or still; fall silent
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A fresh outburst of delirium was of all things to be warded off if possible, and there was a faint hope that he might sleep.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
incoherentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnkoʊˈhɪrənt/
without logical or meaningful connection
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
intrudernounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːdər/
someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it was hardly likely that sleep would come so soon.
Lepel's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading If he slept, his life, humanly speaking, was saved.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading But it was hardly likely that sleep would come so soon.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A fresh outburst of delirium was of all things to be warded off if possible, and there was a faint hope that he might sleep.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A fresh outburst of delirium was of all things to be warded off if possible, and there was a faint hope that he might sleep.
and nothing more
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
outburstnounUS /ˈaʊtbɜːrst/
an unrestrained expression of emotion
From this reading A fresh outburst of delirium was of all things to be warded off if possible, and there was a faint hope that he might sleep.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading A fresh outburst of delirium was of all things to be warded off if possible, and there was a faint hope that he might sleep.
quieteradjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪətər/
comparative of “quiet” — characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
rustleverbUS /ˈrʌsəl/
make a dry crackling sound
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin
From this reading If he slept, his life, humanly speaking, was saved.
sentencesnounUS /ˈsentənsəz/
plural of “sentence” — a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
a particular situation
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
sick-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading A fresh outburst of delirium was of all things to be warded off if possible, and there was a faint hope that he might sleep.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading If he slept, his life, humanly speaking, was saved.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But it was hardly likely that sleep would come so soon.
in the near future
From this reading But it was hardly likely that sleep would come so soon.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading If he slept, his life, humanly speaking, was saved.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A fresh outburst of delirium was of all things to be warded off if possible, and there was a faint hope that he might sleep.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
in or at that place or location
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading A fresh outburst of delirium was of all things to be warded off if possible, and there was a faint hope that he might sleep.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Cynthia looked round hastily, ready to hush the intruder; for Hubert was much quieter than he had been, and only murmured incoherent sentences from time to time.
trippingadjectiveUS /ˈtrɪpɪŋ/
characterized by a buoyant rhythm
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
wardedverbUS /ˈwɔːrdɪd/
past form of “ward” — watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect
From this reading A fresh outburst of delirium was of all things to be warded off if possible, and there was a faint hope that he might sleep.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
at the time that
From this reading When the light was fading a little, there was a new sound in Hubert Lepel's sick-room--the rustle of a silk dress, the tripping of little high-heeled shoes across the floor.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But it was hardly likely that sleep would come so soon.
