used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I came in here with the hope, though not the expectation, of finding a lad who came here last night."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He told me something of his encounter with you, and if that is the way you treat a young lad, I wonder how you would have treated an unprotected woman."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
assertedadjectiveUS /əˈsɜːrtɪd/
confidently declared to be so
From this reading "He is not here," she asserted, "and if he were, he has no desire to see you.
make certain of
From this reading "I assure you I had not the least desire to disturb you.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I came in here with the hope, though not the expectation, of finding a lad who came here last night."
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading "I assure you I had not the least desire to disturb you.
disturbverbUS /dɪˈstɜːrb/
move deeply
From this reading "I assure you I had not the least desire to disturb you.
encounterverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
come together
From this reading He told me something of his encounter with you, and if that is the way you treat a young lad, I wonder how you would have treated an unprotected woman."
expectationnounUS /ˌekspekˈteɪʃən/
belief about (or mental picture of) the future
From this reading I came in here with the hope, though not the expectation, of finding a lad who came here last night."
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading I came in here with the hope, though not the expectation, of finding a lad who came here last night."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "I assure you I had not the least desire to disturb you.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "He is not here," she asserted, "and if he were, he has no desire to see you.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He told me something of his encounter with you, and if that is the way you treat a young lad, I wonder how you would have treated an unprotected woman."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "He is not here," she asserted, "and if he were, he has no desire to see you.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading I came in here with the hope, though not the expectation, of finding a lad who came here last night."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He told me something of his encounter with you, and if that is the way you treat a young lad, I wonder how you would have treated an unprotected woman."
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading I came in here with the hope, though not the expectation, of finding a lad who came here last night."
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told me something of his encounter with you, and if that is the way you treat a young lad, I wonder how you would have treated an unprotected woman."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "He is not here," she asserted, "and if he were, he has no desire to see you.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I came in here with the hope, though not the expectation, of finding a lad who came here last night."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
a boy or man
From this reading I came in here with the hope, though not the expectation, of finding a lad who came here last night."
immediately past
From this reading I came in here with the hope, though not the expectation, of finding a lad who came here last night."
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading "I assure you I had not the least desire to disturb you.
social deportment
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading I came in here with the hope, though not the expectation, of finding a lad who came here last night."
not any; not one
From this reading "He is not here," she asserted, "and if he were, he has no desire to see you.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "I assure you I had not the least desire to disturb you.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I came in here with the hope, though not the expectation, of finding a lad who came here last night."
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "He is not here," she asserted, "and if he were, he has no desire to see you.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He told me something of his encounter with you, and if that is the way you treat a young lad, I wonder how you would have treated an unprotected woman."
stungadjectiveUS /stʌŋ/
aroused to impatience or anger
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He told me something of his encounter with you, and if that is the way you treat a young lad, I wonder how you would have treated an unprotected woman."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He told me something of his encounter with you, and if that is the way you treat a young lad, I wonder how you would have treated an unprotected woman."
interact in a certain way
From this reading He told me something of his encounter with you, and if that is the way you treat a young lad, I wonder how you would have treated an unprotected woman."
subjected to a physical (or chemical) treatment or action or agent
From this reading He told me something of his encounter with you, and if that is the way you treat a young lad, I wonder how you would have treated an unprotected woman."
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
unprotectedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnprəˈtektɪd/
lacking protection or defense
From this reading He told me something of his encounter with you, and if that is the way you treat a young lad, I wonder how you would have treated an unprotected woman."
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He told me something of his encounter with you, and if that is the way you treat a young lad, I wonder how you would have treated an unprotected woman."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "He is not here," she asserted, "and if he were, he has no desire to see you.
which person or people
From this reading I came in here with the hope, though not the expectation, of finding a lad who came here last night."
in the company of; together with
From this reading I came in here with the hope, though not the expectation, of finding a lad who came here last night."
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading He told me something of his encounter with you, and if that is the way you treat a young lad, I wonder how you would have treated an unprotected woman."
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading He told me something of his encounter with you, and if that is the way you treat a young lad, I wonder how you would have treated an unprotected woman."
the words that are spoken
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He told me something of his encounter with you, and if that is the way you treat a young lad, I wonder how you would have treated an unprotected woman."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I assure you I had not the least desire to disturb you.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading He told me something of his encounter with you, and if that is the way you treat a young lad, I wonder how you would have treated an unprotected woman."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Your memory is better than your manners," she replied, and though I tried hard to keep my temper, her words stung me to the quick.
