used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It chose one of the first evenings of April, when a delicate, pastel-tinted sunset was concluding the day as gracefully as the _envoi_ of a poem.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
ADRIANCES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ADRIANCES The weeks ran quietly on, bringing spring as the only visitor to the little red house.
agreementnounUS /əˈɡriːmənt/
the statement (oral or written) of an exchange of promises
From this reading The Adriances did not speak of him, by tacit agreement feigning to forget the only painful evening they had spent since their marriage.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading It chose one of the first evenings of April, when a delicate, pastel-tinted sunset was concluding the day as gracefully as the _envoi_ of a poem.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE ADRIANCES The weeks ran quietly on, bringing spring as the only visitor to the little red house.
availedverbUS /əˈveɪld/
past form of “avail” — use to one's advantage
From this reading Masterson had been invited to come, but he never availed himself of the invitation.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Masterson had been invited to come, but he never availed himself of the invitation.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading THE ADRIANCES The weeks ran quietly on, bringing spring as the only visitor to the little red house.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Masterson had been invited to come, but he never availed himself of the invitation.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Adriances did not speak of him, by tacit agreement feigning to forget the only painful evening they had spent since their marriage.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading It chose one of the first evenings of April, when a delicate, pastel-tinted sunset was concluding the day as gracefully as the _envoi_ of a poem.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Masterson had been invited to come, but he never availed himself of the invitation.
concludingadjectiveUS /kənˈkluːdɪŋ/
occurring at or forming an end or termination
From this reading It chose one of the first evenings of April, when a delicate, pastel-tinted sunset was concluding the day as gracefully as the _envoi_ of a poem.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It chose one of the first evenings of April, when a delicate, pastel-tinted sunset was concluding the day as gracefully as the _envoi_ of a poem.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading It chose one of the first evenings of April, when a delicate, pastel-tinted sunset was concluding the day as gracefully as the _envoi_ of a poem.
the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The Adriances did not speak of him, by tacit agreement feigning to forget the only painful evening they had spent since their marriage.
envoinoun
a brief stanza concluding certain forms of poetry
From this reading It chose one of the first evenings of April, when a delicate, pastel-tinted sunset was concluding the day as gracefully as the _envoi_ of a poem.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The Adriances did not speak of him, by tacit agreement feigning to forget the only painful evening they had spent since their marriage.
eveningsnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋz/
plural of “evening” — the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading It chose one of the first evenings of April, when a delicate, pastel-tinted sunset was concluding the day as gracefully as the _envoi_ of a poem.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
explodingverbUS /ɪkˈsploʊdɪŋ/
-ing form of “explode” — cause to burst with a violent release of energy
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
feigningnounUS /ˈfeɪnɪŋ/
pretending with intention to deceive
From this reading The Adriances did not speak of him, by tacit agreement feigning to forget the only painful evening they had spent since their marriage.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It chose one of the first evenings of April, when a delicate, pastel-tinted sunset was concluding the day as gracefully as the _envoi_ of a poem.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading The Adriances did not speak of him, by tacit agreement feigning to forget the only painful evening they had spent since their marriage.
gracefullyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪsfəli/
in a graceful manner
From this reading It chose one of the first evenings of April, when a delicate, pastel-tinted sunset was concluding the day as gracefully as the _envoi_ of a poem.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Masterson had been invited to come, but he never availed himself of the invitation.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Masterson had been invited to come, but he never availed himself of the invitation.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Adriances did not speak of him, by tacit agreement feigning to forget the only painful evening they had spent since their marriage.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Masterson had been invited to come, but he never availed himself of the invitation.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE ADRIANCES The weeks ran quietly on, bringing spring as the only visitor to the little red house.
a social unit living together
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading Masterson had been invited to come, but he never availed himself of the invitation.
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading Masterson had been invited to come, but he never availed himself of the invitation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It chose one of the first evenings of April, when a delicate, pastel-tinted sunset was concluding the day as gracefully as the _envoi_ of a poem.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE ADRIANCES The weeks ran quietly on, bringing spring as the only visitor to the little red house.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading The Adriances did not speak of him, by tacit agreement feigning to forget the only painful evening they had spent since their marriage.
Masterson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Masterson had been invited to come, but he never availed himself of the invitation.
concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Masterson had been invited to come, but he never availed himself of the invitation.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Adriances did not speak of him, by tacit agreement feigning to forget the only painful evening they had spent since their marriage.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Masterson had been invited to come, but he never availed himself of the invitation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE ADRIANCES The weeks ran quietly on, bringing spring as the only visitor to the little red house.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It chose one of the first evenings of April, when a delicate, pastel-tinted sunset was concluding the day as gracefully as the _envoi_ of a poem.
and nothing more
From this reading THE ADRIANCES The weeks ran quietly on, bringing spring as the only visitor to the little red house.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading The Adriances did not speak of him, by tacit agreement feigning to forget the only painful evening they had spent since their marriage.
pastel-tinted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It chose one of the first evenings of April, when a delicate, pastel-tinted sunset was concluding the day as gracefully as the _envoi_ of a poem.
a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines
From this reading It chose one of the first evenings of April, when a delicate, pastel-tinted sunset was concluding the day as gracefully as the _envoi_ of a poem.
with low volume
From this reading THE ADRIANCES The weeks ran quietly on, bringing spring as the only visitor to the little red house.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading THE ADRIANCES The weeks ran quietly on, bringing spring as the only visitor to the little red house.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading THE ADRIANCES The weeks ran quietly on, bringing spring as the only visitor to the little red house.
shatteringadjectiveUS /ˈʃætərɪŋ/
seemingly loud enough to break something; violently rattling or clattering
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
shellnounUS /ʃel/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The Adriances did not speak of him, by tacit agreement feigning to forget the only painful evening they had spent since their marriage.
express in speech
From this reading The Adriances did not speak of him, by tacit agreement feigning to forget the only painful evening they had spent since their marriage.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading The Adriances did not speak of him, by tacit agreement feigning to forget the only painful evening they had spent since their marriage.
the season of growth
From this reading THE ADRIANCES The weeks ran quietly on, bringing spring as the only visitor to the little red house.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading It chose one of the first evenings of April, when a delicate, pastel-tinted sunset was concluding the day as gracefully as the _envoi_ of a poem.
tacitadjectiveUS /ˈtæsɪt/
implied by or inferred from actions or statements
From this reading The Adriances did not speak of him, by tacit agreement feigning to forget the only painful evening they had spent since their marriage.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ADRIANCES The weeks ran quietly on, bringing spring as the only visitor to the little red house.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Adriances did not speak of him, by tacit agreement feigning to forget the only painful evening they had spent since their marriage.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Adriances did not speak of him, by tacit agreement feigning to forget the only painful evening they had spent since their marriage.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE ADRIANCES The weeks ran quietly on, bringing spring as the only visitor to the little red house.
tranquiladjectiveUS /ˈtræŋkwəl/
(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
someone who visits
From this reading THE ADRIANCES The weeks ran quietly on, bringing spring as the only visitor to the little red house.
a message informing of danger
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It chose one of the first evenings of April, when a delicate, pastel-tinted sunset was concluding the day as gracefully as the _envoi_ of a poem.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading THE ADRIANCES The weeks ran quietly on, bringing spring as the only visitor to the little red house.
at the time that
From this reading It chose one of the first evenings of April, when a delicate, pastel-tinted sunset was concluding the day as gracefully as the _envoi_ of a poem.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The event that fell like an exploding shell into the tranquil household, shattering its accustomed life as truly as if by material destruction, came quite without warning.
