used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He was not angry--what was there to be angry about?
experiencing a sudden sense of danger
From this reading Dick was surprised--in fact, he was slightly alarmed, but he retained his self-possession.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading He was not angry--what was there to be angry about?
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He was not angry--what was there to be angry about?
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
(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 "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
claspverbUS /klæsp/
hold firmly and tightly
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
containverbUS /kənˈteɪn/
include or contain; have as a component
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "Safe?" he cried.
someone who is a detective
From this reading Dick was surprised--in fact, he was slightly alarmed, but he retained his self-possession.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
elementsnounUS /ˈeləmənts/
violent or severe weather (viewed as caused by the action of the four elements)
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
expectsverbUS /ɪkˈspekts/
third-person singular of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Dick was surprised--in fact, he was slightly alarmed, but he retained his self-possession.
glibnessnoun
a kind of fluent easy superficiality
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was not angry--what was there to be angry about?
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Dick was surprised--in fact, he was slightly alarmed, but he retained his self-possession.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dick was surprised--in fact, he was slightly alarmed, but he retained his self-possession.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
a polite name for any woman
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
come together
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not angry--what was there to be angry about?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
and nothing more
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
recollectedverbUS /ˌrekəˈlektɪd/
past form of “recollect” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
to say, state, or perform again
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
retainedadjectiveUS /rɪˈteɪnd/
continued in your keeping or use or memory
From this reading Dick was surprised--in fact, he was slightly alarmed, but he retained his self-possession.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading "Safe?" he cried.
Identical; not different.
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
self-possessionnoun
the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior
From this reading Dick was surprised--in fact, he was slightly alarmed, but he retained his self-possession.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Dick was surprised--in fact, he was slightly alarmed, but he retained his self-possession.
an idea that is suggested
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading Dick was surprised--in fact, he was slightly alarmed, but he retained his self-possession.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He was not angry--what was there to be angry about?
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was not angry--what was there to be angry about?
except if; if not
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
vexationnoun
anger produced by some annoying irritation
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was not angry--what was there to be angry about?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He was not angry--what was there to be angry about?
at the time that
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
in the company of; together with
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The greeting of a beautiful woman (with the suggestion of a clasp) when one expects to meet only a sister may contain the elements of surprise, but rarely those of vexation.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading "Why should not I be safe, unless"--he recollected that not half an hour before he had been greeted by a lady with the same word, and he had replied to it with great glibness: could he do better than repeat himself?
