used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
in the past
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
Annie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
argueverbUS /ˈɑːrɡjuː/
present reasons and arguments
From this reading She reasoned with herself over this feeling, but could not argue it away.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading She reasoned with herself over this feeling, but could not argue it away.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
exhale hard
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She reasoned with herself over this feeling, but could not argue it away.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading It could not be that she was so weak-minded as to have changed in a week from dreading her husband’s presence to desiring it.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She reasoned with herself over this feeling, but could not argue it away.
counterbalancedadjectiveUS /ˌkaʊntərˈbælənst/
brought into equipoise by means of a weight or force that offsets another
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
crashverbUS /kræʃ/
fall or come down violently
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
the act of departing
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
desiringverbUS /dɪˈzaɪərɪŋ/
-ing form of “desire” — feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading It could not be that she was so weak-minded as to have changed in a week from dreading her husband’s presence to desiring it.
dreadedadjectiveUS /ˈdredɪd/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
dreadingverbUS /ˈdredɪŋ/
-ing form of “dread” — be afraid or scared of; be frightened of
From this reading It could not be that she was so weak-minded as to have changed in a week from dreading her husband’s presence to desiring it.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
ecstasynounUS /ˈekstəsi/
a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading She reasoned with herself over this feeling, but could not argue it away.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It could not be that she was so weak-minded as to have changed in a week from dreading her husband’s presence to desiring it.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
George'snounUS /ˈdʒɔːrdʒəz/
possessive form of “george” — Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
GrangenounUS /ɡreɪndʒ/
an outlying farm
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It could not be that she was so weak-minded as to have changed in a week from dreading her husband’s presence to desiring it.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She reasoned with herself over this feeling, but could not argue it away.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
husband'snounUS /ˈhʌzbəndz/
possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
impendingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpendɪŋ/
close in time; about to occur
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She reasoned with herself over this feeling, but could not argue it away.
immediately past
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
information about recent and important events
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
not any; not one
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She reasoned with herself over this feeling, but could not argue it away.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She reasoned with herself over this feeling, but could not argue it away.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading It could not be that she was so weak-minded as to have changed in a week from dreading her husband’s presence to desiring it.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
reasonedadjectiveUS /ˈriːzənd/
logically valid
From this reading She reasoned with herself over this feeling, but could not argue it away.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
salenounUS /seɪl/
a particular instance of selling
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
only a very short time before
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She reasoned with herself over this feeling, but could not argue it away.
shocksnounUS /ʃɑːks/
plural of “shock” — the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
stage-success
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She reasoned with herself over this feeling, but could not argue it away.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It could not be that she was so weak-minded as to have changed in a week from dreading her husband’s presence to desiring it.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
weak-minded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It could not be that she was so weak-minded as to have changed in a week from dreading her husband’s presence to desiring it.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
at the time that
From this reading But the first was an event which had long been impending, and George himself could scarcely be more unhappy, now the crash had come, than he had been during those long months when he had felt that ruin was hanging over him; and, as for the last, a week ago there had been no event she had so much dreaded as the possible appearance of her husband in London.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading Annie woke the next morning with a dull, uncomfortable sense of having received a great blow which quite counterbalanced the ecstasy of her first stage-success.
the day immediately before today
From this reading She had indeed suffered two shocks yesterday--the news of George’s ruin and the threatened sale of the Grange in the morning, and the letter which announced her husband’s departure at night.
