used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a card that she had half-consciously considered from the beginning, and during the last few days had looked full upon.
achedverbUS /eɪkt/
past form of “ache” — feel physical pain
From this reading She pictured until her brain ached and her ears rang what her life with Clive could have been, and what his would be with Mary Gordon.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She rang for the Chinese butler, gave him an order, then locked her doors and sat motionless in her boudoir for hours.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She rang for the Chinese butler, gave him an order, then locked her doors and sat motionless in her boudoir for hours.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But despair was not in her as yet, for he was still under the same roof, and she had not played her last card.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Helena did not meet her guests at dinner that night, nor did she trouble to send word that she was ill.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She pictured until her brain ached and her ears rang what her life with Clive could have been, and what his would be with Mary Gordon.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She pictured until her brain ached and her ears rang what her life with Clive could have been, and what his would be with Mary Gordon.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading It was a card that she had half-consciously considered from the beginning, and during the last few days had looked full upon.
boudoirnounUS /ˈbuːdɔɪr/
a lady's bedroom or private sitting room
From this reading She rang for the Chinese butler, gave him an order, then locked her doors and sat motionless in her boudoir for hours.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading She pictured until her brain ached and her ears rang what her life with Clive could have been, and what his would be with Mary Gordon.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But despair was not in her as yet, for he was still under the same roof, and she had not played her last card.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading She rang for the Chinese butler, gave him an order, then locked her doors and sat motionless in her boudoir for hours.
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
From this reading But despair was not in her as yet, for he was still under the same roof, and she had not played her last card.
ChinesenounUS /tʃaɪˈniːz/
any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system
From this reading She rang for the Chinese butler, gave him an order, then locked her doors and sat motionless in her boudoir for hours.
ClivenounUS /klaɪv/
British general and statesman whose victory at Plassey in 1757 strengthened British control of India (1725-1774)
From this reading She pictured until her brain ached and her ears rang what her life with Clive could have been, and what his would be with Mary Gordon.
carefully weighed
From this reading It was a card that she had half-consciously considered from the beginning, and during the last few days had looked full upon.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She pictured until her brain ached and her ears rang what her life with Clive could have been, and what his would be with Mary Gordon.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It was a card that she had half-consciously considered from the beginning, and during the last few days had looked full upon.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading But despair was not in her as yet, for he was still under the same roof, and she had not played her last card.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Helena did not meet her guests at dinner that night, nor did she trouble to send word that she was ill.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading Helena did not meet her guests at dinner that night, nor did she trouble to send word that she was ill.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading She rang for the Chinese butler, gave him an order, then locked her doors and sat motionless in her boudoir for hours.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading It was a card that she had half-consciously considered from the beginning, and during the last few days had looked full upon.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading She pictured until her brain ached and her ears rang what her life with Clive could have been, and what his would be with Mary Gordon.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading It was a card that she had half-consciously considered from the beginning, and during the last few days had looked full upon.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She rang for the Chinese butler, gave him an order, then locked her doors and sat motionless in her boudoir for hours.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was a card that she had half-consciously considered from the beginning, and during the last few days had looked full upon.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading It was a card that she had half-consciously considered from the beginning, and during the last few days had looked full upon.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading She rang for the Chinese butler, gave him an order, then locked her doors and sat motionless in her boudoir for hours.
Gordon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She pictured until her brain ached and her ears rang what her life with Clive could have been, and what his would be with Mary Gordon.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading Helena did not meet her guests at dinner that night, nor did she trouble to send word that she was ill.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But despair was not in her as yet, for he was still under the same roof, and she had not played her last card.
half-consciously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a card that she had half-consciously considered from the beginning, and during the last few days had looked full upon.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She pictured until her brain ached and her ears rang what her life with Clive could have been, and what his would be with Mary Gordon.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But despair was not in her as yet, for he was still under the same roof, and she had not played her last card.
HelenanounUS /ˈhelənə/
capital of the state of Montana; located in western Montana
From this reading Helena did not meet her guests at dinner that night, nor did she trouble to send word that she was ill.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Helena did not meet her guests at dinner that night, nor did she trouble to send word that she was ill.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She rang for the Chinese butler, gave him an order, then locked her doors and sat motionless in her boudoir for hours.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She pictured until her brain ached and her ears rang what her life with Clive could have been, and what his would be with Mary Gordon.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading She rang for the Chinese butler, gave him an order, then locked her doors and sat motionless in her boudoir for hours.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading Helena did not meet her guests at dinner that night, nor did she trouble to send word that she was ill.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She rang for the Chinese butler, gave him an order, then locked her doors and sat motionless in her boudoir for hours.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a card that she had half-consciously considered from the beginning, and during the last few days had looked full upon.
immediately past
From this reading But despair was not in her as yet, for he was still under the same roof, and she had not played her last card.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading She pictured until her brain ached and her ears rang what her life with Clive could have been, and what his would be with Mary Gordon.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading She rang for the Chinese butler, gave him an order, then locked her doors and sat motionless in her boudoir for hours.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading It was a card that she had half-consciously considered from the beginning, and during the last few days had looked full upon.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading She pictured until her brain ached and her ears rang what her life with Clive could have been, and what his would be with Mary Gordon.
come together
From this reading Helena did not meet her guests at dinner that night, nor did she trouble to send word that she was ill.
not in physical motion
From this reading She rang for the Chinese butler, gave him an order, then locked her doors and sat motionless in her boudoir for hours.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Helena did not meet her guests at dinner that night, nor did she trouble to send word that she was ill.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Helena did not meet her guests at dinner that night, nor did she trouble to send word that she was ill.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Helena did not meet her guests at dinner that night, nor did she trouble to send word that she was ill.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading She rang for the Chinese butler, gave him an order, then locked her doors and sat motionless in her boudoir for hours.
picturedadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərd/
seen in the mind as a mental image
From this reading She pictured until her brain ached and her ears rang what her life with Clive could have been, and what his would be with Mary Gordon.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading But despair was not in her as yet, for he was still under the same roof, and she had not played her last card.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading She rang for the Chinese butler, gave him an order, then locked her doors and sat motionless in her boudoir for hours.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading But despair was not in her as yet, for he was still under the same roof, and she had not played her last card.
Identical; not different.
From this reading But despair was not in her as yet, for he was still under the same roof, and she had not played her last card.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She rang for the Chinese butler, gave him an order, then locked her doors and sat motionless in her boudoir for hours.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading Helena did not meet her guests at dinner that night, nor did she trouble to send word that she was ill.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Helena did not meet her guests at dinner that night, nor did she trouble to send word that she was ill.
not in physical motion
From this reading But despair was not in her as yet, for he was still under the same roof, and she had not played her last card.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Helena did not meet her guests at dinner that night, nor did she trouble to send word that she was ill.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She rang for the Chinese butler, gave him an order, then locked her doors and sat motionless in her boudoir for hours.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading She rang for the Chinese butler, gave him an order, then locked her doors and sat motionless in her boudoir for hours.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Helena did not meet her guests at dinner that night, nor did she trouble to send word that she was ill.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Helena did not meet her guests at dinner that night, nor did she trouble to send word that she was ill.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading But despair was not in her as yet, for he was still under the same roof, and she had not played her last card.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading She pictured until her brain ached and her ears rang what her life with Clive could have been, and what his would be with Mary Gordon.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was a card that she had half-consciously considered from the beginning, and during the last few days had looked full upon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Helena did not meet her guests at dinner that night, nor did she trouble to send word that she was ill.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She pictured until her brain ached and her ears rang what her life with Clive could have been, and what his would be with Mary Gordon.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She pictured until her brain ached and her ears rang what her life with Clive could have been, and what his would be with Mary Gordon.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Helena did not meet her guests at dinner that night, nor did she trouble to send word that she was ill.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She pictured until her brain ached and her ears rang what her life with Clive could have been, and what his would be with Mary Gordon.
but in spite of that
From this reading But despair was not in her as yet, for he was still under the same roof, and she had not played her last card.
