used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Joan awoke after a few hours’ slumber, it was to a sense of racking headache and utter exhaustion.
administeringverbUS /ædˈmɪnɪstɜːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “administer” — work in an administrative capacity; supervise or be in charge of
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading When Joan awoke after a few hours’ slumber, it was to a sense of racking headache and utter exhaustion.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Joan awoke after a few hours’ slumber, it was to a sense of racking headache and utter exhaustion.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
awfullyadverbUS /ˈɑːfli/
used as intensifiers
From this reading "His headache, if he has one, as I expect he has--he looked awfully ill lying there under morphia--can hardly be worse than mine," she mused.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading When Joan awoke after a few hours’ slumber, it was to a sense of racking headache and utter exhaustion.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "His headache, if he has one, as I expect he has--he looked awfully ill lying there under morphia--can hardly be worse than mine," she mused.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "His headache, if he has one, as I expect he has--he looked awfully ill lying there under morphia--can hardly be worse than mine," she mused.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
circumventedverbUS /ˌsɜːrkəmˈventɪd/
past form of “circumvent” — surround so as to force to give up
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could only vaguely feel, rather than remember, the crucial events of the previous night.
crucialadjectiveUS /ˈkruːʃəl/
of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis
From this reading She could only vaguely feel, rather than remember, the crucial events of the previous night.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
darkenedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənd/
(of fabrics and paper) grown dark in color over time
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
destroyingverbUS /dɪˈstrɔɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “destroy” — do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
documentsnounUS /ˈdɑːkjəmənts/
plural of “document” — writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
drugverbUS /drʌɡ/
administer a drug to
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading She could only vaguely feel, rather than remember, the crucial events of the previous night.
exhaustionnounUS /ɪɡˈzɔːstʃən/
extreme fatigue
From this reading When Joan awoke after a few hours’ slumber, it was to a sense of racking headache and utter exhaustion.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading "His headache, if he has one, as I expect he has--he looked awfully ill lying there under morphia--can hardly be worse than mine," she mused.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading She could only vaguely feel, rather than remember, the crucial events of the previous night.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading When Joan awoke after a few hours’ slumber, it was to a sense of racking headache and utter exhaustion.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
only a very short time before
From this reading "His headache, if he has one, as I expect he has--he looked awfully ill lying there under morphia--can hardly be worse than mine," she mused.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "His headache, if he has one, as I expect he has--he looked awfully ill lying there under morphia--can hardly be worse than mine," she mused.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "His headache, if he has one, as I expect he has--he looked awfully ill lying there under morphia--can hardly be worse than mine," she mused.
headachenounUS /ˈhedeɪk/
something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness
From this reading When Joan awoke after a few hours’ slumber, it was to a sense of racking headache and utter exhaustion.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading When Joan awoke after a few hours’ slumber, it was to a sense of racking headache and utter exhaustion.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "His headache, if he has one, as I expect he has--he looked awfully ill lying there under morphia--can hardly be worse than mine," she mused.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading "His headache, if he has one, as I expect he has--he looked awfully ill lying there under morphia--can hardly be worse than mine," she mused.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
incriminatingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkrɪməneɪtɪŋ/
charging or suggestive of guilt or blame
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When Joan awoke after a few hours’ slumber, it was to a sense of racking headache and utter exhaustion.
Joan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Joan awoke after a few hours’ slumber, it was to a sense of racking headache and utter exhaustion.
Julie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "His headache, if he has one, as I expect he has--he looked awfully ill lying there under morphia--can hardly be worse than mine," she mused.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading "His headache, if he has one, as I expect he has--he looked awfully ill lying there under morphia--can hardly be worse than mine," she mused.
Mercier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "His headache, if he has one, as I expect he has--he looked awfully ill lying there under morphia--can hardly be worse than mine," she mused.
morphianoun
an alkaloid narcotic drug extracted from opium; a powerful, habit-forming narcotic used to relieve pain
From this reading "His headache, if he has one, as I expect he has--he looked awfully ill lying there under morphia--can hardly be worse than mine," she mused.
musedverbUS /mjuːzd/
past form of “muse” — reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading "His headache, if he has one, as I expect he has--he looked awfully ill lying there under morphia--can hardly be worse than mine," she mused.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading She could only vaguely feel, rather than remember, the crucial events of the previous night.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Joan awoke after a few hours’ slumber, it was to a sense of racking headache and utter exhaustion.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "His headache, if he has one, as I expect he has--he looked awfully ill lying there under morphia--can hardly be worse than mine," she mused.
and nothing more
From this reading She could only vaguely feel, rather than remember, the crucial events of the previous night.
a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading She could only vaguely feel, rather than remember, the crucial events of the previous night.
the act of punishing
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
rackingadjectiveUS /ˈrækɪŋ/
causing great physical or mental suffering
From this reading When Joan awoke after a few hours’ slumber, it was to a sense of racking headache and utter exhaustion.
on the contrary
From this reading She could only vaguely feel, rather than remember, the crucial events of the previous night.
To recall to mind.
From this reading She could only vaguely feel, rather than remember, the crucial events of the previous night.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading When Joan awoke after a few hours’ slumber, it was to a sense of racking headache and utter exhaustion.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could only vaguely feel, rather than remember, the crucial events of the previous night.
slumbernounUS /ˈslʌmbər/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading When Joan awoke after a few hours’ slumber, it was to a sense of racking headache and utter exhaustion.
stealingnounUS /ˈstiːlɪŋ/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She could only vaguely feel, rather than remember, the crucial events of the previous night.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She could only vaguely feel, rather than remember, the crucial events of the previous night.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "His headache, if he has one, as I expect he has--he looked awfully ill lying there under morphia--can hardly be worse than mine," she mused.
therebyadverbUS /ˈðerˈbaɪ/
by that means or because of that
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Joan awoke after a few hours’ slumber, it was to a sense of racking headache and utter exhaustion.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading "His headache, if he has one, as I expect he has--he looked awfully ill lying there under morphia--can hardly be worse than mine," she mused.
not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading When Joan awoke after a few hours’ slumber, it was to a sense of racking headache and utter exhaustion.
vaguelyadverbUS /ˈveɪɡli/
in a vague way
From this reading She could only vaguely feel, rather than remember, the crucial events of the previous night.
VictornounUS /ˈvɪktər/
a combatant who is able to defeat rivals
From this reading "A punishment for having dared to drug poor unfortunate Victor," she told herself, as Julie, after administering tea, left her alone in the darkened room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Joan awoke after a few hours’ slumber, it was to a sense of racking headache and utter exhaustion.
weakeningnounUS /ˈwiːkənɪŋ/
becoming weaker
From this reading She could almost pity Victor Mercier, now that she had circumvented him by stealing those incriminating documents, and thereby, if not entirely destroying, certainly weakening, his hold upon her.
at the time that
From this reading When Joan awoke after a few hours’ slumber, it was to a sense of racking headache and utter exhaustion.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading "His headache, if he has one, as I expect he has--he looked awfully ill lying there under morphia--can hardly be worse than mine," she mused.
