used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Under a rustic porch Lady Merivale was finishing her tea, while her companion enjoyed a cigarette.
Adrien's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile, Adrien's skiff was moored at the landing-place of an old inn, some distance further up the river.
AlasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading Alas! for the irony of fate!
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Meanwhile, Adrien's skiff was moored at the landing-place of an old inn, some distance further up the river.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If he had but known the opportunity he had missed with that letter, his mortification and despair would have been even greater.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Meanwhile, Adrien's skiff was moored at the landing-place of an old inn, some distance further up the river.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If he had but known the opportunity he had missed with that letter, his mortification and despair would have been even greater.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If he had but known the opportunity he had missed with that letter, his mortification and despair would have been even greater.
cigarettenounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈet/
finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
From this reading Under a rustic porch Lady Merivale was finishing her tea, while her companion enjoyed a cigarette.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Under a rustic porch Lady Merivale was finishing her tea, while her companion enjoyed a cigarette.
ConstancenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəns/
a lake in southeastern Germany on the northern side of the Swiss Alps; forms part of the Rhine River
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading If he had but known the opportunity he had missed with that letter, his mortification and despair would have been even greater.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Meanwhile, Adrien's skiff was moored at the landing-place of an old inn, some distance further up the river.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
endeavoured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading Under a rustic porch Lady Merivale was finishing her tea, while her companion enjoyed a cigarette.
divisible by two
From this reading If he had but known the opportunity he had missed with that letter, his mortification and despair would have been even greater.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading Alas! for the irony of fate!
finishingnounUS /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading Under a rustic porch Lady Merivale was finishing her tea, while her companion enjoyed a cigarette.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Alas! for the irony of fate!
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Meanwhile, Adrien's skiff was moored at the landing-place of an old inn, some distance further up the river.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading If he had but known the opportunity he had missed with that letter, his mortification and despair would have been even greater.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If he had but known the opportunity he had missed with that letter, his mortification and despair would have been even greater.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Under a rustic porch Lady Merivale was finishing her tea, while her companion enjoyed a cigarette.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading If he had but known the opportunity he had missed with that letter, his mortification and despair would have been even greater.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If he had but known the opportunity he had missed with that letter, his mortification and despair would have been even greater.
impossibilitynounUS /ˌɪmpɔːsɪˈbɪlɪti/
incapability of existing or occurring
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
From this reading Meanwhile, Adrien's skiff was moored at the landing-place of an old inn, some distance further up the river.
ironynounUS /ˈaɪrəni/
witty language used to convey insults or scorn
From this reading Alas! for the irony of fate!
apprehended with certainty
From this reading If he had but known the opportunity he had missed with that letter, his mortification and despair would have been even greater.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Under a rustic porch Lady Merivale was finishing her tea, while her companion enjoyed a cigarette.
landing-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile, Adrien's skiff was moored at the landing-place of an old inn, some distance further up the river.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading If he had but known the opportunity he had missed with that letter, his mortification and despair would have been even greater.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading Meanwhile, Adrien's skiff was moored at the landing-place of an old inn, some distance further up the river.
Merivale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under a rustic porch Lady Merivale was finishing her tea, while her companion enjoyed a cigarette.
not caught with the senses or the mind
From this reading If he had but known the opportunity he had missed with that letter, his mortification and despair would have been even greater.
mooredverbUS /mʊrd/
past form of “moor” — secure in or as if in a berth or dock
From this reading Meanwhile, Adrien's skiff was moored at the landing-place of an old inn, some distance further up the river.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
mortificationnounUS /ˈmɔːrtəfkeɪʃən/
strong feelings of embarrassment
From this reading If he had but known the opportunity he had missed with that letter, his mortification and despair would have been even greater.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Meanwhile, Adrien's skiff was moored at the landing-place of an old inn, some distance further up the river.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Meanwhile, Adrien's skiff was moored at the landing-place of an old inn, some distance further up the river.
and nothing more
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading If he had but known the opportunity he had missed with that letter, his mortification and despair would have been even greater.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
porchnounUS /pɔːrtʃ/
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading Under a rustic porch Lady Merivale was finishing her tea, while her companion enjoyed a cigarette.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Meanwhile, Adrien's skiff was moored at the landing-place of an old inn, some distance further up the river.
rusticadjectiveUS /ˈrʌstɪk/
characteristic of rural life
From this reading Under a rustic porch Lady Merivale was finishing her tea, while her companion enjoyed a cigarette.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
skiffnounUS /skɪf/
any of various small boats propelled by oars or by sails or by a motor
From this reading Meanwhile, Adrien's skiff was moored at the landing-place of an old inn, some distance further up the river.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Meanwhile, Adrien's skiff was moored at the landing-place of an old inn, some distance further up the river.
strenuouslyadverbUS /ˈstrenjuːəsli/
in a strenuous manner; strongly or vigorously
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading Under a rustic porch Lady Merivale was finishing her tea, while her companion enjoyed a cigarette.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If he had but known the opportunity he had missed with that letter, his mortification and despair would have been even greater.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Meanwhile, Adrien's skiff was moored at the landing-place of an old inn, some distance further up the river.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under a rustic porch Lady Merivale was finishing her tea, while her companion enjoyed a cigarette.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Meanwhile, Adrien's skiff was moored at the landing-place of an old inn, some distance further up the river.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Meanwhile, Adrien's skiff was moored at the landing-place of an old inn, some distance further up the river.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This day, during which he had strenuously endeavoured to forget Constance, had only shown him more plainly the utter impossibility of doing so.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Under a rustic porch Lady Merivale was finishing her tea, while her companion enjoyed a cigarette.
in the company of; together with
From this reading If he had but known the opportunity he had missed with that letter, his mortification and despair would have been even greater.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If he had but known the opportunity he had missed with that letter, his mortification and despair would have been even greater.
