used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had a bereaved air when he arrived, which was calculated to excite sympathy, and his conversation was subdued in tone, and grave in subject.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading But Sybil did her best to cheer him, and in the fullness of her sympathy did perhaps more than was absolutely necessary.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading He had a bereaved air when he arrived, which was calculated to excite sympathy, and his conversation was subdued in tone, and grave in subject.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Ronald went to see Sybil Brandon at five o'clock, and as it chanced he found her alone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ronald went to see Sybil Brandon at five o'clock, and as it chanced he found her alone.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading He had a bereaved air when he arrived, which was calculated to excite sympathy, and his conversation was subdued in tone, and grave in subject.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Ronald went to see Sybil Brandon at five o'clock, and as it chanced he found her alone.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Ronald went to see Sybil Brandon at five o'clock, and as it chanced he found her alone.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
bereavednounUS /bərˈiːvd/
a person who has suffered the death of someone they loved
From this reading He had a bereaved air when he arrived, which was calculated to excite sympathy, and his conversation was subdued in tone, and grave in subject.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading But Sybil did her best to cheer him, and in the fullness of her sympathy did perhaps more than was absolutely necessary.
Brandon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ronald went to see Sybil Brandon at five o'clock, and as it chanced he found her alone.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
calculatedadjectiveUS /ˈkælkjəleɪtɪd/
carefully thought out in advance
From this reading He had a bereaved air when he arrived, which was calculated to excite sympathy, and his conversation was subdued in tone, and grave in subject.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
chancedverbUS /tʃænst/
past form of “chance” — be the case by chance
From this reading Ronald went to see Sybil Brandon at five o'clock, and as it chanced he found her alone.
give encouragement to
From this reading But Sybil did her best to cheer him, and in the fullness of her sympathy did perhaps more than was absolutely necessary.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading He had a bereaved air when he arrived, which was calculated to excite sympathy, and his conversation was subdued in tone, and grave in subject.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But Sybil did her best to cheer him, and in the fullness of her sympathy did perhaps more than was absolutely necessary.
exciteverbUS /ɪkˈsaɪt/
arouse or elicit a feeling
From this reading He had a bereaved air when he arrived, which was calculated to excite sympathy, and his conversation was subdued in tone, and grave in subject.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Ronald went to see Sybil Brandon at five o'clock, and as it chanced he found her alone.
set up or found
From this reading Ronald went to see Sybil Brandon at five o'clock, and as it chanced he found her alone.
fullnessnounUS /ˈfʊlnəs/
completeness over a broad scope
From this reading But Sybil did her best to cheer him, and in the fullness of her sympathy did perhaps more than was absolutely necessary.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
death of a person
From this reading He had a bereaved air when he arrived, which was calculated to excite sympathy, and his conversation was subdued in tone, and grave in subject.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ronald went to see Sybil Brandon at five o'clock, and as it chanced he found her alone.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Ronald went to see Sybil Brandon at five o'clock, and as it chanced he found her alone.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But Sybil did her best to cheer him, and in the fullness of her sympathy did perhaps more than was absolutely necessary.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had a bereaved air when he arrived, which was calculated to excite sympathy, and his conversation was subdued in tone, and grave in subject.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Ronald went to see Sybil Brandon at five o'clock, and as it chanced he found her alone.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Ronald waited, and talked to Miss Brandon in the mean while.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Ronald waited, and talked to Miss Brandon in the mean while.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But Sybil did her best to cheer him, and in the fullness of her sympathy did perhaps more than was absolutely necessary.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
absolutely essential
From this reading But Sybil did her best to cheer him, and in the fullness of her sympathy did perhaps more than was absolutely necessary.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading Ronald went to see Sybil Brandon at five o'clock, and as it chanced he found her alone.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But Sybil did her best to cheer him, and in the fullness of her sympathy did perhaps more than was absolutely necessary.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
by chance
From this reading But Sybil did her best to cheer him, and in the fullness of her sympathy did perhaps more than was absolutely necessary.
on the contrary
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
Ronald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ronald went to see Sybil Brandon at five o'clock, and as it chanced he found her alone.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Ronald went to see Sybil Brandon at five o'clock, and as it chanced he found her alone.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading He had a bereaved air when he arrived, which was calculated to excite sympathy, and his conversation was subdued in tone, and grave in subject.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading He had a bereaved air when he arrived, which was calculated to excite sympathy, and his conversation was subdued in tone, and grave in subject.
Sybil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ronald went to see Sybil Brandon at five o'clock, and as it chanced he found her alone.
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading He had a bereaved air when he arrived, which was calculated to excite sympathy, and his conversation was subdued in tone, and grave in subject.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Ronald waited, and talked to Miss Brandon in the mean while.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But Sybil did her best to cheer him, and in the fullness of her sympathy did perhaps more than was absolutely necessary.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Ronald waited, and talked to Miss Brandon in the mean while.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ronald went to see Sybil Brandon at five o'clock, and as it chanced he found her alone.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading He had a bereaved air when he arrived, which was calculated to excite sympathy, and his conversation was subdued in tone, and grave in subject.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Ronald waited, and talked to Miss Brandon in the mean while.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had a bereaved air when he arrived, which was calculated to excite sympathy, and his conversation was subdued in tone, and grave in subject.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Ronald went to see Sybil Brandon at five o'clock, and as it chanced he found her alone.
at the time that
From this reading He had a bereaved air when he arrived, which was calculated to excite sympathy, and his conversation was subdued in tone, and grave in subject.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had a bereaved air when he arrived, which was calculated to excite sympathy, and his conversation was subdued in tone, and grave in subject.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Ronald waited, and talked to Miss Brandon in the mean while.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
Wyndham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
but in spite of that
From this reading Mrs. Wyndham, she said, had gone out, or rather she had not yet come home; but if Ronald would wait, she would certainly be in.
