used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE STRANGER AT THE CROSS-ROADS Mary drove home from Hardrascliffe along a dark, wind-swept road.
in actual fact
From this reading She had actually made Mary feel an interloper in the nursing-home she had visited all her life, by that air of off-hand familiarity with which she took possession of the whole staff.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading She had actually made Mary feel an interloper in the nursing-home she had visited all her life, by that air of off-hand familiarity with which she took possession of the whole staff.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading THE STRANGER AT THE CROSS-ROADS Mary drove home from Hardrascliffe along a dark, wind-swept road.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Ursula was not an easy person to help.
arousedadjectiveUS /ərˈaʊzd/
aroused to action
From this reading She had aroused all sorts of uncomfortable desires which Mary had thought were hidden deep beneath a weight of busy complacency.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE STRANGER AT THE CROSS-ROADS Mary drove home from Hardrascliffe along a dark, wind-swept road.
awaitverbUS /əˈweɪt/
look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading She had aroused all sorts of uncomfortable desires which Mary had thought were hidden deep beneath a weight of busy complacency.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She had actually made Mary feel an interloper in the nursing-home she had visited all her life, by that air of off-hand familiarity with which she took possession of the whole staff.
a young person of either sex
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
complacencynounUS /kəmˈpleɪsənsi/
the feeling you have when you are satisfied with yourself
From this reading She had aroused all sorts of uncomfortable desires which Mary had thought were hidden deep beneath a weight of busy complacency.
CROSS-ROADS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STRANGER AT THE CROSS-ROADS Mary drove home from Hardrascliffe along a dark, wind-swept road.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading THE STRANGER AT THE CROSS-ROADS Mary drove home from Hardrascliffe along a dark, wind-swept road.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading She had aroused all sorts of uncomfortable desires which Mary had thought were hidden deep beneath a weight of busy complacency.
desiresnounUS /dɪˈzaɪərz/
plural of “desire” — the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading She had aroused all sorts of uncomfortable desires which Mary had thought were hidden deep beneath a weight of busy complacency.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading THE STRANGER AT THE CROSS-ROADS Mary drove home from Hardrascliffe along a dark, wind-swept road.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Ursula was not an easy person to help.
establishverbUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/
set up or found
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
familiaritynounUS /fəˌmɪˈljerəti/
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading She had actually made Mary feel an interloper in the nursing-home she had visited all her life, by that air of off-hand familiarity with which she took possession of the whole staff.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading She had actually made Mary feel an interloper in the nursing-home she had visited all her life, by that air of off-hand familiarity with which she took possession of the whole staff.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE STRANGER AT THE CROSS-ROADS Mary drove home from Hardrascliffe along a dark, wind-swept road.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
Hardrascliffe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STRANGER AT THE CROSS-ROADS Mary drove home from Hardrascliffe along a dark, wind-swept road.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Ursula was not an easy person to help.
helpingnounUS /ˈhelpɪŋ/
an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
not accessible to view
From this reading She had aroused all sorts of uncomfortable desires which Mary had thought were hidden deep beneath a weight of busy complacency.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading THE STRANGER AT THE CROSS-ROADS Mary drove home from Hardrascliffe along a dark, wind-swept road.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
interlopernounUS /ˈɪntərloʊpər/
someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
From this reading She had actually made Mary feel an interloper in the nursing-home she had visited all her life, by that air of off-hand familiarity with which she took possession of the whole staff.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading She had actually made Mary feel an interloper in the nursing-home she had visited all her life, by that air of off-hand familiarity with which she took possession of the whole staff.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She had actually made Mary feel an interloper in the nursing-home she had visited all her life, by that air of off-hand familiarity with which she took possession of the whole staff.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading THE STRANGER AT THE CROSS-ROADS Mary drove home from Hardrascliffe along a dark, wind-swept road.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Ursula was not an easy person to help.
nursing-home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
off-handadverb
without preparation
From this reading She had actually made Mary feel an interloper in the nursing-home she had visited all her life, by that air of off-hand familiarity with which she took possession of the whole staff.
a human being
From this reading Ursula was not an easy person to help.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading She had actually made Mary feel an interloper in the nursing-home she had visited all her life, by that air of off-hand familiarity with which she took possession of the whole staff.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading THE STRANGER AT THE CROSS-ROADS Mary drove home from Hardrascliffe along a dark, wind-swept road.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading She had aroused all sorts of uncomfortable desires which Mary had thought were hidden deep beneath a weight of busy complacency.
staffnounUS /stæf/
personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading She had actually made Mary feel an interloper in the nursing-home she had visited all her life, by that air of off-hand familiarity with which she took possession of the whole staff.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading THE STRANGER AT THE CROSS-ROADS Mary drove home from Hardrascliffe along a dark, wind-swept road.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had actually made Mary feel an interloper in the nursing-home she had visited all her life, by that air of off-hand familiarity with which she took possession of the whole staff.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STRANGER AT THE CROSS-ROADS Mary drove home from Hardrascliffe along a dark, wind-swept road.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She had aroused all sorts of uncomfortable desires which Mary had thought were hidden deep beneath a weight of busy complacency.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading She had actually made Mary feel an interloper in the nursing-home she had visited all her life, by that air of off-hand familiarity with which she took possession of the whole staff.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading She had aroused all sorts of uncomfortable desires which Mary had thought were hidden deep beneath a weight of busy complacency.
Ursula
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading She had actually made Mary feel an interloper in the nursing-home she had visited all her life, by that air of off-hand familiarity with which she took possession of the whole staff.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading She had aroused all sorts of uncomfortable desires which Mary had thought were hidden deep beneath a weight of busy complacency.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She had aroused all sorts of uncomfortable desires which Mary had thought were hidden deep beneath a weight of busy complacency.
in or at the place that
From this reading She had been busy all the afternoon helping Ursula to establish herself in the nursing-home where she was to await the arrival of her child.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She had actually made Mary feel an interloper in the nursing-home she had visited all her life, by that air of off-hand familiarity with which she took possession of the whole staff.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading She had actually made Mary feel an interloper in the nursing-home she had visited all her life, by that air of off-hand familiarity with which she took possession of the whole staff.
wind-swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STRANGER AT THE CROSS-ROADS Mary drove home from Hardrascliffe along a dark, wind-swept road.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She had actually made Mary feel an interloper in the nursing-home she had visited all her life, by that air of off-hand familiarity with which she took possession of the whole staff.
