used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
how long something has existed
From this reading And at the best of times she was a difficult woman, and age and infirmity had made her morose.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Her long life as a reigning sovereign had been neither more nor less than an orgy of despotic power.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And at the best of times she was a difficult woman, and age and infirmity had made her morose.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Her long life as a reigning sovereign had been neither more nor less than an orgy of despotic power.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And at the best of times she was a difficult woman, and age and infirmity had made her morose.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Her long life as a reigning sovereign had been neither more nor less than an orgy of despotic power.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading And at the best of times she was a difficult woman, and age and infirmity had made her morose.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading Gloriana was not disposed to conversation just now.
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading For one thing she was deeply offended.
despoticadjectiveUS /dɪˈspɑːtɪk/
belonging to or having the characteristics of a despot
From this reading Her long life as a reigning sovereign had been neither more nor less than an orgy of despotic power.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading And at the best of times she was a difficult woman, and age and infirmity had made her morose.
having made preparations
From this reading Gloriana was not disposed to conversation just now.
diverseadjectiveUS /daɪˈvɜːrs/
many and different
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For one thing she was deeply offended.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
Gloriana
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gloriana was not disposed to conversation just now.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And at the best of times she was a difficult woman, and age and infirmity had made her morose.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And at the best of times she was a difficult woman, and age and infirmity had made her morose.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
infirmitynounUS /ɪnˈfɜːrmɪti/
the state of being weak in health or body (especially from old age)
From this reading And at the best of times she was a difficult woman, and age and infirmity had made her morose.
and nothing more
From this reading Gloriana was not disposed to conversation just now.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Her long life as a reigning sovereign had been neither more nor less than an orgy of despotic power.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Her long life as a reigning sovereign had been neither more nor less than an orgy of despotic power.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading And at the best of times she was a difficult woman, and age and infirmity had made her morose.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Her long life as a reigning sovereign had been neither more nor less than an orgy of despotic power.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
moroseadjectiveUS /mərˈoʊs/
showing a brooding ill humor
From this reading And at the best of times she was a difficult woman, and age and infirmity had made her morose.
used to form the superlative
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Her long life as a reigning sovereign had been neither more nor less than an orgy of despotic power.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Her long life as a reigning sovereign had been neither more nor less than an orgy of despotic power.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Gloriana was not disposed to conversation just now.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Gloriana was not disposed to conversation just now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
offendedadjectiveUS /əˈfendəd/
emotionally hurt or upset or annoyed
From this reading For one thing she was deeply offended.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For one thing she was deeply offended.
orgynounUS /ˈɔːrdʒi/
any act of immoderate indulgence
From this reading Her long life as a reigning sovereign had been neither more nor less than an orgy of despotic power.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading Her long life as a reigning sovereign had been neither more nor less than an orgy of despotic power.
Queen'snounUS /kwiːnz/
possessive form of “queen” — the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
reigningadjectiveUS /ˈreɪnɪŋ/
exercising power or authority
From this reading Her long life as a reigning sovereign had been neither more nor less than an orgy of despotic power.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For one thing she was deeply offended.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
sovereignadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːv.rən/
Possessing supreme or ultimate power; autonomous and commanding.
From this reading Her long life as a reigning sovereign had been neither more nor less than an orgy of despotic power.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Her long life as a reigning sovereign had been neither more nor less than an orgy of despotic power.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
a special situation
From this reading For one thing she was deeply offended.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading And at the best of times she was a difficult woman, and age and infirmity had made her morose.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Gloriana was not disposed to conversation just now.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THERE was a long five minutes of most uncomfortable silence between the four curiously diverse persons in the Queen’s morning chamber.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading And at the best of times she was a difficult woman, and age and infirmity had made her morose.
