used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was not a solitary woman by nature and she had never been used to a solitary existence.
a positive feeling of liking
From this reading Indeed, my heart prompted me to some demonstrations of affection and I was restrained only by the caution of a confirmed bachelor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
bachelornounUS /ˈbætʃələr/
a man who has never been married
From this reading Indeed, my heart prompted me to some demonstrations of affection and I was restrained only by the caution of a confirmed bachelor.
Barbara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She was not a solitary woman by nature and she had never been used to a solitary existence.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
bereavementnounUS /bərˈiːvmənt/
state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
From this reading When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
inflected form of “bear” — have
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
the two together, not just one
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She was not a solitary woman by nature and she had never been used to a solitary existence.
cautionnounUS /ˈkɑːʃən/
the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger
From this reading Indeed, my heart prompted me to some demonstrations of affection and I was restrained only by the caution of a confirmed bachelor.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
confirmedadjectiveUS /kənˈfɜːrmd/
of persons; not subject to change
From this reading Indeed, my heart prompted me to some demonstrations of affection and I was restrained only by the caution of a confirmed bachelor.
the process of giving careful thought to something
From this reading When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
demonstrationsnounUS /ˌdemənˈstreɪʃənz/
plural of “demonstration” — a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view
From this reading Indeed, my heart prompted me to some demonstrations of affection and I was restrained only by the caution of a confirmed bachelor.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading She was not a solitary woman by nature and she had never been used to a solitary existence.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
forlornadjectiveUS /fərˈlɔːrn/
marked by or showing hopelessness
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
Harold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Indeed, my heart prompted me to some demonstrations of affection and I was restrained only by the caution of a confirmed bachelor.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
the act of retaining something
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, my heart prompted me to some demonstrations of affection and I was restrained only by the caution of a confirmed bachelor.
inducedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈduːst/
brought about or caused; not spontaneous
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
intimateadjectiveUS /ˈɪntəmət/
marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
From this reading When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
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 When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
take in marriage
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
Monkhouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading She was not a solitary woman by nature and she had never been used to a solitary existence.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She was not a solitary woman by nature and she had never been used to a solitary existence.
not any; not one
From this reading When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was not a solitary woman by nature and she had never been used to a solitary existence.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
and nothing more
From this reading Indeed, my heart prompted me to some demonstrations of affection and I was restrained only by the caution of a confirmed bachelor.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
patheticadjectiveUS /pəˈθetɪk/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
promptedverbUS /ˈprɑːmptɪd/
past form of “prompt” — give an incentive for action
From this reading Indeed, my heart prompted me to some demonstrations of affection and I was restrained only by the caution of a confirmed bachelor.
on the contrary
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
restrainedadjectiveUS /riˈstreɪnd/
cool and formal in manner
From this reading Indeed, my heart prompted me to some demonstrations of affection and I was restrained only by the caution of a confirmed bachelor.
RivalsnounUS /ˈraɪvəlz/
plural of “rival” — the contestant you hope to defeat
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was not a solitary woman by nature and she had never been used to a solitary existence.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading She was not a solitary woman by nature and she had never been used to a solitary existence.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Indeed, my heart prompted me to some demonstrations of affection and I was restrained only by the caution of a confirmed bachelor.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
Stella'snounUS /ˈsteləz/
possessive form of “stella” — United States minimalist painter (born in 1936)
From this reading When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading She was not a solitary woman by nature and she had never been used to a solitary existence.
warmthnounUS /wɔːrmθ/
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
accept gladly
From this reading But now, as she stood before me in her pretty sitting room, holding both my hands and smiling her welcome, it was suddenly borne in on me that her state was rather forlorn in spite of her really comfortable means.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
at the time that
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Rivals The warmth with which Barbara greeted me when I made my first appearance at her flat struck me as rather pathetic, and for the first time I seemed to understand what it was that had induced her to marry Harold Monkhouse.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading She was not a solitary woman by nature and she had never been used to a solitary existence.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading When Stella’s death had broken up her home and left her with no intimate friend in the world but me, I had been too much taken up with my own bereavement to give much consideration to her.
