used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
perfect or complete or pure
From this reading Except for this timely restoration, his whole project must have been weakened, perhaps to absolute failure.
(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 LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
make certain of
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He was obsessed with a fear that countless defects might have developed in the long line of powder-loaded creeper since the day it was made and laid away.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Except for this timely restoration, his whole project must have been weakened, perhaps to absolute failure.
belatedadjectiveUS /bɪˈleɪtɪd/
after the expected or usual time; delayed
From this reading His belated discovery that one of his fuses was deficient had somewhat shaken his nerves.
countlessadjectiveUS /ˈkaʊntləs/
too numerous to be counted
From this reading He was obsessed with a fear that countless defects might have developed in the long line of powder-loaded creeper since the day it was made and laid away.
creepernoun
any plant (as ivy or periwinkle) that grows by creeping
From this reading He was obsessed with a fear that countless defects might have developed in the long line of powder-loaded creeper since the day it was made and laid away.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He was obsessed with a fear that countless defects might have developed in the long line of powder-loaded creeper since the day it was made and laid away.
defectsnounUS /ˈdiːfekts/
plural of “defect” — an imperfection in a bodily system
From this reading He was obsessed with a fear that countless defects might have developed in the long line of powder-loaded creeper since the day it was made and laid away.
deficientadjectiveUS /dɪˈfɪʃənt/
inadequate in amount or degree
From this reading His belated discovery that one of his fuses was deficient had somewhat shaken his nerves.
developedadjectiveUS /dɪˈveləpt/
being changed over time so as to be e.g. stronger or more complete or more useful
From this reading He was obsessed with a fear that countless defects might have developed in the long line of powder-loaded creeper since the day it was made and laid away.
the act of discovering something
From this reading His belated discovery that one of his fuses was deficient had somewhat shaken his nerves.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
Elaine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
essentialadjectiveUS /eˈsenʃəl/
absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
From this reading His line of fuse was necessarily long, to assure essential safety for himself.
apart from; not including
From this reading Except for this timely restoration, his whole project must have been weakened, perhaps to absolute failure.
an act that fails
From this reading Except for this timely restoration, his whole project must have been weakened, perhaps to absolute failure.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading He was obsessed with a fear that countless defects might have developed in the long line of powder-loaded creeper since the day it was made and laid away.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
fuseverbUS /fjuːz/
mix together different elements
From this reading His line of fuse was necessarily long, to assure essential safety for himself.
fusesnounUS /ˈfjuːzəz/
plural of “fuse” — an electrical device that can interrupt the flow of electrical current when it is overloaded
From this reading His belated discovery that one of his fuses was deficient had somewhat shaken his nerves.
gallerynounUS /ˈɡæləri/
spectators at a golf or tennis match
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
Grenville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
hastenverbUS /ˈheɪsən/
act or move at high speed
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Except for this timely restoration, his whole project must have been weakened, perhaps to absolute failure.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was obsessed with a fear that countless defects might have developed in the long line of powder-loaded creeper since the day it was made and laid away.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His line of fuse was necessarily long, to assure essential safety for himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His belated discovery that one of his fuses was deficient had somewhat shaken his nerves.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was obsessed with a fear that countless defects might have developed in the long line of powder-loaded creeper since the day it was made and laid away.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He was obsessed with a fear that countless defects might have developed in the long line of powder-loaded creeper since the day it was made and laid away.
set down according to a plan
From this reading He was obsessed with a fear that countless defects might have developed in the long line of powder-loaded creeper since the day it was made and laid away.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading His line of fuse was necessarily long, to assure essential safety for himself.
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 LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He was obsessed with a fear that countless defects might have developed in the long line of powder-loaded creeper since the day it was made and laid away.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
and nothing more
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He was obsessed with a fear that countless defects might have developed in the long line of powder-loaded creeper since the day it was made and laid away.
a particular point in time
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Except for this timely restoration, his whole project must have been weakened, perhaps to absolute failure.
necessarilyadverbUS /ˌnesəˈserəli/
in an essential manner
From this reading His line of fuse was necessarily long, to assure essential safety for himself.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading His belated discovery that one of his fuses was deficient had somewhat shaken his nerves.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
obsessedadjectiveUS /əbˈsest/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading He was obsessed with a fear that countless defects might have developed in the long line of powder-loaded creeper since the day it was made and laid away.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
by chance
From this reading Except for this timely restoration, his whole project must have been weakened, perhaps to absolute failure.
powder-loaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was obsessed with a fear that countless defects might have developed in the long line of powder-loaded creeper since the day it was made and laid away.
projectverbUS /ˈprɑːdʒekt/
communicate vividly
From this reading Except for this timely restoration, his whole project must have been weakened, perhaps to absolute failure.
restorationnounUS /ˌrestərˈeɪʃən/
the reign of Charles II in England; 1660-1685
From this reading Except for this timely restoration, his whole project must have been weakened, perhaps to absolute failure.
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading His line of fuse was necessarily long, to assure essential safety for himself.
shakenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪkən/
disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock
From this reading His belated discovery that one of his fuses was deficient had somewhat shaken his nerves.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He was obsessed with a fear that countless defects might have developed in the long line of powder-loaded creeper since the day it was made and laid away.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading His belated discovery that one of his fuses was deficient had somewhat shaken his nerves.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Except for this timely restoration, his whole project must have been weakened, perhaps to absolute failure.
timelyadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪmli/
before a time limit expires
From this reading Except for this timely restoration, his whole project must have been weakened, perhaps to absolute failure.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
weakenedadjectiveUS /ˈwiːkənd/
impaired by diminution
From this reading Except for this timely restoration, his whole project must have been weakened, perhaps to absolute failure.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading LONG HOURS OF DOUBT Grenville had hoped to be able to hasten for a moment up the gallery and assure Elaine that all was well, and the matter now merely one of patience.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Except for this timely restoration, his whole project must have been weakened, perhaps to absolute failure.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was obsessed with a fear that countless defects might have developed in the long line of powder-loaded creeper since the day it was made and laid away.
