used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She practiced for hours at a stretch.
absorbingadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading Her interest in music became more absorbing than ever.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading The thought of his coming with the Christmas time kept her nature alive and glowing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The thought of his coming with the Christmas time kept her nature alive and glowing.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She practiced for hours at a stretch.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading WHEN he had gone, Esther went back to the woods.
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Her interest in music became more absorbing than ever.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading The thought of his coming with the Christmas time kept her nature alive and glowing.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The thought of his coming with the Christmas time kept her nature alive and glowing.
comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
encouragingadjectiveUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒɪŋ/
giving courage or confidence or hope
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
ennoblingadjectiveUS /ɪˈnoʊblɪŋ/
investing with dignity or honor
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
EsthernounUS /ˈestər/
(Old Testament) a beautiful Jewess chosen by the king of Persia to be his queen; she stopped a plot to massacre all the Jews in Persia (an event celebrated by Jews as the feast of Purim)
From this reading WHEN he had gone, Esther went back to the woods.
at any time
From this reading Her interest in music became more absorbing than ever.
exceptionaladjectiveUS /ɪkˈsepʃənəl/
far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She practiced for hours at a stretch.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
glowingadjectiveUS /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/
highly enthusiastic
From this reading The thought of his coming with the Christmas time kept her nature alive and glowing.
destroyed or killed
From this reading WHEN he had gone, Esther went back to the woods.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading WHEN he had gone, Esther went back to the woods.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading WHEN he had gone, Esther went back to the woods.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The thought of his coming with the Christmas time kept her nature alive and glowing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The thought of his coming with the Christmas time kept her nature alive and glowing.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading She practiced for hours at a stretch.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Her interest in music became more absorbing than ever.
inspiringadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈspaɪrɪŋ/
stimulating or exalting to the spirit
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Her interest in music became more absorbing than ever.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The thought of his coming with the Christmas time kept her nature alive and glowing.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Her interest in music became more absorbing than ever.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading Her interest in music became more absorbing than ever.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The thought of his coming with the Christmas time kept her nature alive and glowing.
nurturingverbUS /ˈnɜːrtʃərɪŋ/
-ing form of “nurture” — help develop, help grow
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The thought of his coming with the Christmas time kept her nature alive and glowing.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
possibilitiesnounUS /ˌpɑːsəˈbɪlətiz/
plural of “possibility” — a future prospect or potential
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
practicedadjectiveUS /ˈpræktəst/
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading She practiced for hours at a stretch.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She practiced for hours at a stretch.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
steadieradjectiveUS /ˈstediər/
comparative of “steady” — not subject to change or variation especially in behavior
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading She practiced for hours at a stretch.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Her interest in music became more absorbing than ever.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHEN he had gone, Esther went back to the woods.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The thought of his coming with the Christmas time kept her nature alive and glowing.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The thought of his coming with the Christmas time kept her nature alive and glowing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WHEN he had gone, Esther went back to the woods.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading WHEN he had gone, Esther went back to the woods.
at the time that
From this reading WHEN he had gone, Esther went back to the woods.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The thought of his coming with the Christmas time kept her nature alive and glowing.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading WHEN he had gone, Esther went back to the woods.
a late time of life
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading This exceptional interest was a triumph that had given the old grandfather a steadier balance of mind, when during these years he had tried to fill her mother’s place, nurturing, encouraging the possibilities that lay in this young soul, ennobling, inspiring a deeper meaning to life.
