used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE first shock of Glenn Andrews’ absence was a bitter trial to Esther, who grieved unreasoningly.
the state of being absent
From this reading THE first shock of Glenn Andrews’ absence was a bitter trial to Esther, who grieved unreasoningly.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading Through all of her desolation, however, ran the thought that he wished nothing so much as for her to advance in her art.
(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 Through all of her desolation, however, ran the thought that he wished nothing so much as for her to advance in her art.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was over, those rare, dear days of smiles and tears, of trifling quarrels and sweet reconciliations.
AndrewsnounUS /ˈændruːz/
United States naturalist who contributed to paleontology and geology (1884-1960)
From this reading THE first shock of Glenn Andrews’ absence was a bitter trial to Esther, who grieved unreasoningly.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Through all of her desolation, however, ran the thought that he wished nothing so much as for her to advance in her art.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Through all of her desolation, however, ran the thought that he wished nothing so much as for her to advance in her art.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading THE first shock of Glenn Andrews’ absence was a bitter trial to Esther, who grieved unreasoningly.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading She wondered how she had ever thought the sky was so blue, the grass so green.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It was over, those rare, dear days of smiles and tears, of trifling quarrels and sweet reconciliations.
dearly loved
From this reading It was over, those rare, dear days of smiles and tears, of trifling quarrels and sweet reconciliations.
desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading Through all of her desolation, however, ran the thought that he wished nothing so much as for her to advance in her art.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading His going seemed like the end of the world.
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 THE first shock of Glenn Andrews’ absence was a bitter trial to Esther, who grieved unreasoningly.
at any time
From this reading She wondered how she had ever thought the sky was so blue, the grass so green.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE first shock of Glenn Andrews’ absence was a bitter trial to Esther, who grieved unreasoningly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Through all of her desolation, however, ran the thought that he wished nothing so much as for her to advance in her art.
GlennnounUS /ɡlen/
made the first orbital rocket-powered flight by a United States astronaut in 1962; later in United States Senate (1921-)
From this reading THE first shock of Glenn Andrews’ absence was a bitter trial to Esther, who grieved unreasoningly.
the act of departing
From this reading His going seemed like the end of the world.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading She wondered how she had ever thought the sky was so blue, the grass so green.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading She wondered how she had ever thought the sky was so blue, the grass so green.
grievedverbUS /ɡriːvd/
past form of “grieve” — feel grief
From this reading THE first shock of Glenn Andrews’ absence was a bitter trial to Esther, who grieved unreasoningly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She wondered how she had ever thought the sky was so blue, the grass so green.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Through all of her desolation, however, ran the thought that he wished nothing so much as for her to advance in her art.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Through all of her desolation, however, ran the thought that he wished nothing so much as for her to advance in her art.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His going seemed like the end of the world.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wondered how she had ever thought the sky was so blue, the grass so green.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Through all of her desolation, however, ran the thought that he wished nothing so much as for her to advance in her art.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Through all of her desolation, however, ran the thought that he wished nothing so much as for her to advance in her art.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was over, those rare, dear days of smiles and tears, of trifling quarrels and sweet reconciliations.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading His going seemed like the end of the world.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Through all of her desolation, however, ran the thought that he wished nothing so much as for her to advance in her art.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Through all of her desolation, however, ran the thought that he wished nothing so much as for her to advance in her art.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE first shock of Glenn Andrews’ absence was a bitter trial to Esther, who grieved unreasoningly.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was over, those rare, dear days of smiles and tears, of trifling quarrels and sweet reconciliations.
quarrelsnounUS /ˈkwɔːrəlz/
plural of “quarrel” — an angry dispute
From this reading It was over, those rare, dear days of smiles and tears, of trifling quarrels and sweet reconciliations.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Through all of her desolation, however, ran the thought that he wished nothing so much as for her to advance in her art.
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading It was over, those rare, dear days of smiles and tears, of trifling quarrels and sweet reconciliations.
reconciliationsnounUS /ˌrekənsɪliˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “reconciliation” — the reestablishing of cordial relations
From this reading It was over, those rare, dear days of smiles and tears, of trifling quarrels and sweet reconciliations.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading His going seemed like the end of the world.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She wondered how she had ever thought the sky was so blue, the grass so green.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading THE first shock of Glenn Andrews’ absence was a bitter trial to Esther, who grieved unreasoningly.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading She wondered how she had ever thought the sky was so blue, the grass so green.
smilesnounUS /smaɪlz/
plural of “smile” — a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading It was over, those rare, dear days of smiles and tears, of trifling quarrels and sweet reconciliations.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She wondered how she had ever thought the sky was so blue, the grass so green.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading It was over, those rare, dear days of smiles and tears, of trifling quarrels and sweet reconciliations.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading It was over, those rare, dear days of smiles and tears, of trifling quarrels and sweet reconciliations.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Through all of her desolation, however, ran the thought that he wished nothing so much as for her to advance in her art.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE first shock of Glenn Andrews’ absence was a bitter trial to Esther, who grieved unreasoningly.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It was over, those rare, dear days of smiles and tears, of trifling quarrels and sweet reconciliations.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She wondered how she had ever thought the sky was so blue, the grass so green.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through all of her desolation, however, ran the thought that he wished nothing so much as for her to advance in her art.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE first shock of Glenn Andrews’ absence was a bitter trial to Esther, who grieved unreasoningly.
the act of testing something
From this reading THE first shock of Glenn Andrews’ absence was a bitter trial to Esther, who grieved unreasoningly.
triflingnounUS /ˈtraɪflɪŋ/
the deliberate act of delaying and playing instead of working
From this reading It was over, those rare, dear days of smiles and tears, of trifling quarrels and sweet reconciliations.
unreasoninglyadverb
in an unreasoning visceral manner
From this reading THE first shock of Glenn Andrews’ absence was a bitter trial to Esther, who grieved unreasoningly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE first shock of Glenn Andrews’ absence was a bitter trial to Esther, who grieved unreasoningly.
which person or people
From this reading THE first shock of Glenn Andrews’ absence was a bitter trial to Esther, who grieved unreasoningly.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading Through all of her desolation, however, ran the thought that he wished nothing so much as for her to advance in her art.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading She wondered how she had ever thought the sky was so blue, the grass so green.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading His going seemed like the end of the world.
