used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
having companions or an escort
From this reading Why had he not accompanied her to her house, and seen her safely within her father's door?
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Little more than twelve hours before he had thrilled at Elsie's touch, and dreamed of winning her love!
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Little more than twelve hours before he had thrilled at Elsie's touch, and dreamed of winning her love!
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Little more than twelve hours before he had thrilled at Elsie's touch, and dreamed of winning her love!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
calamitynounUS /kəˈlæməti/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
conjecturenounUS /kənˈdʒektʃər/
a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence)
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
absence of light or illumination
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
deepenedverbUS /ˈdiːpənd/
past form of “deepen” — make more intense, stronger, or more marked
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
defiedverbUS /dɪˈfaɪd/
inflected form of “defy” — resist or confront with resistance
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Why had he not accompanied her to her house, and seen her safely within her father's door?
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading Little more than twelve hours before he had thrilled at Elsie's touch, and dreamed of winning her love!
Elsie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little more than twelve hours before he had thrilled at Elsie's touch, and dreamed of winning her love!
the state or fact of existing
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Why had he not accompanied her to her house, and seen her safely within her father's door?
Glynn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
come to pass
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
hazenounUS /heɪz/
atmospheric moisture or dust or smoke that causes reduced visibility
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Little more than twelve hours before he had thrilled at Elsie's touch, and dreamed of winning her love!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Little more than twelve hours before he had thrilled at Elsie's touch, and dreamed of winning her love!
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Little more than twelve hours before he had thrilled at Elsie's touch, and dreamed of winning her love!
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Why had he not accompanied her to her house, and seen her safely within her father's door?
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Little more than twelve hours before he had thrilled at Elsie's touch, and dreamed of winning her love!
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Little more than twelve hours before he had thrilled at Elsie's touch, and dreamed of winning her love!
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Little more than twelve hours before he had thrilled at Elsie's touch, and dreamed of winning her love!
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Why had he not accompanied her to her house, and seen her safely within her father's door?
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Little more than twelve hours before he had thrilled at Elsie's touch, and dreamed of winning her love!
on one occasion
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
and nothing more
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
overtakenverbUS /ˈoʊvərteɪkən/
inflected form of “overtake” — catch up with and possibly overtake
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading PURSUIT.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
with safety; in a safe manner
From this reading Why had he not accompanied her to her house, and seen her safely within her father's door?
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Why had he not accompanied her to her house, and seen her safely within her father's door?
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
stupendousadjectiveUS /stuːˈpendəs/
so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Little more than twelve hours before he had thrilled at Elsie's touch, and dreamed of winning her love!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
thrilledadjectiveUS /θrɪld/
feeling intense pleasurable excitement
From this reading Little more than twelve hours before he had thrilled at Elsie's touch, and dreamed of winning her love!
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Glynn had known some rough times in his life, but a stupendous calamity such as had now overtaken him can only happen once in an existence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Why had he not accompanied her to her house, and seen her safely within her father's door?
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading Little more than twelve hours before he had thrilled at Elsie's touch, and dreamed of winning her love!
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading Little more than twelve hours before he had thrilled at Elsie's touch, and dreamed of winning her love!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading What was the dim haze of mystery which had hung about her, and had now suddenly deepened into darkness so profound that it defied conjecture?
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why had he not accompanied her to her house, and seen her safely within her father's door?
winningadjectiveUS /ˈwɪnɪŋ/
having won
From this reading Little more than twelve hours before he had thrilled at Elsie's touch, and dreamed of winning her love!
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Why had he not accompanied her to her house, and seen her safely within her father's door?
