used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
amazedadjectiveUS /əˈmeɪzd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
aunt'snounUS /ænts/
possessive form of “aunt” — the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
put or send forth
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In what possible way could he have offended her?
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading Why should she desire to insult him?
disconcertedadjective
having self-possession upset; thrown into confusion
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
displeasurenounUS /dɪˈspleʒər/
the feeling of being displeased or annoyed or dissatisfied with someone or something
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
plural of “emotion” — any strong feeling
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
divisible by two
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
set up or found
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
assemble or get together
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In what possible way could he have offended her?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In what possible way could he have offended her?
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Why should she desire to insult him?
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
ingeniousadjectiveUS /ɪnˈdʒiː.ni.əs/
Clever, original, and remarkably inventive in design and execution.
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
insultnounUS /ˌɪnˈsʌlt/
a rude expression intended to offend or hurt
From this reading Why should she desire to insult him?
lady'snounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
possessive form of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
plural of “lover” — a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
not one, and not any
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
offendedadjectiveUS /əˈfendəd/
emotionally hurt or upset or annoyed
From this reading In what possible way could he have offended her?
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
persuadeverbUS /pərˈsweɪd/
win approval or support for
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading In what possible way could he have offended her?
ReubennounUS /ˈruːbən/
(Old Testment) a son of Jacob and forefather of one of the tribes of Israel
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
self-tormentnounUS /ˌselfˈtɔːrment/
self-imposed distress
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Why should she desire to insult him?
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Why should she desire to insult him?
unusual or striking
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He cast about in his mind for an explanation of the old lady's displeasure, and found none.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
treatmentnounUS /ˈtriːtmənt/
care provided to improve a situation (especially medical procedures or applications that are intended to relieve illness or injury)
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading In what possible way could he have offended her?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading In what possible way could he have offended her?
at the time that
From this reading When Reuben found time to gather himself together and to face his own emotions he discovered himself to be more amazed than disconcerted.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why should she desire to insult him?
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading Even a lover (ingenious as lovers always are in the art of self-torment) could not persuade himself that Ruth was a willing party to her aunt's singular treatment of him.
