aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Who'd have thought he cared enough about it to be so mean!" she said to herself.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading "Well," she said further, "let him alone.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Aurora, unable to see beyond the footlights, had never dreamed but Gerald was among the audience.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Discovering that he had kept away, she was not so much hurt as puzzled.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Her capers had at moments been definitely directed at him.
a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance
From this reading Aurora, unable to see beyond the footlights, had never dreamed but Gerald was among the audience.
AuroranounUS /ərˈɔːrə/
the first light of day
From this reading Aurora, unable to see beyond the footlights, had never dreamed but Gerald was among the audience.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Discovering that he had kept away, she was not so much hurt as puzzled.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Who'd have thought he cared enough about it to be so mean!" she said to herself.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Her capers had at moments been definitely directed at him.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Aurora, unable to see beyond the footlights, had never dreamed but Gerald was among the audience.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Aurora, unable to see beyond the footlights, had never dreamed but Gerald was among the audience.
capersnounUS /ˈkeɪpərz/
plural of “caper” — any of numerous plants of the genus Capparis
From this reading Her capers had at moments been definitely directed at him.
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading "Who'd have thought he cared enough about it to be so mean!" she said to herself.
definitelyadverbUS /ˈdefənətli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading Her capers had at moments been definitely directed at him.
(often used in combination) having a specified direction
From this reading Her capers had at moments been definitely directed at him.
DiscoveringverbUS /dɪˈskʌvərɪŋ/
-ing form of “discover” — discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading Discovering that he had kept away, she was not so much hurt as puzzled.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading Aurora, unable to see beyond the footlights, had never dreamed but Gerald was among the audience.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading "Who'd have thought he cared enough about it to be so mean!" she said to herself.
footlightsnounUS /ˈfʊtlaɪts/
theater light at the front of a stage that illuminate the set and actors
From this reading Aurora, unable to see beyond the footlights, had never dreamed but Gerald was among the audience.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading "Well," she said further, "let him alone.
Gerald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aurora, unable to see beyond the footlights, had never dreamed but Gerald was among the audience.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Aurora, unable to see beyond the footlights, had never dreamed but Gerald was among the audience.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Who'd have thought he cared enough about it to be so mean!" she said to herself.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Discovering that he had kept away, she was not so much hurt as puzzled.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her capers had at moments been definitely directed at him.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading "Who'd have thought he cared enough about it to be so mean!" she said to herself.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Her capers had at moments been definitely directed at him.
be the source of pain
From this reading Discovering that he had kept away, she was not so much hurt as puzzled.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Who'd have thought he cared enough about it to be so mean!" she said to herself.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Discovering that he had kept away, she was not so much hurt as puzzled.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading "Well," she said further, "let him alone.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "Who'd have thought he cared enough about it to be so mean!" she said to herself.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading Her capers had at moments been definitely directed at him.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Discovering that he had kept away, she was not so much hurt as puzzled.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Aurora, unable to see beyond the footlights, had never dreamed but Gerald was among the audience.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Discovering that he had kept away, she was not so much hurt as puzzled.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading Discovering that he had kept away, she was not so much hurt as puzzled.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Who'd have thought he cared enough about it to be so mean!" she said to herself.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Aurora, unable to see beyond the footlights, had never dreamed but Gerald was among the audience.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Discovering that he had kept away, she was not so much hurt as puzzled.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Discovering that he had kept away, she was not so much hurt as puzzled.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Discovering that he had kept away, she was not so much hurt as puzzled.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Aurora, unable to see beyond the footlights, had never dreamed but Gerald was among the audience.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "Who'd have thought he cared enough about it to be so mean!" she said to herself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Aurora, unable to see beyond the footlights, had never dreamed but Gerald was among the audience.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading Aurora, unable to see beyond the footlights, had never dreamed but Gerald was among the audience.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Aurora, unable to see beyond the footlights, had never dreamed but Gerald was among the audience.
(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 "Well," she said further, "let him alone.
Who'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Who'd have thought he cared enough about it to be so mean!" she said to herself.
