used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A fortnight passed.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They were puppets; she ranged them about her stage in swift-changing pictures, and applauded her own effectiveness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
applaudedverbUS /əˈplɔːdɪd/
past form of “applaud” — clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval
From this reading They were puppets; she ranged them about her stage in swift-changing pictures, and applauded her own effectiveness.
chess-board
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
destinynounUS /ˈdestəni/
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading Yvonne held the destiny of three persons in her hand.
disciplenounUS /dɪˈsaɪpəl/
someone who believes and helps to spread the doctrine of another
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
effectivenessnounUS /ɪˈfektɪvnəs/
power to be effective; the quality of being able to bring about an effect
From this reading They were puppets; she ranged them about her stage in swift-changing pictures, and applauded her own effectiveness.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
fortnightnounUS /ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/
a period of fourteen consecutive days
From this reading A fortnight passed.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Yvonne held the destiny of three persons in her hand.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Yvonne held the destiny of three persons in her hand.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Yvonne held the destiny of three persons in her hand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Yvonne held the destiny of three persons in her hand.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
not any; not one
From this reading There were no rehearsals.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Yvonne held the destiny of three persons in her hand.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading They were puppets; she ranged them about her stage in swift-changing pictures, and applauded her own effectiveness.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading A fortnight passed.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading Yvonne held the destiny of three persons in her hand.
philosopher's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading They were puppets; she ranged them about her stage in swift-changing pictures, and applauded her own effectiveness.
puppetsnounUS /ˈpʌpəts/
plural of “puppet” — a small figure of a person operated from above with strings by a puppeteer
From this reading They were puppets; she ranged them about her stage in swift-changing pictures, and applauded her own effectiveness.
rangedverbUS /reɪndʒd/
past form of “range” — change or be different within limits
From this reading They were puppets; she ranged them about her stage in swift-changing pictures, and applauded her own effectiveness.
rehearsalsnounUS /rɪˈhɜːrsəlz/
plural of “rehearsal” — a practice session in preparation for a public performance (as of a play or speech or concert)
From this reading There were no rehearsals.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
skilledadjectiveUS /skɪld/
having or showing or requiring special skill
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading They were puppets; she ranged them about her stage in swift-changing pictures, and applauded her own effectiveness.
surenessnoun
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
swift-changing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were puppets; she ranged them about her stage in swift-changing pictures, and applauded her own effectiveness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Yvonne held the destiny of three persons in her hand.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were no rehearsals.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Yvonne held the destiny of three persons in her hand.
unerringadjective
not liable to error
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They were like figures on a chess-board, and she moved them with the sureness, the unerring instinct of any skilled disciple of the philosopher's game.
Yvonne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yvonne held the destiny of three persons in her hand.
