used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Nature had waited for that happy mood of Ellen’s before making her a mother.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “She said,” recalled Potter, “that was the first time she had been thoroughly happy and secure.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “She said,” recalled Potter, “that was the first time she had been thoroughly happy and secure.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Nature had waited for that happy mood of Ellen’s before making her a mother.
connectingverbUS /kəˈnektɪŋ/
-ing form of “connect” — connect, fasten, or put together two or more pieces
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
deadeningnounUS /ˈdedənɪŋ/
the act of making something futile and useless (as by routine)
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
Ellen's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nature had waited for that happy mood of Ellen’s before making her a mother.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Now he interpreted the event fatalistically.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
fatalistically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now he interpreted the event fatalistically.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading His own fear had never left him since that night--that one night, for it had had no sequel.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading “She said,” recalled Potter, “that was the first time she had been thoroughly happy and secure.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His own fear had never left him since that night--that one night, for it had had no sequel.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “She said,” recalled Potter, “that was the first time she had been thoroughly happy and secure.”
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading “She said,” recalled Potter, “that was the first time she had been thoroughly happy and secure.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Nature had waited for that happy mood of Ellen’s before making her a mother.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His own fear had never left him since that night--that one night, for it had had no sequel.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His own fear had never left him since that night--that one night, for it had had no sequel.
interpretedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɜːrprətəd/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Now he interpreted the event fatalistically.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His own fear had never left him since that night--that one night, for it had had no sequel.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading His own fear had never left him since that night--that one night, for it had had no sequel.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Nature had waited for that happy mood of Ellen’s before making her a mother.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Nature had waited for that happy mood of Ellen’s before making her a mother.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Nature had waited for that happy mood of Ellen’s before making her a mother.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading His own fear had never left him since that night--that one night, for it had had no sequel.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading His own fear had never left him since that night--that one night, for it had had no sequel.
not any; not one
From this reading His own fear had never left him since that night--that one night, for it had had no sequel.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His own fear had never left him since that night--that one night, for it had had no sequel.
outcomenounUS /ˈaʊtkʌm/
something that results
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading His own fear had never left him since that night--that one night, for it had had no sequel.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
PotterverbUS /ˈpɑːtər/
do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly
From this reading “She said,” recalled Potter, “that was the first time she had been thoroughly happy and secure.”
past form of “recall” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading “She said,” recalled Potter, “that was the first time she had been thoroughly happy and secure.”
ruminatedverbUS /ˈruːmɪneɪtɪd/
past form of “ruminate” — chew the cuds
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “She said,” recalled Potter, “that was the first time she had been thoroughly happy and secure.”
get by special effort
From this reading “She said,” recalled Potter, “that was the first time she had been thoroughly happy and secure.”
sequelnounUS /ˈsiːkwəl/
something that follows something else
From this reading His own fear had never left him since that night--that one night, for it had had no sequel.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “She said,” recalled Potter, “that was the first time she had been thoroughly happy and secure.”
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading His own fear had never left him since that night--that one night, for it had had no sequel.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
surrendernounUS /sərˈendər/
acceptance of despair
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “She said,” recalled Potter, “that was the first time she had been thoroughly happy and secure.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “She said,” recalled Potter, “that was the first time she had been thoroughly happy and secure.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading “She said,” recalled Potter, “that was the first time she had been thoroughly happy and secure.”
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “She said,” recalled Potter, “that was the first time she had been thoroughly happy and secure.”
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Nature had waited for that happy mood of Ellen’s before making her a mother.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “She said,” recalled Potter, “that was the first time she had been thoroughly happy and secure.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading He ruminated on, connecting this sudden, vivid pleasure of hers, this mood of safety and surrender, with the deadening outcome they now faced.
