used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
alterationnounUS /ˌɔːltərˈeɪʃən/
an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I'm better, thankee, sir--wonderfully better--but at times my heart beats so that I can hardly breathe.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
beatsnounUS /biːts/
a United States youth subculture of the 1950s; rejected possessions or regular work or traditional dress; for communal living and psychedelic drugs and anarchism; favored modern forms of jazz (e.g., bebop)
From this reading "I'm better, thankee, sir--wonderfully better--but at times my heart beats so that I can hardly breathe.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I think it's better, though, since I've been coxswain."
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading "I'm better, thankee, sir--wonderfully better--but at times my heart beats so that I can hardly breathe.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
From this reading "I'm better, thankee, sir--wonderfully better--but at times my heart beats so that I can hardly breathe.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "I'm better, thankee, sir--wonderfully better--but at times my heart beats so that I can hardly breathe.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "I'm better, thankee, sir--wonderfully better--but at times my heart beats so that I can hardly breathe.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
Clare's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
congratulatedverbUS /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪtɪd/
past form of “congratulate” — say something to someone that expresses praise
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
coxswainnoun
the helmsman of a ship's boat or a racing crew
From this reading I think it's better, though, since I've been coxswain."
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
effectedadjectiveUS /ɪˈfektɪd/
settled securely and unconditionally
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading "I'm well enough now, doctor.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
only a very short time before
From this reading "I'm better, thankee, sir--wonderfully better--but at times my heart beats so that I can hardly breathe.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading "I'm better, thankee, sir--wonderfully better--but at times my heart beats so that I can hardly breathe.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I'm better, thankee, sir--wonderfully better--but at times my heart beats so that I can hardly breathe.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'm better, thankee, sir--wonderfully better--but at times my heart beats so that I can hardly breathe.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I think it's better, though, since I've been coxswain."
not in action or at work
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
incorrectadjectiveUS /ˌɪnkərˈekt/
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I think it's better, though, since I've been coxswain."
the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I'm better, thankee, sir--wonderfully better--but at times my heart beats so that I can hardly breathe.
information about recent and important events
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "I'm well enough now, doctor.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
established beyond doubt
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading I think it's better, though, since I've been coxswain."
term of address for a man
From this reading "I'm better, thankee, sir--wonderfully better--but at times my heart beats so that I can hardly breathe.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "I'm better, thankee, sir--wonderfully better--but at times my heart beats so that I can hardly breathe.
surmisesnounUS /sərˈmaɪzɪz/
plural of “surmise” — a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
thankee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'm better, thankee, sir--wonderfully better--but at times my heart beats so that I can hardly breathe.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I'm better, thankee, sir--wonderfully better--but at times my heart beats so that I can hardly breathe.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading I think it's better, though, since I've been coxswain."
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I think it's better, though, since I've been coxswain."
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading "I'm better, thankee, sir--wonderfully better--but at times my heart beats so that I can hardly breathe.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
in the direction of
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
(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 "I'm well enough now, doctor.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
wonderfullyadverbUS /ˈwʌndərfəli/
(used as an intensifier) extremely well
From this reading "I'm better, thankee, sir--wonderfully better--but at times my heart beats so that I can hardly breathe.
Woodward'snounUS /ˈwʊdwərdz/
possessive form of “woodward” — United States historian (1908-1999)
From this reading Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance, and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading "You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
