used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But how could he presume to do so, when she was comparatively a stranger to him?
AdriannounUS /ˈeɪdriən/
Roman Emperor who was the adoptive son of Trajan; travelled throughout his empire to strengthen its frontiers and encourage learning and architecture; on a visit to Britain in 122 he ordered the construction of Hadrian's Wall (76-138)
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
afaradverbUS /əˈfɑːr/
(old-fashioned) at or from or to a great distance; far
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He loved her, he knew he loved her, and he longed to pour out the fullness of his heart to her.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
BrownienounUS /ˈbraʊni/
a junior Girl Scout
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
the act of burning something
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But how could he presume to do so, when she was comparatively a stranger to him?
comparativelyadverbUS /kəmˈperətɪvli/
in a relative manner; by comparison to something else
From this reading But how could he presume to do so, when she was comparatively a stranger to him?
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But how could he presume to do so, when she was comparatively a stranger to him?
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But how could he presume to do so, when she was comparatively a stranger to him?
an old word for “before”
From this reading He felt that he must tell her ere long.
exertverbUS /ɪɡˈzɜːrt/
put to use
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He felt that he must tell her ere long.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
fullnessnounUS /ˈfʊlnəs/
completeness over a broad scope
From this reading He loved her, he knew he loved her, and he longed to pour out the fullness of his heart to her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He loved her, he knew he loved her, and he longed to pour out the fullness of his heart to her.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading He loved her, he knew he loved her, and he longed to pour out the fullness of his heart to her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He loved her, he knew he loved her, and he longed to pour out the fullness of his heart to her.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But how could he presume to do so, when she was comparatively a stranger to him?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But how could he presume to do so, when she was comparatively a stranger to him?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He loved her, he knew he loved her, and he longed to pour out the fullness of his heart to her.
immediately past
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He felt that he must tell her ere long.
longedverbUS /lɔːŋd/
past form of “long” — desire strongly or persistently
From this reading He loved her, he knew he loved her, and he longed to pour out the fullness of his heart to her.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
held dear
From this reading He loved her, he knew he loved her, and he longed to pour out the fullness of his heart to her.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He felt that he must tell her ere long.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He loved her, he knew he loved her, and he longed to pour out the fullness of his heart to her.
and nothing more
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He loved her, he knew he loved her, and he longed to pour out the fullness of his heart to her.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
pourverbUS /pɔːr/
cause to run
From this reading He loved her, he knew he loved her, and he longed to pour out the fullness of his heart to her.
presumeverbUS /prɪˈzuːm/
take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
From this reading But how could he presume to do so, when she was comparatively a stranger to him?
reasonedadjectiveUS /ˈriːzənd/
logically valid
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
savingnounUS /ˈseɪvɪŋ/
an act of economizing; reduction in cost
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
self-controlnounUS /ˌselfkənˈtroʊl/
the act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But how could he presume to do so, when she was comparatively a stranger to him?
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But how could he presume to do so, when she was comparatively a stranger to him?
sternestadjectiveUS /ˈstɜːrnəst/
superlative of “stern” — of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading But how could he presume to do so, when she was comparatively a stranger to him?
express in words
From this reading He felt that he must tell her ere long.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
two times
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
utterancenounUS /ˈʌtərəns/
the use of uttered sounds for auditory communication
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But how could he presume to do so, when she was comparatively a stranger to him?
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
at the time that
From this reading But how could he presume to do so, when she was comparatively a stranger to him?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Adrian had been obliged to exert the sternest self-control in order to keep back the wild words which were burning upon his lips for utterance after saving Brownie.
worshipedverbUS /ˈwɜːrʃɪpt/
past form of “worship” — love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol
From this reading Only twice before had he met her, and he reasoned that it could not be possible that she had any thought of love for him, although he had worshiped her from afar for the last six months.
