used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading How could he allow anything to curtail, even by a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so eagerly?
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He had hitherto always been awaiting her at their place of meeting.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
any thing at all
From this reading How could he allow anything to curtail, even by a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so eagerly?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
awaitingverbUS /əˈweɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “await” — look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading He had hitherto always been awaiting her at their place of meeting.
batedadjectiveUS /ˈbeɪtɪd/
diminished or moderated
From this reading She listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had hitherto always been awaiting her at their place of meeting.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading She listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.
the two together, not just one
From this reading How could he allow anything to curtail, even by a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so eagerly?
boughsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree
From this reading She listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading She listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading How could he allow anything to curtail, even by a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so eagerly?
a large and stately mansion
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
Celia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What could have happened?
curtailverbUS /kərˈteɪl/
place restrictions on
From this reading How could he allow anything to curtail, even by a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so eagerly?
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading How could he allow anything to curtail, even by a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so eagerly?
one or the other of two
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
divisible by two
From this reading How could he allow anything to curtail, even by a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so eagerly?
apart from; not including
From this reading She listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading How could he allow anything to curtail, even by a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so eagerly?
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading How could he allow anything to curtail, even by a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so eagerly?
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading What could have happened?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading What could have happened?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had hitherto always been awaiting her at their place of meeting.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading She listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He had hitherto always been awaiting her at their place of meeting.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading He had hitherto always been awaiting her at their place of meeting.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading How could he allow anything to curtail, even by a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so eagerly?
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could he allow anything to curtail, even by a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so eagerly?
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
Kurt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading She listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading How could he allow anything to curtail, even by a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so eagerly?
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading He had hitherto always been awaiting her at their place of meeting.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading How could he allow anything to curtail, even by a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so eagerly?
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
not any; not one
From this reading She listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
a brief written record
From this reading She listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading She listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He had hitherto always been awaiting her at their place of meeting.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
with speed
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
riddenverbUS /ˈrɪdən/
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
rustlingnounUS /ˈrʌslɪŋ/
the stealing of cattle
From this reading She listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading How could he allow anything to curtail, even by a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so eagerly?
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading How could he allow anything to curtail, even by a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so eagerly?
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading She listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading She listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He had hitherto always been awaiting her at their place of meeting.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading How could he allow anything to curtail, even by a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so eagerly?
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.
unpunctualadjective
not punctual; after the appointed time
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Celia peered into the forest on either side of the road; she had ridden from the castle more quickly than usual, that she might not be unpunctual, and for the first time Kurt was not at his post.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What could have happened?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading How could he allow anything to curtail, even by a few moments, the short hour to which they both looked forward so eagerly?
in the company of; together with
From this reading She listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.
woodlandnounUS /ˈwʊdlænd/
land that is covered with trees and shrubs
From this reading She listened with bated breath, but no sound was to be heard except the rustling of the boughs overhead and the soft note of a woodland bird.
