used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
a proposal for an appropriate course of action
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
anticipatingverbUS /ænˈtɪsəpeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “anticipate” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
apologiseverbUS /əˈpɑːlədʒaɪz/
defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
a person who is in charge
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
rid of obstructions
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
damnedadjectiveUS /dæmd/
expletives used informally as intensifiers
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading I dare say!
deceiveverbUS /dɪˈsiːv/
be false to; be dishonest with
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
the act of making up your mind about something
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
Dounia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
essentialadjectiveUS /eˈsenʃəl/
absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
divisible by two
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
hesitationnounUS /ˌhezəˈteɪʃən/
indecision in speech or action
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
irrevocablyadverbUS /ˌɪˈrevəkəbli/
in an irrevocable manner
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
Luzhin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
malignantadjectiveUS /məˈlɪɡnənt/
dangerous to health; characterized by progressive and uncontrolled growth (especially of a tumor)
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
moment'snounUS /ˈmoʊmənts/
possessive form of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
a form of address for a man
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
not any; not one
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
regardsnounUS /rɪˈɡɑːrdz/
plural of “regard” — (usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
express in words
From this reading I dare say!
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
a special situation
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
tortureverbUS /ˈtɔːrtʃər/
torment emotionally or mentally
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The essential question was settled, and irrevocably settled, in his mind: “Never such a marriage while I am alive and Mr. Luzhin be damned!”
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading His mother’s letter had been a torture to him, but as regards the chief fact in it, he had felt not one moment’s hesitation, even whilst he was reading the letter.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “The thing is perfectly clear,” he muttered to himself, with a malignant smile anticipating the triumph of his decision.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “No, mother, no, Dounia, you won’t deceive me! and then they apologise for not asking my advice and for taking the decision without me!
