used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was with a vehement effort that at last she spoke.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
barriernounUS /ˈbæriər/
a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading It was with a vehement effort that at last she spoke.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading NO PLACE FOR REPENTANCE.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was with a vehement effort that at last she spoke.
immediately past
From this reading It was with a vehement effort that at last she spoke.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
not any; not one
From this reading NO PLACE FOR REPENTANCE.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
and nothing more
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
Phebe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading NO PLACE FOR REPENTANCE.
REPENTANCEnounUS /rɪˈpentəns/
remorse for your past conduct
From this reading NO PLACE FOR REPENTANCE.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
shrunkverbUS /ʃrʌŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading It was with a vehement effort that at last she spoke.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was with a vehement effort that at last she spoke.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
a shaky motion
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
vehementadjectiveUS /ˈviːəmənt/
marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions; inclined to react violently; fervid
From this reading It was with a vehement effort that at last she spoke.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading She had shrunk back, and stood leaning against the wall for the support her trembling limbs needed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They stood silent for a few moments;--moments which seemed hours to Phebe.
which person or people
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was with a vehement effort that at last she spoke.
a late time of life
From this reading The stranger--for who could be so great a stranger as one who had been many years dead?--had advanced only a step or two from the threshold, and paused as if some invisible barrier was set up between them.
