used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE BREAKING-POINT The weeks that followed were a testing-time for Angela.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She tried work as an antidote, and found it dulled the edge of her despair.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her resolutions wavered and died, confronted as she was by the terrible isolation and loneliness.
Angela
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BREAKING-POINT The weeks that followed were a testing-time for Angela.
antidotenounUS /ˈæntɪdoʊt/
a remedy that stops or controls the effects of a poison
From this reading She tried work as an antidote, and found it dulled the edge of her despair.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Her resolutions wavered and died, confronted as she was by the terrible isolation and loneliness.
BREAKING-POINT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BREAKING-POINT The weeks that followed were a testing-time for Angela.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Stoicism was easy enough in theory but most difficult in practice.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Her resolutions wavered and died, confronted as she was by the terrible isolation and loneliness.
confrontedverbUS /kənˈfrʌntəd/
past form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading Her resolutions wavered and died, confronted as she was by the terrible isolation and loneliness.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading She tried work as an antidote, and found it dulled the edge of her despair.
desperationnounUS /ˌdespərˈeɪʃən/
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading The unchanging icy vista and the eternal silence drove her to desperation.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Her resolutions wavered and died, confronted as she was by the terrible isolation and loneliness.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Stoicism was easy enough in theory but most difficult in practice.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading The unchanging icy vista and the eternal silence drove her to desperation.
dulledadjectiveUS /dʌld/
having lost or been caused to lose interest because of overexposure
From this reading She tried work as an antidote, and found it dulled the edge of her despair.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Stoicism was easy enough in theory but most difficult in practice.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading She tried work as an antidote, and found it dulled the edge of her despair.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Stoicism was easy enough in theory but most difficult in practice.
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading The unchanging icy vista and the eternal silence drove her to desperation.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading THE BREAKING-POINT The weeks that followed were a testing-time for Angela.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE BREAKING-POINT The weeks that followed were a testing-time for Angela.
set up or found
From this reading She tried work as an antidote, and found it dulled the edge of her despair.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her resolutions wavered and died, confronted as she was by the terrible isolation and loneliness.
icyadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsi/
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
From this reading The unchanging icy vista and the eternal silence drove her to desperation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Stoicism was easy enough in theory but most difficult in practice.
isolationnounUS /ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃən/
a state of separation between persons or groups
From this reading Her resolutions wavered and died, confronted as she was by the terrible isolation and loneliness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She tried work as an antidote, and found it dulled the edge of her despair.
lonelinessnounUS /ˈloʊnlinəs/
the state of being alone in solitary isolation
From this reading Her resolutions wavered and died, confronted as she was by the terrible isolation and loneliness.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Stoicism was easy enough in theory but most difficult in practice.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She tried work as an antidote, and found it dulled the edge of her despair.
a customary way of operation or behavior
From this reading Stoicism was easy enough in theory but most difficult in practice.
resolutionsnounUS /ˌrezəˈluːʃənz/
plural of “resolution” — a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote
From this reading Her resolutions wavered and died, confronted as she was by the terrible isolation and loneliness.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her resolutions wavered and died, confronted as she was by the terrible isolation and loneliness.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The unchanging icy vista and the eternal silence drove her to desperation.
StoicismnounUS /ˈstoʊ.ɪ.sɪ.zəm/
An ancient Greek and Roman philosophy holding that virtue is the only true good, and that emotional self-control leads to inner serenity.
From this reading Stoicism was easy enough in theory but most difficult in practice.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading Her resolutions wavered and died, confronted as she was by the terrible isolation and loneliness.
testing-time
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BREAKING-POINT The weeks that followed were a testing-time for Angela.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE BREAKING-POINT The weeks that followed were a testing-time for Angela.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BREAKING-POINT The weeks that followed were a testing-time for Angela.
a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
From this reading Stoicism was easy enough in theory but most difficult in practice.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The unchanging icy vista and the eternal silence drove her to desperation.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading She tried work as an antidote, and found it dulled the edge of her despair.
unchangingadjectiveUS /ənˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/
conforming to the same principles or course of action over time
From this reading The unchanging icy vista and the eternal silence drove her to desperation.
vistanounUS /ˈvɪstə/
the visual percept of a region
From this reading The unchanging icy vista and the eternal silence drove her to desperation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her resolutions wavered and died, confronted as she was by the terrible isolation and loneliness.
waveredverbUS /ˈweɪvərd/
past form of “waver” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading Her resolutions wavered and died, confronted as she was by the terrible isolation and loneliness.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading THE BREAKING-POINT The weeks that followed were a testing-time for Angela.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE BREAKING-POINT The weeks that followed were a testing-time for Angela.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading She tried work as an antidote, and found it dulled the edge of her despair.
