used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading The reason for this dawned upon me afterwards.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MY DEBUT AND BREAKING INTO HARNESS I had to sing _Azucena_, my first part on any stage, without rehearsal.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading MY DEBUT AND BREAKING INTO HARNESS I had to sing _Azucena_, my first part on any stage, without rehearsal.
assailedverbUS /əˈseɪld/
past form of “assail” — attack someone physically or emotionally
From this reading When I heard one evening, that I should have to sing _Azucena_ on the next, I confess that something rather like panic assailed me for a few minutes.
Azucena
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MY DEBUT AND BREAKING INTO HARNESS I had to sing _Azucena_, my first part on any stage, without rehearsal.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Though I sang German well by this time, my conversational powers still left something to be desired.
brought into existence
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
the act of breaking something
From this reading MY DEBUT AND BREAKING INTO HARNESS I had to sing _Azucena_, my first part on any stage, without rehearsal.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Though I sang German well by this time, my conversational powers still left something to be desired.
(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading When I heard one evening, that I should have to sing _Azucena_ on the next, I confess that something rather like panic assailed me for a few minutes.
contingencynounUS /kənˈtɪndʒənsi/
a possible event or occurrence or result
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
contraltonoun
a woman singer having a contralto voice
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
conversationaladjectiveUS /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃənəl/
characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation
From this reading Though I sang German well by this time, my conversational powers still left something to be desired.
dawnedverbUS /dɔːnd/
past form of “dawn” — become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
From this reading The reason for this dawned upon me afterwards.
DEBUTverbUS /deɪˈbjuː/
present for the first time to the public
From this reading MY DEBUT AND BREAKING INTO HARNESS I had to sing _Azucena_, my first part on any stage, without rehearsal.
wanted intensely
From this reading Though I sang German well by this time, my conversational powers still left something to be desired.
directornounUS /dərˈektər/
someone who controls resources and expenditures
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading When I heard one evening, that I should have to sing _Azucena_ on the next, I confess that something rather like panic assailed me for a few minutes.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading When I heard one evening, that I should have to sing _Azucena_ on the next, I confess that something rather like panic assailed me for a few minutes.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading MY DEBUT AND BREAKING INTO HARNESS I had to sing _Azucena_, my first part on any stage, without rehearsal.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The reason for this dawned upon me afterwards.
a person of German nationality
From this reading Though I sang German well by this time, my conversational powers still left something to be desired.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading MY DEBUT AND BREAKING INTO HARNESS I had to sing _Azucena_, my first part on any stage, without rehearsal.
HARNESSverbUS /ˈhɑːrnəs/
put a harness
From this reading MY DEBUT AND BREAKING INTO HARNESS I had to sing _Azucena_, my first part on any stage, without rehearsal.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading MY DEBUT AND BREAKING INTO HARNESS I had to sing _Azucena_, my first part on any stage, without rehearsal.
incompetentnounUS /ˌɪnˈkɑːmpətənt/
someone who is not competent to take effective action
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
INTOprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading MY DEBUT AND BREAKING INTO HARNESS I had to sing _Azucena_, my first part on any stage, without rehearsal.
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 I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Though I sang German well by this time, my conversational powers still left something to be desired.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading When I heard one evening, that I should have to sing _Azucena_ on the next, I confess that something rather like panic assailed me for a few minutes.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The reason for this dawned upon me afterwards.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading When I heard one evening, that I should have to sing _Azucena_ on the next, I confess that something rather like panic assailed me for a few minutes.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading MY DEBUT AND BREAKING INTO HARNESS I had to sing _Azucena_, my first part on any stage, without rehearsal.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading When I heard one evening, that I should have to sing _Azucena_ on the next, I confess that something rather like panic assailed me for a few minutes.
not any; not one
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading MY DEBUT AND BREAKING INTO HARNESS I had to sing _Azucena_, my first part on any stage, without rehearsal.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
panicnounUS /ˈpænɪk/
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading When I heard one evening, that I should have to sing _Azucena_ on the next, I confess that something rather like panic assailed me for a few minutes.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading MY DEBUT AND BREAKING INTO HARNESS I had to sing _Azucena_, my first part on any stage, without rehearsal.
plural of “power” — possession of controlling influence
From this reading Though I sang German well by this time, my conversational powers still left something to be desired.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
be shown or be found to be
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
provideverbUS /prəˈvaɪd/
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
on the contrary
From this reading When I heard one evening, that I should have to sing _Azucena_ on the next, I confess that something rather like panic assailed me for a few minutes.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading The reason for this dawned upon me afterwards.
rehearsalnounUS /rɪˈhɜːrsəl/
a practice session in preparation for a public performance (as of a play or speech or concert)
From this reading MY DEBUT AND BREAKING INTO HARNESS I had to sing _Azucena_, my first part on any stage, without rehearsal.
North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng
From this reading Though I sang German well by this time, my conversational powers still left something to be desired.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading When I heard one evening, that I should have to sing _Azucena_ on the next, I confess that something rather like panic assailed me for a few minutes.
deliver by singing
From this reading MY DEBUT AND BREAKING INTO HARNESS I had to sing _Azucena_, my first part on any stage, without rehearsal.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Though I sang German well by this time, my conversational powers still left something to be desired.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading MY DEBUT AND BREAKING INTO HARNESS I had to sing _Azucena_, my first part on any stage, without rehearsal.
not in physical motion
From this reading Though I sang German well by this time, my conversational powers still left something to be desired.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The reason for this dawned upon me afterwards.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The reason for this dawned upon me afterwards.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though I sang German well by this time, my conversational powers still left something to be desired.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Though I sang German well by this time, my conversational powers still left something to be desired.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MY DEBUT AND BREAKING INTO HARNESS I had to sing _Azucena_, my first part on any stage, without rehearsal.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The reason for this dawned upon me afterwards.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Though I sang German well by this time, my conversational powers still left something to be desired.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
at the time that
From this reading When I heard one evening, that I should have to sing _Azucena_ on the next, I confess that something rather like panic assailed me for a few minutes.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading MY DEBUT AND BREAKING INTO HARNESS I had to sing _Azucena_, my first part on any stage, without rehearsal.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I have explained that the present director had never heard my voice; no one knew of what I was capable, and they quite expected that I would prove incompetent, and had engaged a native born contralto to provide for this contingency.
