used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE END OF ONE TOUR: THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER Cynthia found him lying in a darkened room.
past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading An English nurse would have forbidden the presence of a stranger; this French one acted with more discretion if less of strict science.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An English nurse would have forbidden the presence of a stranger; this French one acted with more discretion if less of strict science.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading THE END OF ONE TOUR: THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER Cynthia found him lying in a darkened room.
appurtenances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading THE END OF ONE TOUR: THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER Cynthia found him lying in a darkened room.
blindsnounUS /blaɪndz/
plural of “blind” — people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
bottlesnounUS /ˈbɑːtəlz/
plural of “bottle” — a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
CynthianounUS /ˈsɪnθiə/
(Greek mythology) the virgin goddess of the hunt and the Moon; daughter of Leto and twin sister of Apollo; identified with Roman Diana
From this reading THE END OF ONE TOUR: THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER Cynthia found him lying in a darkened room.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
darkenedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənd/
(of fabrics and paper) grown dark in color over time
From this reading THE END OF ONE TOUR: THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER Cynthia found him lying in a darkened room.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
discretionnounUS /dɪˈskreʃən/
freedom to act or judge on one's own
From this reading An English nurse would have forbidden the presence of a stranger; this French one acted with more discretion if less of strict science.
dismaladjectiveUS /ˈdɪzməl/
causing dejection
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
distinguishverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/
mark as different
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
dosesnounUS /ˈdoʊsəz/
plural of “dos” — the federal department in the United States that sets and maintains foreign policies
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading THE END OF ONE TOUR: THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER Cynthia found him lying in a darkened room.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading An English nurse would have forbidden the presence of a stranger; this French one acted with more discretion if less of strict science.
an old word for “before”
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
forbiddenadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪd.ən/
Not allowed; banned or prohibited by rule or law.
From this reading An English nurse would have forbidden the presence of a stranger; this French one acted with more discretion if less of strict science.
set up or found
From this reading THE END OF ONE TOUR: THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER Cynthia found him lying in a darkened room.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading An English nurse would have forbidden the presence of a stranger; this French one acted with more discretion if less of strict science.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading An English nurse would have forbidden the presence of a stranger; this French one acted with more discretion if less of strict science.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE END OF ONE TOUR: THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER Cynthia found him lying in a darkened room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Madam is his sister, perhaps?" she whispered.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading An English nurse would have forbidden the presence of a stranger; this French one acted with more discretion if less of strict science.
illnessnounUS /ˈɪlnəs/
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE END OF ONE TOUR: THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER Cynthia found him lying in a darkened room.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Madam is his sister, perhaps?" she whispered.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
and nothing more
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading An English nurse would have forbidden the presence of a stranger; this French one acted with more discretion if less of strict science.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading THE END OF ONE TOUR: THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER Cynthia found him lying in a darkened room.
a woman of refinement
From this reading "Madam is his sister, perhaps?" she whispered.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
not any; not one
From this reading "No."
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE END OF ONE TOUR: THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER Cynthia found him lying in a darkened room.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE END OF ONE TOUR: THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER Cynthia found him lying in a darkened room.
by chance
From this reading "Madam is his sister, perhaps?" she whispered.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading An English nurse would have forbidden the presence of a stranger; this French one acted with more discretion if less of strict science.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE END OF ONE TOUR: THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER Cynthia found him lying in a darkened room.
a particular branch of scientific knowledge
From this reading An English nurse would have forbidden the presence of a stranger; this French one acted with more discretion if less of strict science.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading "Madam is his sister, perhaps?" she whispered.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading An English nurse would have forbidden the presence of a stranger; this French one acted with more discretion if less of strict science.
strictadjectiveUS /strɪkt/
rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard
From this reading An English nurse would have forbidden the presence of a stranger; this French one acted with more discretion if less of strict science.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE END OF ONE TOUR: THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER Cynthia found him lying in a darkened room.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading An English nurse would have forbidden the presence of a stranger; this French one acted with more discretion if less of strict science.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
TOURnounUS /tʊr/
a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area
From this reading THE END OF ONE TOUR: THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER Cynthia found him lying in a darkened room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The nurse had just raised some of the blinds; a dismal day was drawing to its close, and more light was needed ere she could distinguish marked bottles, and doses, and the rest of the appurtenances of dangerous illness.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading "Madam is his sister, perhaps?" she whispered.
in the company of; together with
From this reading An English nurse would have forbidden the presence of a stranger; this French one acted with more discretion if less of strict science.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading An English nurse would have forbidden the presence of a stranger; this French one acted with more discretion if less of strict science.
