used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In spite of her many triumphs in the past she had a deep distrust of life.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Since the tragedies of her middle age her curious natural diffidence, which the habit of the world had never been able to subdue, had increased.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading Lady Sellingworth was afraid.
how long something has existed
From this reading Since the tragedies of her middle age her curious natural diffidence, which the habit of the world had never been able to subdue, had increased.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And now it began to torment her.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Since the tragedies of her middle age her curious natural diffidence, which the habit of the world had never been able to subdue, had increased.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading And now it began to torment her.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Since the tragedies of her middle age her curious natural diffidence, which the habit of the world had never been able to subdue, had increased.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading In spite of her many triumphs in the past she had a deep distrust of life.
diffidencenoun
lack of self-confidence
From this reading Since the tragedies of her middle age her curious natural diffidence, which the habit of the world had never been able to subdue, had increased.
distrustnounUS /dɪˈstrʌst/
doubt about someone's honesty
From this reading In spite of her many triumphs in the past she had a deep distrust of life.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In ten years of retirement, in the hundreds of hours of solitude which those ten years had held for her, it had grown within her.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading In ten years of retirement, in the hundreds of hours of solitude which those ten years had held for her, it had grown within her.
an established custom
From this reading Since the tragedies of her middle age her curious natural diffidence, which the habit of the world had never been able to subdue, had increased.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In spite of her many triumphs in the past she had a deep distrust of life.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading In ten years of retirement, in the hundreds of hours of solitude which those ten years had held for her, it had grown within her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In spite of her many triumphs in the past she had a deep distrust of life.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading In ten years of retirement, in the hundreds of hours of solitude which those ten years had held for her, it had grown within her.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading In ten years of retirement, in the hundreds of hours of solitude which those ten years had held for her, it had grown within her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In spite of her many triumphs in the past she had a deep distrust of life.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading Since the tragedies of her middle age her curious natural diffidence, which the habit of the world had never been able to subdue, had increased.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In ten years of retirement, in the hundreds of hours of solitude which those ten years had held for her, it had grown within her.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Lady Sellingworth was afraid.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading In spite of her many triumphs in the past she had a deep distrust of life.
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 In spite of her many triumphs in the past she had a deep distrust of life.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading Since the tragedies of her middle age her curious natural diffidence, which the habit of the world had never been able to subdue, had increased.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading Since the tragedies of her middle age her curious natural diffidence, which the habit of the world had never been able to subdue, had increased.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Since the tragedies of her middle age her curious natural diffidence, which the habit of the world had never been able to subdue, had increased.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And now it began to torment her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In spite of her many triumphs in the past she had a deep distrust of life.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading In spite of her many triumphs in the past she had a deep distrust of life.
retirementnounUS /riˈtaɪərmənt/
the state of being retired from one's business or occupation
From this reading In ten years of retirement, in the hundreds of hours of solitude which those ten years had held for her, it had grown within her.
Sellingworth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Sellingworth was afraid.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In spite of her many triumphs in the past she had a deep distrust of life.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since the tragedies of her middle age her curious natural diffidence, which the habit of the world had never been able to subdue, had increased.
a state of social isolation
From this reading In ten years of retirement, in the hundreds of hours of solitude which those ten years had held for her, it had grown within her.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading In spite of her many triumphs in the past she had a deep distrust of life.
subdueverbUS /səbˈduː/
put down by force or intimidation
From this reading Since the tragedies of her middle age her curious natural diffidence, which the habit of the world had never been able to subdue, had increased.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading In ten years of retirement, in the hundreds of hours of solitude which those ten years had held for her, it had grown within her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In spite of her many triumphs in the past she had a deep distrust of life.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading In ten years of retirement, in the hundreds of hours of solitude which those ten years had held for her, it had grown within her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Since the tragedies of her middle age her curious natural diffidence, which the habit of the world had never been able to subdue, had increased.
tormentnounUS /ˈtɔːrment/
unbearable physical pain
From this reading And now it began to torment her.
tragediesnounUS /ˈtrædʒədiz/
plural of “tragedy” — an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading Since the tragedies of her middle age her curious natural diffidence, which the habit of the world had never been able to subdue, had increased.
triumphsnounUS /ˈtraɪəmfs/
plural of “triumph” — a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading In spite of her many triumphs in the past she had a deep distrust of life.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lady Sellingworth was afraid.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Since the tragedies of her middle age her curious natural diffidence, which the habit of the world had never been able to subdue, had increased.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading In ten years of retirement, in the hundreds of hours of solitude which those ten years had held for her, it had grown within her.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Since the tragedies of her middle age her curious natural diffidence, which the habit of the world had never been able to subdue, had increased.
a late time of life
From this reading In ten years of retirement, in the hundreds of hours of solitude which those ten years had held for her, it had grown within her.
