used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The slaves knew it and looked wistfully at Lamia.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
ascertainedadjectiveUS /ˌæsərˈteɪnd/
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading None dared breathe in his ear what all feared; but none would separate till it was surely ascertained whether what was surmised was a fact or not.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The slaves knew it and looked wistfully at Lamia.
playing or singing with instrumental or vocal accompaniment
From this reading He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
From this reading None dared breathe in his ear what all feared; but none would separate till it was surely ascertained whether what was surmised was a fact or not.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading None dared breathe in his ear what all feared; but none would separate till it was surely ascertained whether what was surmised was a fact or not.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading None dared breathe in his ear what all feared; but none would separate till it was surely ascertained whether what was surmised was a fact or not.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE END OF THE DAY.
psychological suffering
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading None dared breathe in his ear what all feared; but none would separate till it was surely ascertained whether what was surmised was a fact or not.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading THE END OF THE DAY.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading None dared breathe in his ear what all feared; but none would separate till it was surely ascertained whether what was surmised was a fact or not.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading None dared breathe in his ear what all feared; but none would separate till it was surely ascertained whether what was surmised was a fact or not.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
giftsnounUS /ɡɪfts/
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading None dared breathe in his ear what all feared; but none would separate till it was surely ascertained whether what was surmised was a fact or not.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
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 A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
LamianounUS /ˈleɪmiə/
(folklore) a corpse that rises at night to drink the blood of the living
From this reading The slaves knew it and looked wistfully at Lamia.
immediately past
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The slaves knew it and looked wistfully at Lamia.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
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 He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
used to form the superlative
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
in motion
From this reading He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
not one, and not any
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading None dared breathe in his ear what all feared; but none would separate till it was surely ascertained whether what was surmised was a fact or not.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE END OF THE DAY.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading None dared breathe in his ear what all feared; but none would separate till it was surely ascertained whether what was surmised was a fact or not.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
presentsnounUS /ˈprezənts/
plural of “present” — the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
From this reading He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
quiververbUS /ˈkwɪvər/
shake with fast, tremulous movements
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
with speed
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
the act of physically reaching or thrusting out
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
rumornounUS /ˈruːmər/
gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
the act of causing something to go (especially messages)
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
act as a barrier between; stand between
From this reading None dared breathe in his ear what all feared; but none would separate till it was surely ascertained whether what was surmised was a fact or not.
plural of “slave” — a person who is owned by someone
From this reading The slaves knew it and looked wistfully at Lamia.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading None dared breathe in his ear what all feared; but none would separate till it was surely ascertained whether what was surmised was a fact or not.
surmisedverbUS /sərˈmaɪzd/
past form of “surmise” — infer from incomplete evidence
From this reading None dared breathe in his ear what all feared; but none would separate till it was surely ascertained whether what was surmised was a fact or not.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE END OF THE DAY.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
up to a particular time
From this reading None dared breathe in his ear what all feared; but none would separate till it was surely ascertained whether what was surmised was a fact or not.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
traysnounUS /treɪz/
plural of “tray” — an open receptacle for holding or displaying or serving articles or food
From this reading He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
triflingnounUS /ˈtraɪflɪŋ/
the deliberate act of delaying and playing instead of working
From this reading He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading None dared breathe in his ear what all feared; but none would separate till it was surely ascertained whether what was surmised was a fact or not.
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
well-wishers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading None dared breathe in his ear what all feared; but none would separate till it was surely ascertained whether what was surmised was a fact or not.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading None dared breathe in his ear what all feared; but none would separate till it was surely ascertained whether what was surmised was a fact or not.
whispersnounUS /ˈwɪspərz/
plural of “whisper” — speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A rumor, none knew from whom it arose, spread rapidly in whispers, sending a quiver of alarm, distress, pity, through the entire wedding party, reaching last of all him most concerned.
wistfullyadverbUS /ˈwɪstfəli/
in a wistful manner
From this reading The slaves knew it and looked wistfully at Lamia.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was engaged in making trifling presents to the many guests and well-wishers, moving from one to another, attended by slaves with trays piled up with gifts.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading None dared breathe in his ear what all feared; but none would separate till it was surely ascertained whether what was surmised was a fact or not.
