used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
applicableadjectiveUS /ˈæpləkəbəl/
capable of being applied; having relevance
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
terminate
From this reading Editha was the first to break the spell.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Silence is the perfect herald of joy; I were but little happy it I could say how much.”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
chasednounUS /tʃeɪst/
a person who is being chased
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
Christmastidenoun
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Silence is the perfect herald of joy; I were but little happy it I could say how much.”
Earle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “True—it was like his kindness to remember me,” Earle returned, a shadow stealing over his fine face.
Editha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Editha was the first to break the spell.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading “True—it was like his kindness to remember me,” Earle returned, a shadow stealing over his fine face.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Editha was the first to break the spell.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading “Silence is the perfect herald of joy; I were but little happy it I could say how much.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
heraldverbUS /ˈherəld/
foreshadow or presage
From this reading “Silence is the perfect herald of joy; I were but little happy it I could say how much.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “True—it was like his kindness to remember me,” Earle returned, a shadow stealing over his fine face.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Silence is the perfect herald of joy; I were but little happy it I could say how much.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Silence is the perfect herald of joy; I were but little happy it I could say how much.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Silence is the perfect herald of joy; I were but little happy it I could say how much.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Silence is the perfect herald of joy; I were but little happy it I could say how much.”
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading “Silence is the perfect herald of joy; I were but little happy it I could say how much.”
the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic
From this reading “True—it was like his kindness to remember me,” Earle returned, a shadow stealing over his fine face.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “True—it was like his kindness to remember me,” Earle returned, a shadow stealing over his fine face.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “Silence is the perfect herald of joy; I were but little happy it I could say how much.”
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
loversnounUS /ˈlʌvərz/
plural of “lover” — a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “True—it was like his kindness to remember me,” Earle returned, a shadow stealing over his fine face.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
a particular point in time
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading “Silence is the perfect herald of joy; I were but little happy it I could say how much.”
muteadjectiveUS /mjuːt/
expressed without speech
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Silence is the perfect herald of joy; I were but little happy it I could say how much.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “True—it was like his kindness to remember me,” Earle returned, a shadow stealing over his fine face.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading “Silence is the perfect herald of joy; I were but little happy it I could say how much.”
radiantadjectiveUS /ˈreɪdiːənt/
radiating or as if radiating light
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
reception-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
To recall to mind.
From this reading “True—it was like his kindness to remember me,” Earle returned, a shadow stealing over his fine face.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading “True—it was like his kindness to remember me,” Earle returned, a shadow stealing over his fine face.
Richard'snounUS /ˈrɪtʃərdz/
possessive form of “richards” — English literary critic who collaborated with C. K. Ogden and contributed to the development of Basic English (1893-1979)
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
express in words
From this reading “Silence is the perfect herald of joy; I were but little happy it I could say how much.”
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading “True—it was like his kindness to remember me,” Earle returned, a shadow stealing over his fine face.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading “Silence is the perfect herald of joy; I were but little happy it I could say how much.”
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of
From this reading Editha was the first to break the spell.
stealingnounUS /ˈstiːlɪŋ/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading “True—it was like his kindness to remember me,” Earle returned, a shadow stealing over his fine face.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Silence is the perfect herald of joy; I were but little happy it I could say how much.”
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading “True—it was like his kindness to remember me,” Earle returned, a shadow stealing over his fine face.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
undeclaredadjectiveUS /əndɪˈklerd/
not announced or openly acknowledged
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Editha was the first to break the spell.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Silence is the perfect herald of joy; I were but little happy it I could say how much.”
the words that are spoken
From this reading Words were never more applicable than these to those undeclared lovers, sitting in such a mute happiness side by side, in the little reception-room, on that bright morning so near Christmastide.
but in spite of that
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I have not told you Uncle Richard’s message yet,” she said, and an expression of anxiety for the moment chased the radiant look from her face.
