used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With a gesture she dismissed her husband; it was as though he had ceased to exist.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading To save her from pain he had taken the letter on himself; he had accepted her contempt that he might assure her peace of mind.
AdriannounUS /ˈeɪdriən/
Roman Emperor who was the adoptive son of Trajan; travelled throughout his empire to strengthen its frontiers and encourage learning and architecture; on a visit to Britain in 122 he ordered the construction of Hadrian's Wall (76-138)
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading With a gesture she dismissed her husband; it was as though he had ceased to exist.
make certain of
From this reading To save her from pain he had taken the letter on himself; he had accepted her contempt that he might assure her peace of mind.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Through the dismal farce which had been played at her expense his loyalty constituted the one situation which was deserving of praise.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Through the dismal farce which had been played at her expense his loyalty constituted the one situation which was deserving of praise.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading With a gesture she dismissed her husband; it was as though he had ceased to exist.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
constitutedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnstətuːtəd/
brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established
From this reading Through the dismal farce which had been played at her expense his loyalty constituted the one situation which was deserving of praise.
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading To save her from pain he had taken the letter on himself; he had accepted her contempt that he might assure her peace of mind.
deservingadjectiveUS /dɪˈzɜːrvɪŋ/
(often used ironically) worthy of being treated in a particular way
From this reading Through the dismal farce which had been played at her expense his loyalty constituted the one situation which was deserving of praise.
discernibleadjectiveUS /dɪˈsɜːrnəbəl/
perceptible by the senses or intellect
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
dismaladjectiveUS /ˈdɪzməl/
causing dejection
From this reading Through the dismal farce which had been played at her expense his loyalty constituted the one situation which was deserving of praise.
dismissedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsmɪst/
having lost your job
From this reading With a gesture she dismissed her husband; it was as though he had ceased to exist.
one or the other of two
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
espousedverbUS /ɪˈspaʊzd/
past form of “espouse” — choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
From this reading It was not him that she had espoused; it was a figure garbed in fine words.
existverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪst/
have an existence, be extant
From this reading With a gesture she dismissed her husband; it was as though he had ceased to exist.
expensenounUS /ɪkˈspens/
amounts paid for goods and services that may be currently tax deductible (as opposed to capital expenditures)
From this reading Through the dismal farce which had been played at her expense his loyalty constituted the one situation which was deserving of praise.
farcenounUS /fɑːrs/
a comedy characterized by broad satire and improbable situations
From this reading Through the dismal farce which had been played at her expense his loyalty constituted the one situation which was deserving of praise.
fealtynounUS /ˈfiːəlti/
the loyalty that citizens owe to their country (or subjects to their sovereign)
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading It was not him that she had espoused; it was a figure garbed in fine words.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading It was not him that she had espoused; it was a figure garbed in fine words.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading To save her from pain he had taken the letter on himself; he had accepted her contempt that he might assure her peace of mind.
garbedadjectiveUS /ɡɑːrbd/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading It was not him that she had espoused; it was a figure garbed in fine words.
motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
From this reading With a gesture she dismissed her husband; it was as though he had ceased to exist.
goaf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To save her from pain he had taken the letter on himself; he had accepted her contempt that he might assure her peace of mind.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To save her from pain he had taken the letter on himself; he had accepted her contempt that he might assure her peace of mind.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was not him that she had espoused; it was a figure garbed in fine words.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading To save her from pain he had taken the letter on himself; he had accepted her contempt that he might assure her peace of mind.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Through the dismal farce which had been played at her expense his loyalty constituted the one situation which was deserving of praise.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading With a gesture she dismissed her husband; it was as though he had ceased to exist.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading With a gesture she dismissed her husband; it was as though he had ceased to exist.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading To save her from pain he had taken the letter on himself; he had accepted her contempt that he might assure her peace of mind.
loyaltynounUS /ˈlɔɪəlti/
the quality of being loyal
From this reading Through the dismal farce which had been played at her expense his loyalty constituted the one situation which was deserving of praise.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading To save her from pain he had taken the letter on himself; he had accepted her contempt that he might assure her peace of mind.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading To save her from pain he had taken the letter on himself; he had accepted her contempt that he might assure her peace of mind.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not him that she had espoused; it was a figure garbed in fine words.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading To save her from pain he had taken the letter on himself; he had accepted her contempt that he might assure her peace of mind.
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading To save her from pain he had taken the letter on himself; he had accepted her contempt that he might assure her peace of mind.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading Through the dismal farce which had been played at her expense his loyalty constituted the one situation which was deserving of praise.
an expression of approval and commendation
From this reading Through the dismal farce which had been played at her expense his loyalty constituted the one situation which was deserving of praise.
except for; apart from
From this reading To save her from pain he had taken the letter on himself; he had accepted her contempt that he might assure her peace of mind.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With a gesture she dismissed her husband; it was as though he had ceased to exist.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading Through the dismal farce which had been played at her expense his loyalty constituted the one situation which was deserving of praise.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading To save her from pain he had taken the letter on himself; he had accepted her contempt that he might assure her peace of mind.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To save her from pain he had taken the letter on himself; he had accepted her contempt that he might assure her peace of mind.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
a special situation
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading With a gesture she dismissed her husband; it was as though he had ceased to exist.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the dismal farce which had been played at her expense his loyalty constituted the one situation which was deserving of praise.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To save her from pain he had taken the letter on himself; he had accepted her contempt that he might assure her peace of mind.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
wastesnounUS /weɪsts/
plural of “waste” — any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading About her on either side were wastes of black, and in the goaf, by way of clearing, but one thing was discernible, the fealty of Adrian.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Through the dismal farce which had been played at her expense his loyalty constituted the one situation which was deserving of praise.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a gesture she dismissed her husband; it was as though he had ceased to exist.
the words that are spoken
From this reading It was not him that she had espoused; it was a figure garbed in fine words.
