used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
anew
From this reading She was now quite pale again, she trembled, her voice sounded weak and hoarse.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Erwin, to whom the cause of this unlovely and immoderate anger is wholly inexplicable, is displeasedly silent.
a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
From this reading Erwin, to whom the cause of this unlovely and immoderate anger is wholly inexplicable, is displeasedly silent.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading "Erwin!--Erwin!--you--you surely do not believe that Felix would have married Linda without telling her of his circumstances?"
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading Erwin, to whom the cause of this unlovely and immoderate anger is wholly inexplicable, is displeasedly silent.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading "Erwin!--Erwin!--you--you surely do not believe that Felix would have married Linda without telling her of his circumstances?"
complicatedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmpləkeɪtəd/
difficult to analyze or understand
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
continuesverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuːz/
third-person singular of “continue” — continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
displeasedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Erwin, to whom the cause of this unlovely and immoderate anger is wholly inexplicable, is displeasedly silent.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
Elsa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
Erwin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Erwin, to whom the cause of this unlovely and immoderate anger is wholly inexplicable, is displeasedly silent.
divisible by two
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
Felix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Erwin!--Erwin!--you--you surely do not believe that Felix would have married Linda without telling her of his circumstances?"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
hoarseadjectiveUS /hɔːrs/
deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion
From this reading She was now quite pale again, she trembled, her voice sounded weak and hoarse.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
immoderateadjective
beyond reasonable limits
From this reading Erwin, to whom the cause of this unlovely and immoderate anger is wholly inexplicable, is displeasedly silent.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
incredibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkredəbəl/
beyond belief or understanding
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
inexplicableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnəkˈsplɪsəbəl/
incapable of being explained or accounted for
From this reading Erwin, to whom the cause of this unlovely and immoderate anger is wholly inexplicable, is displeasedly silent.
irritatesverbUS /ˈɪrɪteɪts/
third-person singular of “irritate” — cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Erwin, to whom the cause of this unlovely and immoderate anger is wholly inexplicable, is displeasedly silent.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
apprehended with certainty
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
Linda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Erwin!--Erwin!--you--you surely do not believe that Felix would have married Linda without telling her of his circumstances?"
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
joined in matrimony
From this reading "Erwin!--Erwin!--you--you surely do not believe that Felix would have married Linda without telling her of his circumstances?"
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She was now quite pale again, she trembled, her voice sounded weak and hoarse.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Erwin, to whom the cause of this unlovely and immoderate anger is wholly inexplicable, is displeasedly silent.
and nothing more
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading She was now quite pale again, she trembled, her voice sounded weak and hoarse.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
by chance
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
a human being
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading She was now quite pale again, she trembled, her voice sounded weak and hoarse.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
destroyed physically or morally
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
shruggingverbUS /ˈʃrʌɡɪŋ/
inflected form of “shrug” — raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Erwin, to whom the cause of this unlovely and immoderate anger is wholly inexplicable, is displeasedly silent.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading She was now quite pale again, she trembled, her voice sounded weak and hoarse.
not in physical motion
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "Erwin!--Erwin!--you--you surely do not believe that Felix would have married Linda without telling her of his circumstances?"
imagine to be the case or true or probable
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
tactnounUS /tækt/
consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading "Erwin!--Erwin!--you--you surely do not believe that Felix would have married Linda without telling her of his circumstances?"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Erwin, to whom the cause of this unlovely and immoderate anger is wholly inexplicable, is displeasedly silent.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Erwin, to whom the cause of this unlovely and immoderate anger is wholly inexplicable, is displeasedly silent.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Erwin, to whom the cause of this unlovely and immoderate anger is wholly inexplicable, is displeasedly silent.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading She was now quite pale again, she trembled, her voice sounded weak and hoarse.
unlovelyadjective
without beauty or charm
From this reading Erwin, to whom the cause of this unlovely and immoderate anger is wholly inexplicable, is displeasedly silent.
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading She was now quite pale again, she trembled, her voice sounded weak and hoarse.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was now quite pale again, she trembled, her voice sounded weak and hoarse.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading She was now quite pale again, she trembled, her voice sounded weak and hoarse.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
which person or people
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Erwin, to whom the cause of this unlovely and immoderate anger is wholly inexplicable, is displeasedly silent.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Erwin, to whom the cause of this unlovely and immoderate anger is wholly inexplicable, is displeasedly silent.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
in the company of; together with
From this reading For the first time since Erwin has known his wife he lost patience with her, and shrugging his shoulders, replied, "I find it hard to expect tact from a person who does not suspect the complicated difficulties of her position."
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "Erwin!--Erwin!--you--you surely do not believe that Felix would have married Linda without telling her of his circumstances?"
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Erwin!--Erwin!--you--you surely do not believe that Felix would have married Linda without telling her of his circumstances?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading This irritates Elsa still more, and in an even more unpleasant tone she continues, "Well, do you, perhaps, doubt that she and only she has ruined Felix by her incredible lack of tact?"
