used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Monsieur de Ronquerolles, who believed him to be a dead man, smiled sardonically as he heard those words.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
how long something has existed
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And he fainted.
anxietiesnounUS /æŋˈzaɪətiz/
plural of “anxiety” — (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 But one morning his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow, by revealing anxieties to which, in her last days, she was now subjected.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Monsieur de Ronquerolles, who believed him to be a dead man, smiled sardonically as he heard those words.
a nobleman (in various countries) of varying rank
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Monsieur de Ronquerolles, who believed him to be a dead man, smiled sardonically as he heard those words.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Monsieur de Ronquerolles, who believed him to be a dead man, smiled sardonically as he heard those words.
exhale hard
From this reading But one morning his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow, by revealing anxieties to which, in her last days, she was now subjected.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But one morning his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow, by revealing anxieties to which, in her last days, she was now subjected.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But one morning his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow, by revealing anxieties to which, in her last days, she was now subjected.
caresnounUS /kerz/
plural of “care” — the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
crushingadjectiveUS /ˈkrʌʃɪŋ/
physically or spiritually devastating; often used in combination
From this reading But one morning his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow, by revealing anxieties to which, in her last days, she was now subjected.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading But one morning his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow, by revealing anxieties to which, in her last days, she was now subjected.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading Monsieur de Ronquerolles, who believed him to be a dead man, smiled sardonically as he heard those words.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Monsieur de Ronquerolles, who believed him to be a dead man, smiled sardonically as he heard those words.
dealtverbUS /delt/
inflected form of “deal” — act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading But one morning his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow, by revealing anxieties to which, in her last days, she was now subjected.
dowagernounUS /ˈdaʊədʒər/
a widow holding property received from her deceased husband
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
espionagenounUS /ˈespiənɑːdʒ/
the systematic use of spies to get military or political secrets
From this reading She showed him a letter signed F, in which the history of her grandson’s secret espionage was recounted step by step.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
a degree on the Fahrenheit scale of temperature
From this reading She showed him a letter signed F, in which the history of her grandson’s secret espionage was recounted step by step.
faintedverbUS /ˈfeɪntɪd/
past form of “faint” — pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain
From this reading And he fainted.
fortnightnounUS /ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/
a period of fourteen consecutive days
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading But one morning his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow, by revealing anxieties to which, in her last days, she was now subjected.
grandson'snounUS /ˈɡrændsʌnz/
possessive form of “grandson” — a male grandchild
From this reading She showed him a letter signed F, in which the history of her grandson’s secret espionage was recounted step by step.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And he fainted.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Monsieur de Ronquerolles, who believed him to be a dead man, smiled sardonically as he heard those words.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But one morning his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow, by revealing anxieties to which, in her last days, she was now subjected.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Monsieur de Ronquerolles, who believed him to be a dead man, smiled sardonically as he heard those words.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But one morning his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow, by revealing anxieties to which, in her last days, she was now subjected.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading She showed him a letter signed F, in which the history of her grandson’s secret espionage was recounted step by step.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
immediately past
From this reading But one morning his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow, by revealing anxieties to which, in her last days, she was now subjected.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading She showed him a letter signed F, in which the history of her grandson’s secret espionage was recounted step by step.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Monsieur de Ronquerolles, who believed him to be a dead man, smiled sardonically as he heard those words.
used as a French courtesy title; equivalent to English “Mr”
From this reading Monsieur de Ronquerolles, who believed him to be a dead man, smiled sardonically as he heard those words.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading But one morning his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow, by revealing anxieties to which, in her last days, she was now subjected.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But one morning his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow, by revealing anxieties to which, in her last days, she was now subjected.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But one morning his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow, by revealing anxieties to which, in her last days, she was now subjected.
and nothing more
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
recountedverbUS /rɪˈkaʊntɪd/
past form of “recount” — narrate or give a detailed account of
From this reading She showed him a letter signed F, in which the history of her grandson’s secret espionage was recounted step by step.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
revealingadjectiveUS /rɪˈviːlɪŋ/
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading But one morning his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow, by revealing anxieties to which, in her last days, she was now subjected.
Ronquerolles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Monsieur de Ronquerolles, who believed him to be a dead man, smiled sardonically as he heard those words.
sardonicallyadverbUS /sɑːrˈdɑːnɪkəli/
in a sarcastic manner
From this reading Monsieur de Ronquerolles, who believed him to be a dead man, smiled sardonically as he heard those words.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But one morning his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow, by revealing anxieties to which, in her last days, she was now subjected.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading She showed him a letter signed F, in which the history of her grandson’s secret espionage was recounted step by step.
signedadjectiveUS /saɪnd/
having a handwritten signature
From this reading She showed him a letter signed F, in which the history of her grandson’s secret espionage was recounted step by step.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Monsieur de Ronquerolles, who believed him to be a dead man, smiled sardonically as he heard those words.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading She showed him a letter signed F, in which the history of her grandson’s secret espionage was recounted step by step.
subjectedverbUS /səbˈdʒektɪd/
past form of “subject” — cause to experience or suffer or make liable or vulnerable to
From this reading But one morning his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow, by revealing anxieties to which, in her last days, she was now subjected.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Monsieur de Ronquerolles, who believed him to be a dead man, smiled sardonically as he heard those words.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Monsieur de Ronquerolles, who believed him to be a dead man, smiled sardonically as he heard those words.
vidame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But one morning his grandmother dealt him a crushing blow, by revealing anxieties to which, in her last days, she was now subjected.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading After a fortnight, during which time the dowager and the vidame gave him those cares of old age the secret of which is in the hands of long experience only, the baron began to return to life.
which person or people
From this reading Monsieur de Ronquerolles, who believed him to be a dead man, smiled sardonically as he heard those words.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Monsieur de Ronquerolles, who believed him to be a dead man, smiled sardonically as he heard those words.
