used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A PAINFUL SITUATION.
(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 The thought frightened Sam out of all further idea of secrecy.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Suppose she had kept the box and eaten the candy!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In an instant he had related how he came by the candy, and the clerks were looking at each other with questioning glances.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading Suppose she had kept the box and eaten the candy!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In an instant he had related how he came by the candy, and the clerks were looking at each other with questioning glances.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading In an instant he had related how he came by the candy, and the clerks were looking at each other with questioning glances.
candynounUS /ˈkændi/
a rich sweet made of flavored sugar and often combined with fruit or nuts
From this reading Suppose she had kept the box and eaten the candy!
clerksnounUS /klɜːrks/
plural of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading In an instant he had related how he came by the candy, and the clerks were looking at each other with questioning glances.
describingverbUS /dɪˈskraɪbɪŋ/
-ing form of “describe” — give a description of
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
disappointingly unsuccessful
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
discomfiturenoun
anxious embarrassment
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading In an instant he had related how he came by the candy, and the clerks were looking at each other with questioning glances.
inflected form of “eat” — take in solid food
From this reading Suppose she had kept the box and eaten the candy!
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
made afraid
From this reading The thought frightened Sam out of all further idea of secrecy.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading The thought frightened Sam out of all further idea of secrecy.
glancesnounUS /ˈɡlænsɪz/
plural of “glance” — a quick look
From this reading In an instant he had related how he came by the candy, and the clerks were looking at each other with questioning glances.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In an instant he had related how he came by the candy, and the clerks were looking at each other with questioning glances.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The thought frightened Sam out of all further idea of secrecy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Suppose she had kept the box and eaten the candy!
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading In an instant he had related how he came by the candy, and the clerks were looking at each other with questioning glances.
Marvin's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
mildlyadverbUS /ˈmaɪldli/
to a moderate degree
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading In an instant he had related how he came by the candy, and the clerks were looking at each other with questioning glances.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The thought frightened Sam out of all further idea of secrecy.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading A PAINFUL SITUATION.
questioningadjectiveUS /ˈkwestʃənɪŋ/
perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)
From this reading In an instant he had related how he came by the candy, and the clerks were looking at each other with questioning glances.
being connected either logically or causally or by shared characteristics
From this reading In an instant he had related how he came by the candy, and the clerks were looking at each other with questioning glances.
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
express in words
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
secrecynounUS /ˈsiːkrəsi/
the trait of keeping things secret
From this reading The thought frightened Sam out of all further idea of secrecy.
an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Suppose she had kept the box and eaten the candy!
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading A PAINFUL SITUATION.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
express a supposition
From this reading Suppose she had kept the box and eaten the candy!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
precisely as stated
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In an instant he had related how he came by the candy, and the clerks were looking at each other with questioning glances.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In an instant he had related how he came by the candy, and the clerks were looking at each other with questioning glances.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
