used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
abruptadjectiveUS /əˈbrʌpt/
marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
acceptancenounUS /ækˈseptəns/
the mental attitude that something is believable and should be accepted as true
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Trying hard to disbelieve it, he found he could not.
detailnounUS /dɪˈteɪl/
an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
disbelieveverbUS /dɪsbəˈliːv/
reject as false; refuse to accept
From this reading Trying hard to disbelieve it, he found he could not.
divined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.
plural of “emotion” — any strong feeling
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.
set up or found
From this reading Trying hard to disbelieve it, he found he could not.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Trying hard to disbelieve it, he found he could not.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
indecision in speech or action
From this reading The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
the sound of laughing
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
in such a manner as could not be otherwise
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
numbs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
operatedverbUS /ˈɑːpəreɪtəd/
past form of “operate” — direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
proportionsnounUS /prəˈpɔːrʃənz/
plural of “proportion” — the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
rangedverbUS /reɪndʒd/
past form of “range” — change or be different within limits
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
without much difficulty
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
realiseverbUS /ˈriːəlaɪz/
earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
precisely, exactly
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
scepticaladjective
marked by or given to doubt
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These right proportions, however, did not come readily, and his emotions ranged between sceptical laughter and complete acceptance.
a special situation
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It operated in him like a shock that numbs at first by its abrupt arrival, and needs time to realise in the right proportions to the rest of life.
hard to endure
From this reading Trying hard to disbelieve it, he found he could not.
Vance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The one detail he felt certain of was this dreadful thing he had divined in Vance.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The force with which it drew him brought hesitation.
