used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Frau Ferber and Miss Mertens were busied in making a rug which was to lie upon the floor under the piano in winter time.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading She could not forget the afternoon’s occurrence; for, although she saw her child before her safe and sound, she had been very much agitated by Miss Mertens’ account.
afternoon'snounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːnz/
possessive form of “afternoon” — the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading She could not forget the afternoon’s occurrence; for, although she saw her child before her safe and sound, she had been very much agitated by Miss Mertens’ account.
agitatedadjectiveUS /ˈædʒəteɪtɪd/
troubled emotionally and usually deeply
From this reading She could not forget the afternoon’s occurrence; for, although she saw her child before her safe and sound, she had been very much agitated by Miss Mertens’ account.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She could not forget the afternoon’s occurrence; for, although she saw her child before her safe and sound, she had been very much agitated by Miss Mertens’ account.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Frau Ferber and Miss Mertens were busied in making a rug which was to lie upon the floor under the piano in winter time.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She looked frequently at Elizabeth, fearing, as she remarked her slightest change of colour, that some illness would ensue from the excitement that she had passed through.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In the evening the Ferber family were sitting in the shade of the lindens at the spring.
awhileadverbUS /əˈwaɪl/
for a short time
From this reading Frau Ferber had lost for awhile that dignified composure that so well became her still beautiful face.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading Frau Ferber had lost for awhile that dignified composure that so well became her still beautiful face.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Frau Ferber had lost for awhile that dignified composure that so well became her still beautiful face.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She could not forget the afternoon’s occurrence; for, although she saw her child before her safe and sound, she had been very much agitated by Miss Mertens’ account.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She could not forget the afternoon’s occurrence; for, although she saw her child before her safe and sound, she had been very much agitated by Miss Mertens’ account.
busiedverbUS /ˈbɪzid/
inflected form of “busy” — keep busy with
From this reading Frau Ferber and Miss Mertens were busied in making a rug which was to lie upon the floor under the piano in winter time.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She could not forget the afternoon’s occurrence; for, although she saw her child before her safe and sound, she had been very much agitated by Miss Mertens’ account.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading She looked frequently at Elizabeth, fearing, as she remarked her slightest change of colour, that some illness would ensue from the excitement that she had passed through.
a young person of either sex
From this reading She could not forget the afternoon’s occurrence; for, although she saw her child before her safe and sound, she had been very much agitated by Miss Mertens’ account.
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading She looked frequently at Elizabeth, fearing, as she remarked her slightest change of colour, that some illness would ensue from the excitement that she had passed through.
composurenounUS /kəmˈpoʊʒər/
steadiness of mind under stress
From this reading Frau Ferber had lost for awhile that dignified composure that so well became her still beautiful face.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could not forget the afternoon’s occurrence; for, although she saw her child before her safe and sound, she had been very much agitated by Miss Mertens’ account.
dignifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdɪɡnəfaɪd/
having or expressing dignity; especially formality or stateliness in bearing or appearance
From this reading Frau Ferber had lost for awhile that dignified composure that so well became her still beautiful face.
daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)
From this reading She looked frequently at Elizabeth, fearing, as she remarked her slightest change of colour, that some illness would ensue from the excitement that she had passed through.
ensueverbUS /ɪnˈsuː/
issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end
From this reading She looked frequently at Elizabeth, fearing, as she remarked her slightest change of colour, that some illness would ensue from the excitement that she had passed through.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading In the evening the Ferber family were sitting in the shade of the lindens at the spring.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading She looked frequently at Elizabeth, fearing, as she remarked her slightest change of colour, that some illness would ensue from the excitement that she had passed through.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Frau Ferber had lost for awhile that dignified composure that so well became her still beautiful face.
a social unit living together
From this reading In the evening the Ferber family were sitting in the shade of the lindens at the spring.
fearingverbUS /ˈfɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading She looked frequently at Elizabeth, fearing, as she remarked her slightest change of colour, that some illness would ensue from the excitement that she had passed through.
FerbernounUS /ˈfɜːrbər/
United States novelist; author of several popular novels (1887-1968)
From this reading In the evening the Ferber family were sitting in the shade of the lindens at the spring.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Frau Ferber and Miss Mertens were busied in making a rug which was to lie upon the floor under the piano in winter time.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Frau Ferber had lost for awhile that dignified composure that so well became her still beautiful face.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading She could not forget the afternoon’s occurrence; for, although she saw her child before her safe and sound, she had been very much agitated by Miss Mertens’ account.
FraunounUS /fraʊ/
a German courtesy title or form of address for an adult woman
From this reading Frau Ferber and Miss Mertens were busied in making a rug which was to lie upon the floor under the piano in winter time.
many times at short intervals
From this reading She looked frequently at Elizabeth, fearing, as she remarked her slightest change of colour, that some illness would ensue from the excitement that she had passed through.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She looked frequently at Elizabeth, fearing, as she remarked her slightest change of colour, that some illness would ensue from the excitement that she had passed through.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Frau Ferber had lost for awhile that dignified composure that so well became her still beautiful face.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Frau Ferber had lost for awhile that dignified composure that so well became her still beautiful face.
illnessnounUS /ˈɪlnəs/
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
From this reading She looked frequently at Elizabeth, fearing, as she remarked her slightest change of colour, that some illness would ensue from the excitement that she had passed through.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the evening the Ferber family were sitting in the shade of the lindens at the spring.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading Frau Ferber and Miss Mertens were busied in making a rug which was to lie upon the floor under the piano in winter time.
lindens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the evening the Ferber family were sitting in the shade of the lindens at the spring.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She looked frequently at Elizabeth, fearing, as she remarked her slightest change of colour, that some illness would ensue from the excitement that she had passed through.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Frau Ferber had lost for awhile that dignified composure that so well became her still beautiful face.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Frau Ferber and Miss Mertens were busied in making a rug which was to lie upon the floor under the piano in winter time.
Mertens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Frau Ferber and Miss Mertens were busied in making a rug which was to lie upon the floor under the piano in winter time.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Frau Ferber and Miss Mertens were busied in making a rug which was to lie upon the floor under the piano in winter time.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading She could not forget the afternoon’s occurrence; for, although she saw her child before her safe and sound, she had been very much agitated by Miss Mertens’ account.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She could not forget the afternoon’s occurrence; for, although she saw her child before her safe and sound, she had been very much agitated by Miss Mertens’ account.
occurrencenounUS /əˈkɜːrəns/
an event that happens
From this reading She could not forget the afternoon’s occurrence; for, although she saw her child before her safe and sound, she had been very much agitated by Miss Mertens’ account.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the evening the Ferber family were sitting in the shade of the lindens at the spring.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading She looked frequently at Elizabeth, fearing, as she remarked her slightest change of colour, that some illness would ensue from the excitement that she had passed through.
pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/
a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
From this reading Frau Ferber and Miss Mertens were busied in making a rug which was to lie upon the floor under the piano in winter time.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading She looked frequently at Elizabeth, fearing, as she remarked her slightest change of colour, that some illness would ensue from the excitement that she had passed through.
rugnounUS /rʌɡ/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading Frau Ferber and Miss Mertens were busied in making a rug which was to lie upon the floor under the piano in winter time.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading She could not forget the afternoon’s occurrence; for, although she saw her child before her safe and sound, she had been very much agitated by Miss Mertens’ account.
cut with a saw
From this reading She could not forget the afternoon’s occurrence; for, although she saw her child before her safe and sound, she had been very much agitated by Miss Mertens’ account.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading In the evening the Ferber family were sitting in the shade of the lindens at the spring.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could not forget the afternoon’s occurrence; for, although she saw her child before her safe and sound, she had been very much agitated by Miss Mertens’ account.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading In the evening the Ferber family were sitting in the shade of the lindens at the spring.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading She looked frequently at Elizabeth, fearing, as she remarked her slightest change of colour, that some illness would ensue from the excitement that she had passed through.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Frau Ferber had lost for awhile that dignified composure that so well became her still beautiful face.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading She looked frequently at Elizabeth, fearing, as she remarked her slightest change of colour, that some illness would ensue from the excitement that she had passed through.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading She could not forget the afternoon’s occurrence; for, although she saw her child before her safe and sound, she had been very much agitated by Miss Mertens’ account.
the season of growth
From this reading In the evening the Ferber family were sitting in the shade of the lindens at the spring.
not in physical motion
From this reading Frau Ferber had lost for awhile that dignified composure that so well became her still beautiful face.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Frau Ferber had lost for awhile that dignified composure that so well became her still beautiful face.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the evening the Ferber family were sitting in the shade of the lindens at the spring.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading She looked frequently at Elizabeth, fearing, as she remarked her slightest change of colour, that some illness would ensue from the excitement that she had passed through.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Frau Ferber and Miss Mertens were busied in making a rug which was to lie upon the floor under the piano in winter time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Frau Ferber and Miss Mertens were busied in making a rug which was to lie upon the floor under the piano in winter time.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Frau Ferber and Miss Mertens were busied in making a rug which was to lie upon the floor under the piano in winter time.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Frau Ferber and Miss Mertens were busied in making a rug which was to lie upon the floor under the piano in winter time.
precisely as stated
From this reading She could not forget the afternoon’s occurrence; for, although she saw her child before her safe and sound, she had been very much agitated by Miss Mertens’ account.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Frau Ferber and Miss Mertens were busied in making a rug which was to lie upon the floor under the piano in winter time.
(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 Frau Ferber had lost for awhile that dignified composure that so well became her still beautiful face.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the evening the Ferber family were sitting in the shade of the lindens at the spring.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Frau Ferber and Miss Mertens were busied in making a rug which was to lie upon the floor under the piano in winter time.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Frau Ferber and Miss Mertens were busied in making a rug which was to lie upon the floor under the piano in winter time.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She looked frequently at Elizabeth, fearing, as she remarked her slightest change of colour, that some illness would ensue from the excitement that she had passed through.
