used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But the pile of envelopes which eventually found their way to the nearest mail-box contained news of a vastly different character.
in the past
From this reading Not so very long ago she had fondly dreamed of the time when she should happily send to those she loved the summons to come to her on her wedding day.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
anguishedadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡwɪʃt/
experiencing intense pain especially mental pain
From this reading More than one anguished tear fell from her eyes as she relentlessly pursued her difficult task.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading More than one anguished tear fell from her eyes as she relentlessly pursued her difficult task.
assertedadjectiveUS /əˈsɜːrtɪd/
confidently declared to be so
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the pile of envelopes which eventually found their way to the nearest mail-box contained news of a vastly different character.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading But the pile of envelopes which eventually found their way to the nearest mail-box contained news of a vastly different character.
an assertion of a right (as to money or property)
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Not so very long ago she had fondly dreamed of the time when she should happily send to those she loved the summons to come to her on her wedding day.
committingverbUS /kəˈmɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “commit” — perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
From this reading Long she pondered before committing the gloomy information to paper.
gotten under control
From this reading But the pile of envelopes which eventually found their way to the nearest mail-box contained news of a vastly different character.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Not so very long ago she had fondly dreamed of the time when she should happily send to those she loved the summons to come to her on her wedding day.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading But the pile of envelopes which eventually found their way to the nearest mail-box contained news of a vastly different character.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading More than one anguished tear fell from her eyes as she relentlessly pursued her difficult task.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading Not so very long ago she had fondly dreamed of the time when she should happily send to those she loved the summons to come to her on her wedding day.
envelopesnounUS /ˈenvəloʊps/
plural of “envelope” — a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading But the pile of envelopes which eventually found their way to the nearest mail-box contained news of a vastly different character.
eventuallyadverbUS /ɪˈventʃəwəli/
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading But the pile of envelopes which eventually found their way to the nearest mail-box contained news of a vastly different character.
opinion or judgment
From this reading More than one anguished tear fell from her eyes as she relentlessly pursued her difficult task.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading More than one anguished tear fell from her eyes as she relentlessly pursued her difficult task.
fondlyadverbUS /ˈfɑːndli/
with fondness; with love
From this reading Not so very long ago she had fondly dreamed of the time when she should happily send to those she loved the summons to come to her on her wedding day.
set up or found
From this reading But the pile of envelopes which eventually found their way to the nearest mail-box contained news of a vastly different character.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading More than one anguished tear fell from her eyes as she relentlessly pursued her difficult task.
depressingly dark
From this reading Long she pondered before committing the gloomy information to paper.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
happilyadverbUS /ˈhæpəli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading Not so very long ago she had fondly dreamed of the time when she should happily send to those she loved the summons to come to her on her wedding day.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
a message received and understood
From this reading Long she pondered before committing the gloomy information to paper.
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 Long she pondered before committing the gloomy information to paper.
held dear
From this reading Not so very long ago she had fondly dreamed of the time when she should happily send to those she loved the summons to come to her on her wedding day.
mail-box
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the pile of envelopes which eventually found their way to the nearest mail-box contained news of a vastly different character.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading More than one anguished tear fell from her eyes as she relentlessly pursued her difficult task.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading But the pile of envelopes which eventually found their way to the nearest mail-box contained news of a vastly different character.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
information about recent and important events
From this reading But the pile of envelopes which eventually found their way to the nearest mail-box contained news of a vastly different character.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not so very long ago she had fondly dreamed of the time when she should happily send to those she loved the summons to come to her on her wedding day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading More than one anguished tear fell from her eyes as she relentlessly pursued her difficult task.
ordealnounUS /ɔːrˈdiːl/
a severe or trying experience
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Long she pondered before committing the gloomy information to paper.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
pilenounUS /paɪl/
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading But the pile of envelopes which eventually found their way to the nearest mail-box contained news of a vastly different character.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
ponderedverbUS /ˈpɑːndərd/
past form of “ponder” — reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading Long she pondered before committing the gloomy information to paper.
a person who is being chased
From this reading More than one anguished tear fell from her eyes as she relentlessly pursued her difficult task.
quailed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
regardingverbUS /rɪˈɡɑːrdɪŋ/
-ing form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
relentlesslyadverbUS /rɪˈlentləsli/
in a relentless manner
From this reading More than one anguished tear fell from her eyes as she relentlessly pursued her difficult task.
secretlyadverbUS /ˈsiːkrɪtli/
in secrecy; not openly
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading Not so very long ago she had fondly dreamed of the time when she should happily send to those she loved the summons to come to her on her wedding day.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Not so very long ago she had fondly dreamed of the time when she should happily send to those she loved the summons to come to her on her wedding day.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
sturdilyadverb
in a sturdy manner
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
summonsnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
a request to be present
From this reading Not so very long ago she had fondly dreamed of the time when she should happily send to those she loved the summons to come to her on her wedding day.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading More than one anguished tear fell from her eyes as she relentlessly pursued her difficult task.
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading More than one anguished tear fell from her eyes as she relentlessly pursued her difficult task.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading More than one anguished tear fell from her eyes as she relentlessly pursued her difficult task.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But the pile of envelopes which eventually found their way to the nearest mail-box contained news of a vastly different character.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Not so very long ago she had fondly dreamed of the time when she should happily send to those she loved the summons to come to her on her wedding day.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Not so very long ago she had fondly dreamed of the time when she should happily send to those she loved the summons to come to her on her wedding day.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
vastlyadverbUS /ˈvæstli/
to an exceedingly great extent or degree
From this reading But the pile of envelopes which eventually found their way to the nearest mail-box contained news of a vastly different character.
precisely as stated
From this reading Not so very long ago she had fondly dreamed of the time when she should happily send to those she loved the summons to come to her on her wedding day.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But the pile of envelopes which eventually found their way to the nearest mail-box contained news of a vastly different character.
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading Not so very long ago she had fondly dreamed of the time when she should happily send to those she loved the summons to come to her on her wedding day.
at the time that
From this reading Not so very long ago she had fondly dreamed of the time when she should happily send to those she loved the summons to come to her on her wedding day.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But the pile of envelopes which eventually found their way to the nearest mail-box contained news of a vastly different character.
the act of creating written works
From this reading THE BETTER PART Although Grace had so sturdily asserted her claim on happiness, nevertheless she quailed secretly before the ordeal of writing to her friends regarding the change in her plans.
