used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
agitatingadjectiveUS /ˈædʒəteɪtɪŋ/
causing or tending to cause anger or resentment
From this reading For Lucy Friend the experience had been unprecedented and agitating.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For Lucy Friend the experience had been unprecedented and agitating.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The old woman in Lancaster Gate had not been capable either of talking or thinking about herself, except as a fretful animal with certain simple bodily wants.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This at least had been the tone in her parents' house.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For Lucy Friend the experience had been unprecedented and agitating.
bestowedverbUS /bɪˈstoʊd/
past form of “bestow” — present
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
bodilyadverbUS /ˈbɑːdəli/
in bodily form
From this reading The old woman in Lancaster Gate had not been capable either of talking or thinking about herself, except as a fretful animal with certain simple bodily wants.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability
From this reading The old woman in Lancaster Gate had not been capable either of talking or thinking about herself, except as a fretful animal with certain simple bodily wants.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading The old woman in Lancaster Gate had not been capable either of talking or thinking about herself, except as a fretful animal with certain simple bodily wants.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
confidencesnounUS /ˈkɑːnfədənsɪz/
plural of “confidence” — freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
one or the other of two
From this reading The old woman in Lancaster Gate had not been capable either of talking or thinking about herself, except as a fretful animal with certain simple bodily wants.
apart from; not including
From this reading The old woman in Lancaster Gate had not been capable either of talking or thinking about herself, except as a fretful animal with certain simple bodily wants.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading For Lucy Friend the experience had been unprecedented and agitating.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For Lucy Friend the experience had been unprecedented and agitating.
fretfuladjectiveUS /ˈfretfəl/
nervous and unable to relax
From this reading The old woman in Lancaster Gate had not been capable either of talking or thinking about herself, except as a fretful animal with certain simple bodily wants.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading The old woman in Lancaster Gate had not been capable either of talking or thinking about herself, except as a fretful animal with certain simple bodily wants.
an established custom
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
HelenanounUS /ˈhelənə/
capital of the state of Montana; located in western Montana
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The old woman in Lancaster Gate had not been capable either of talking or thinking about herself, except as a fretful animal with certain simple bodily wants.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading This at least had been the tone in her parents' house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
LancasternounUS /ˈlænkæstər/
a city in northwestern England
From this reading The old woman in Lancaster Gate had not been capable either of talking or thinking about herself, except as a fretful animal with certain simple bodily wants.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading This at least had been the tone in her parents' house.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974
From this reading For Lucy Friend the experience had been unprecedented and agitating.
the force of workers available
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
morbidadjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrbəd/
suggesting an unhealthy mental state
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The old woman in Lancaster Gate had not been capable either of talking or thinking about herself, except as a fretful animal with certain simple bodily wants.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old woman in Lancaster Gate had not been capable either of talking or thinking about herself, except as a fretful animal with certain simple bodily wants.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The old woman in Lancaster Gate had not been capable either of talking or thinking about herself, except as a fretful animal with certain simple bodily wants.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading This at least had been the tone in her parents' house.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
Pitstone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading The old woman in Lancaster Gate had not been capable either of talking or thinking about herself, except as a fretful animal with certain simple bodily wants.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading The old woman in Lancaster Gate had not been capable either of talking or thinking about herself, except as a fretful animal with certain simple bodily wants.
tendingnounUS /ˈtendɪŋ/
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This at least had been the tone in her parents' house.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading This at least had been the tone in her parents' house.
unprecedentedadjectiveUS /ənˈpresɪdentɪd/
having no precedent; novel
From this reading For Lucy Friend the experience had been unprecedented and agitating.
wakefuladjective
carefully observant or attentive; on the lookout for possible danger
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty
From this reading The old woman in Lancaster Gate had not been capable either of talking or thinking about herself, except as a fretful animal with certain simple bodily wants.
in or at the place that
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Friend passed a somewhat wakeful night after the scene in which Helena Pitstone had bestowed her first confidences on her new companion.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The old woman in Lancaster Gate had not been capable either of talking or thinking about herself, except as a fretful animal with certain simple bodily wants.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The old woman in Lancaster Gate had not been capable either of talking or thinking about herself, except as a fretful animal with certain simple bodily wants.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading She had lived in a world where men and women do not talk much about themselves, and as a rule instinctively avoid thinking much about themselves, as a habit tending to something they call "morbid."
