used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A sense of deep wonder was percolating slowly to every part of his being.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading “I was never able to understand them.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading XXXVII INDELIBLE EVIDENCE For some time Northcote stood holding her hand and looking down into her eyes.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading A sense of deep wonder was percolating slowly to every part of his being.
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading “Your father was constantly making speeches like these,” she said, with that simplicity which was so formidable.
darkenedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənd/
(of fabrics and paper) grown dark in color over time
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading A sense of deep wonder was percolating slowly to every part of his being.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading XXXVII INDELIBLE EVIDENCE For some time Northcote stood holding her hand and looking down into her eyes.
any strong feeling
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading A sense of deep wonder was percolating slowly to every part of his being.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading XXXVII INDELIBLE EVIDENCE For some time Northcote stood holding her hand and looking down into her eyes.
opinion or judgment
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading “Your father was constantly making speeches like these,” she said, with that simplicity which was so formidable.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading XXXVII INDELIBLE EVIDENCE For some time Northcote stood holding her hand and looking down into her eyes.
formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmədəbəl/
extremely impressive in strength or excellence
From this reading “Your father was constantly making speeches like these,” she said, with that simplicity which was so formidable.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading XXXVII INDELIBLE EVIDENCE For some time Northcote stood holding her hand and looking down into her eyes.
harshadjectiveUS /hɑːrʃ/
unpleasantly stern
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading XXXVII INDELIBLE EVIDENCE For some time Northcote stood holding her hand and looking down into her eyes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
the act of retaining something
From this reading XXXVII INDELIBLE EVIDENCE For some time Northcote stood holding her hand and looking down into her eyes.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I was never able to understand them.”
INDELIBLEadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdelɪbəl/
cannot be removed or erased
From this reading XXXVII INDELIBLE EVIDENCE For some time Northcote stood holding her hand and looking down into her eyes.
infrequentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfriːkwənt/
not frequent; not occurring regularly or at short intervals
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading XXXVII INDELIBLE EVIDENCE For some time Northcote stood holding her hand and looking down into her eyes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “Your father was constantly making speeches like these,” she said, with that simplicity which was so formidable.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading XXXVII INDELIBLE EVIDENCE For some time Northcote stood holding her hand and looking down into her eyes.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading “Your father was constantly making speeches like these,” she said, with that simplicity which was so formidable.
musclesnounUS /ˈmʌsəlz/
plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “I was never able to understand them.”
Northcote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading XXXVII INDELIBLE EVIDENCE For some time Northcote stood holding her hand and looking down into her eyes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading A sense of deep wonder was percolating slowly to every part of his being.
percolatingverbUS /ˈpɜːrkəleɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “percolate” — permeate or penetrate gradually
From this reading A sense of deep wonder was percolating slowly to every part of his being.
relaxverbUS /rɪˈlæks/
become less tense, rest, or take one's ease
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Your father was constantly making speeches like these,” she said, with that simplicity which was so formidable.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading A sense of deep wonder was percolating slowly to every part of his being.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Your father was constantly making speeches like these,” she said, with that simplicity which was so formidable.
simplicitynounUS /sɪmˈplɪsəti/
the quality of being simple or uncompounded
From this reading “Your father was constantly making speeches like these,” she said, with that simplicity which was so formidable.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading A sense of deep wonder was percolating slowly to every part of his being.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Your father was constantly making speeches like these,” she said, with that simplicity which was so formidable.
softnessnounUS /ˈsɔːftnəs/
the property of giving little resistance to pressure and being easily cut or molded
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading XXXVII INDELIBLE EVIDENCE For some time Northcote stood holding her hand and looking down into her eyes.
speechesnounUS /ˈspiːtʃəz/
plural of “speech” — the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading “Your father was constantly making speeches like these,” she said, with that simplicity which was so formidable.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading XXXVII INDELIBLE EVIDENCE For some time Northcote stood holding her hand and looking down into her eyes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Your father was constantly making speeches like these,” she said, with that simplicity which was so formidable.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “I was never able to understand them.”
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “Your father was constantly making speeches like these,” she said, with that simplicity which was so formidable.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading XXXVII INDELIBLE EVIDENCE For some time Northcote stood holding her hand and looking down into her eyes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading “I was never able to understand them.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Your father was constantly making speeches like these,” she said, with that simplicity which was so formidable.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “Your father was constantly making speeches like these,” she said, with that simplicity which was so formidable.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Your father was constantly making speeches like these,” she said, with that simplicity which was so formidable.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading A sense of deep wonder was percolating slowly to every part of his being.
XXXVIIadjective
being seven more than thirty
From this reading XXXVII INDELIBLE EVIDENCE For some time Northcote stood holding her hand and looking down into her eyes.
yieldedverbUS /ˈjiːldɪd/
past form of “yield” — be the cause or source of
From this reading It darkened his eyes to see the muscles of the harsh face relax as they yielded to the slight softness of an infrequent emotion.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Your father was constantly making speeches like these,” she said, with that simplicity which was so formidable.
