used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Keith Kenyon was able to leave his room once more and rejoin the small household.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Keith Kenyon was able to leave his room once more and rejoin the small household.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
Beatrix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading His wild dark eyes would follow her with furtive glances.
devourverbUS /dɪˈvaʊər/
destroy completely
From this reading He seemed secretly watching her, and more than once she surprised a gleam of wild intensity, as he seemed to devour her with his eyes.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
a movement into or inward
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His wild dark eyes would follow her with furtive glances.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading His wild dark eyes would follow her with furtive glances.
furtiveadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrtɪv/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading His wild dark eyes would follow her with furtive glances.
glancesnounUS /ˈɡlænsɪz/
plural of “glance” — a quick look
From this reading His wild dark eyes would follow her with furtive glances.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading He seemed secretly watching her, and more than once she surprised a gleam of wild intensity, as he seemed to devour her with his eyes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He seemed secretly watching her, and more than once she surprised a gleam of wild intensity, as he seemed to devour her with his eyes.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Keith Kenyon was able to leave his room once more and rejoin the small household.
a social unit living together
From this reading Keith Kenyon was able to leave his room once more and rejoin the small household.
illnessnounUS /ˈɪlnəs/
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
intensitynounUS /ɪnˈtensəti/
the amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation)
From this reading He seemed secretly watching her, and more than once she surprised a gleam of wild intensity, as he seemed to devour her with his eyes.
Keith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Keith Kenyon was able to leave his room once more and rejoin the small household.
Kenyon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Keith Kenyon was able to leave his room once more and rejoin the small household.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
go away from a place
From this reading Keith Kenyon was able to leave his room once more and rejoin the small household.
madmannounUS /ˈmædmæn/
an insane person
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Keith Kenyon was able to leave his room once more and rejoin the small household.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
on one occasion
From this reading Keith Kenyon was able to leave his room once more and rejoin the small household.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
rejoinverbUS /riˈdʒɔɪn/
join again
From this reading Keith Kenyon was able to leave his room once more and rejoin the small household.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Keith Kenyon was able to leave his room once more and rejoin the small household.
secretlyadverbUS /ˈsiːkrɪtli/
in secrecy; not openly
From this reading He seemed secretly watching her, and more than once she surprised a gleam of wild intensity, as he seemed to devour her with his eyes.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He seemed secretly watching her, and more than once she surprised a gleam of wild intensity, as he seemed to devour her with his eyes.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Keith Kenyon was able to leave his room once more and rejoin the small household.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading He seemed secretly watching her, and more than once she surprised a gleam of wild intensity, as he seemed to devour her with his eyes.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He seemed secretly watching her, and more than once she surprised a gleam of wild intensity, as he seemed to devour her with his eyes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Keith Kenyon was able to leave his room once more and rejoin the small household.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Keith Kenyon was able to leave his room once more and rejoin the small household.
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE.
voluntarilyadverbUS /ˌvɑːlənˈterəli/
out of your own free will
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Keith Kenyon was able to leave his room once more and rejoin the small household.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading He seemed secretly watching her, and more than once she surprised a gleam of wild intensity, as he seemed to devour her with his eyes.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading During his illness Beatrix had kept to her own room as much as possible, never voluntarily entering the presence of the old man, whom she feared as a madman.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading His wild dark eyes would follow her with furtive glances.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His wild dark eyes would follow her with furtive glances.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading His wild dark eyes would follow her with furtive glances.
