used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She entered her bedroom and locked the door.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But she did not go to the mirror at once; she was loath to relinquish pleasurable uncertainty.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading She entered her bedroom and locked the door.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
a woman who has recently been married
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she did not go to the mirror at once; she was loath to relinquish pleasurable uncertainty.
put or send forth
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But she did not go to the mirror at once; she was loath to relinquish pleasurable uncertainty.
DISCOVERSverbUS /dɪˈskʌvərz/
third-person singular of “discover” — discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading HERMIA DISCOVERS HERSELF.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading She entered her bedroom and locked the door.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading She entered her bedroom and locked the door.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
futileadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtəl/
producing no result or effect
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
germnounUS /dʒɜːrm/
anything that provides inspiration for later work
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But she did not go to the mirror at once; she was loath to relinquish pleasurable uncertainty.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
HERMIA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HERMIA DISCOVERS HERSELF.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading HERMIA DISCOVERS HERSELF.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
loathadjectiveUS /loʊθ/
unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
From this reading But she did not go to the mirror at once; she was loath to relinquish pleasurable uncertainty.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading She entered her bedroom and locked the door.
prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
come together
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading But she did not go to the mirror at once; she was loath to relinquish pleasurable uncertainty.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
on one occasion
From this reading But she did not go to the mirror at once; she was loath to relinquish pleasurable uncertainty.
pleasurableadjectiveUS /ˈpleʒərəbəl/
affording satisfaction or pleasure
From this reading But she did not go to the mirror at once; she was loath to relinquish pleasurable uncertainty.
potentadjectiveUS /ˈpoʊtənt/
having great influence
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
relinquishverbUS /rɪˈlɪŋkwɪʃ/
part with a possession or right
From this reading But she did not go to the mirror at once; she was loath to relinquish pleasurable uncertainty.
your consciousness of your own identity
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
trepidationnounUS /ˌtrepɪˈdeɪʃən/
a feeling of alarm or dread
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
uncertaintynounUS /ənˈsɜːrtənti/
being unsettled or in doubt or dependent on chance
From this reading But she did not go to the mirror at once; she was loath to relinquish pleasurable uncertainty.
unlockverbUS /ənˈlɑːk/
open the lock of
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
wedding-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
at the time that
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
which person or people
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Had Hermia been a bride on her wedding-night she could not have felt more trepidation than when she stood on the threshold of her first interview with her new self.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
wontnounUS /woʊnt/
an established custom
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She was to meet a strange, potent being, who would unlock for her those doors against which, with fierce, futile longing, she had been wont to cast herself, since woman’s instinct had burst its germ.
