used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "Can you tell me--I am sure you could act?"
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Yes," said Rosa, with a colour in her cheeks, and an odd light in her eyes, "I believe--I am sure I could.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
eagerly desirous
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading "Yes," said Rosa, with a colour in her cheeks, and an odd light in her eyes, "I believe--I am sure I could.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Can you tell me--I am sure you could act?"
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading "Yes," said Rosa, with a colour in her cheeks, and an odd light in her eyes, "I believe--I am sure I could.
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading "Yes," said Rosa, with a colour in her cheeks, and an odd light in her eyes, "I believe--I am sure I could.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
endurableadjective
capable of being borne though unpleasant
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
divisible by two
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
at any time
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
opinion or judgment
From this reading "Yes," said Rosa, with a colour in her cheeks, and an odd light in her eyes, "I believe--I am sure I could.
an act that fails
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
fancying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
made afraid
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading But I have no voice, there is no good in it.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Yes," said Rosa, with a colour in her cheeks, and an odd light in her eyes, "I believe--I am sure I could.
low or inferior in station or quality
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
incapacitynounUS /ˌɪnkəˈpæsəti/
lack of intellectual power
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
indifferencenounUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfərəns/
unbiased impartial unconcern
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But I have no voice, there is no good in it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading "Yes," said Rosa, with a colour in her cheeks, and an odd light in her eyes, "I believe--I am sure I could.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
engage in
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Can you tell me--I am sure you could act?"
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
mortifiedadjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrtəfaɪd/
suffering from tissue death
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
not any; not one
From this reading But I have no voice, there is no good in it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
not divisible by two
From this reading "Yes," said Rosa, with a colour in her cheeks, and an odd light in her eyes, "I believe--I am sure I could.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
piquenounUS /piːk/
tightly woven fabric with raised cords
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
RosanounUS /ˈroʊzə/
large genus of erect or climbing prickly shrubs including roses
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
spoilverbUS /spɔɪl/
make a mess of, destroy or ruin
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
comparative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
express a supposition
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "Can you tell me--I am sure you could act?"
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
express in words
From this reading "Can you tell me--I am sure you could act?"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
Violante
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading But I have no voice, there is no good in it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was not a shade of pique or of mortified pride in the anxious, humble question, and Rosa could not help fancying that even in sweet Violante nothing but utter indifference and incapacity could have made failure so endurable.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Yes," said Rosa, with a colour in her cheeks, and an odd light in her eyes, "I believe--I am sure I could.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes," said Rosa, with a colour in her cheeks, and an odd light in her eyes, "I believe--I am sure I could.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Well," she said, "I don't suppose you will ever make a great hand at it; but I should think you might get to act well enough not to spoil your singing if you were stronger and less frightened."
