used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
acid-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading She was a complete contrast in appearance to Volna.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading She gave me a very frigid bow.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
an occurrence of something
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading She was a complete contrast in appearance to Volna.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading She was a complete contrast in appearance to Volna.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
disproportionatelyadverbUS /ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːrʃənətli/
out of proportion
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
Drakonas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
EmbarrassingadjectiveUS /ɪmˈberəsɪŋ/
hard to deal with; especially causing pain or embarrassment
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
apart from; not including
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
opinion or judgment
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
frigidadjectiveUS /ˈfrɪdʒəd/
sexually unresponsive
From this reading She gave me a very frigid bow.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading She gave me a very frigid bow.
half-sisternoun
a sister who has only one parent in common with you
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
Katinka
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
lustrousadjectiveUS /ˈlʌstrəs/
made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a sheen or glow
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
past form of “mention” — make reference to
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
a particular point in time
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
not any; not one
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
go across or through
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
SCREWnounUS /skruː/
someone who guards prisoners
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
successive (without a break)
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
straight-backedadjective
having a straight back
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
unnoticedadjectiveUS /ənˈnoʊtɪst/
not noticed
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
unwelcomeadjectiveUS /ənˈwelkəm/
not welcome; not giving pleasure or received with pleasure
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
precisely as stated
From this reading She gave me a very frigid bow.
someone who visits
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
Volna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a complete contrast in appearance to Volna.
Volna's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Volna’s half-sister, Katinka, received us; and the moment my name was mentioned, she left me no room to doubt that so far as she was concerned I was a most unwelcome visitor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
wiryadjectiveUS /ˈwɪri/
lean and sinewy
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading A slight, wiry, straight-backed, acid-faced, little woman of about thirty, with a pair of lustrous dark eyes so disproportionately large that the rest of the features, except her thin straight lips, seemed to pass unnoticed.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading TURNING THE SCREW Embarrassing as my position must have been in any case, it was made much worse by the manner of my reception at the Drakonas’.
