used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mrs. Bowen smiled, and said, Was he living yet? in a pensive tone of reminiscence.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. Bowen smiled, and said, Was he living yet? in a pensive tone of reminiscence.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He fought it back as best he could, and kept the hovering cloud from touching the earth by incessant effort.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He fought it back as best he could, and kept the hovering cloud from touching the earth by incessant effort.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading He fought it back as best he could, and kept the hovering cloud from touching the earth by incessant effort.
blotnounUS /blɑːt/
a blemish made by dirt
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
Bowen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Bowen smiled, and said, Was he living yet? in a pensive tone of reminiscence.
uttered without voice
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He fought it back as best he could, and kept the hovering cloud from touching the earth by incessant effort.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading He fought it back as best he could, and kept the hovering cloud from touching the earth by incessant effort.
Colville's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was even more than patient of Colville's nonsense.
ConfrontingverbUS /kənˈfrʌntɪŋ/
-ing form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He fought it back as best he could, and kept the hovering cloud from touching the earth by incessant effort.
do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading He fought it back as best he could, and kept the hovering cloud from touching the earth by incessant effort.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading He fought it back as best he could, and kept the hovering cloud from touching the earth by incessant effort.
divisible by two
From this reading She was even more than patient of Colville's nonsense.
eyelidsnounUS /ˈaɪlɪdz/
plural of “eyelid” — either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading It seemed to him that the light under her eyelids was sometimes a grateful light.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading He fought it back as best he could, and kept the hovering cloud from touching the earth by incessant effort.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He fought it back as best he could, and kept the hovering cloud from touching the earth by incessant effort.
feeling or showing gratitude
From this reading It seemed to him that the light under her eyelids was sometimes a grateful light.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Bowen smiled, and said, Was he living yet? in a pensive tone of reminiscence.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to him that the light under her eyelids was sometimes a grateful light.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seemed to him that the light under her eyelids was sometimes a grateful light.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
hoveringverbUS /ˈhʌvərɪŋ/
-ing form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
From this reading He fought it back as best he could, and kept the hovering cloud from touching the earth by incessant effort.
Imogene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Bowen smiled, and said, Was he living yet? in a pensive tone of reminiscence.
incessantadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsesənt/
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
From this reading He fought it back as best he could, and kept the hovering cloud from touching the earth by incessant effort.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to him that the light under her eyelids was sometimes a grateful light.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading He fought it back as best he could, and kept the hovering cloud from touching the earth by incessant effort.
landscapenounUS /ˈlændskeɪp/
an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading It seemed to him that the light under her eyelids was sometimes a grateful light.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading Mrs. Bowen smiled, and said, Was he living yet? in a pensive tone of reminiscence.
luridadjectiveUS /ˈlʊrəd/
horrible in fierceness or savagery
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
moraladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrəl/
concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She was even more than patient of Colville's nonsense.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Bowen smiled, and said, Was he living yet? in a pensive tone of reminiscence.
a message that seems to convey no meaning
From this reading She was even more than patient of Colville's nonsense.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Bowen smiled, and said, Was he living yet? in a pensive tone of reminiscence.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
a person who requires medical care
From this reading She was even more than patient of Colville's nonsense.
pensiveadjectiveUS /ˈpensɪv/
deeply or seriously thoughtful
From this reading Mrs. Bowen smiled, and said, Was he living yet? in a pensive tone of reminiscence.
reminiscencenounUS /ˌreməˈnɪsəns/
a mental impression retained and recalled from the past
From this reading Mrs. Bowen smiled, and said, Was he living yet? in a pensive tone of reminiscence.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Mrs. Bowen smiled, and said, Was he living yet? in a pensive tone of reminiscence.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to him that the light under her eyelids was sometimes a grateful light.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was even more than patient of Colville's nonsense.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Mrs. Bowen smiled, and said, Was he living yet? in a pensive tone of reminiscence.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading It seemed to him that the light under her eyelids was sometimes a grateful light.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She was even more than patient of Colville's nonsense.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed to him that the light under her eyelids was sometimes a grateful light.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It seemed to him that the light under her eyelids was sometimes a grateful light.
a special situation
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed to him that the light under her eyelids was sometimes a grateful light.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading Mrs. Bowen smiled, and said, Was he living yet? in a pensive tone of reminiscence.
arousing affect
From this reading He fought it back as best he could, and kept the hovering cloud from touching the earth by incessant effort.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading It seemed to him that the light under her eyelids was sometimes a grateful light.
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Bowen smiled, and said, Was he living yet? in a pensive tone of reminiscence.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
belonging to which person
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
but in spite of that
From this reading Mrs. Bowen smiled, and said, Was he living yet? in a pensive tone of reminiscence.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Confronting Imogene and the young man whose hopes of her he was to destroy at the first opportunity, the lurid moral atmosphere which he breathed seemed threatening to become a thing apparent to sense, and to be about to blot the landscape.
