used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It grew rapidly to a conviction.
experiencing a sudden sense of danger
From this reading He had certainly stayed away solely because of her, because she had been so preposterously over-friendly that he was disgusted and alarmed.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading And yet, in spite of all this excellent common-sense, that feeling of desolation persisted.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She sat in the shorthand class, scratching down her unintelligible little symbols---- Suddenly an awful thought swept over her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And yet, in spite of all this excellent common-sense, that feeling of desolation persisted.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He had certainly stayed away solely because of her, because she had been so preposterously over-friendly that he was disgusted and alarmed.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading She sat in the shorthand class, scratching down her unintelligible little symbols---- Suddenly an awful thought swept over her.
for the reason that
From this reading He had certainly stayed away solely because of her, because she had been so preposterously over-friendly that he was disgusted and alarmed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had certainly stayed away solely because of her, because she had been so preposterously over-friendly that he was disgusted and alarmed.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading He had certainly stayed away solely because of her, because she had been so preposterously over-friendly that he was disgusted and alarmed.
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading She sat in the shorthand class, scratching down her unintelligible little symbols---- Suddenly an awful thought swept over her.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading She hated and loathed the silly school, made up her mind to stop coming.
common-sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet, in spite of all this excellent common-sense, that feeling of desolation persisted.
an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
From this reading It grew rapidly to a conviction.
desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading And yet, in spite of all this excellent common-sense, that feeling of desolation persisted.
disgustedadjectiveUS /dɪsˈɡʌstəd/
having a strong distaste from surfeit
From this reading He had certainly stayed away solely because of her, because she had been so preposterously over-friendly that he was disgusted and alarmed.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She sat in the shorthand class, scratching down her unintelligible little symbols---- Suddenly an awful thought swept over her.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading And yet, in spite of all this excellent common-sense, that feeling of desolation persisted.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading And yet, in spite of all this excellent common-sense, that feeling of desolation persisted.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading It grew rapidly to a conviction.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had certainly stayed away solely because of her, because she had been so preposterously over-friendly that he was disgusted and alarmed.
hatedadjectiveUS /ˈheɪtəd/
treated with dislike or contempt
From this reading She hated and loathed the silly school, made up her mind to stop coming.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had certainly stayed away solely because of her, because she had been so preposterously over-friendly that he was disgusted and alarmed.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She hated and loathed the silly school, made up her mind to stop coming.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And yet, in spite of all this excellent common-sense, that feeling of desolation persisted.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It grew rapidly to a conviction.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She sat in the shorthand class, scratching down her unintelligible little symbols---- Suddenly an awful thought swept over her.
loathedverbUS /loʊðd/
past form of “loathe” — find repugnant
From this reading She hated and loathed the silly school, made up her mind to stop coming.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She hated and loathed the silly school, made up her mind to stop coming.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading She hated and loathed the silly school, made up her mind to stop coming.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And yet, in spite of all this excellent common-sense, that feeling of desolation persisted.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She sat in the shorthand class, scratching down her unintelligible little symbols---- Suddenly an awful thought swept over her.
over-friendly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had certainly stayed away solely because of her, because she had been so preposterously over-friendly that he was disgusted and alarmed.
persistedverbUS /pərˈsɪstɪd/
past form of “persist” — continue to exist
From this reading And yet, in spite of all this excellent common-sense, that feeling of desolation persisted.
preposterouslyadverb
so as to arouse or deserve laughter
From this reading He had certainly stayed away solely because of her, because she had been so preposterously over-friendly that he was disgusted and alarmed.
with speed
From this reading It grew rapidly to a conviction.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She sat in the shorthand class, scratching down her unintelligible little symbols---- Suddenly an awful thought swept over her.
an educational institution
From this reading She hated and loathed the silly school, made up her mind to stop coming.
scratchingnounUS /ˈskrætʃɪŋ/
a harsh noise made by scraping
From this reading She sat in the shorthand class, scratching down her unintelligible little symbols---- Suddenly an awful thought swept over her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She hated and loathed the silly school, made up her mind to stop coming.
shorthandnounUS /ˈʃɔːrthænd/
a method of writing rapidly using an abbreviated symbolic system
From this reading She sat in the shorthand class, scratching down her unintelligible little symbols---- Suddenly an awful thought swept over her.
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading She hated and loathed the silly school, made up her mind to stop coming.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He had certainly stayed away solely because of her, because she had been so preposterously over-friendly that he was disgusted and alarmed.
solelyadverbUS /ˈsoʊəli/
without any others being included or involved
From this reading He had certainly stayed away solely because of her, because she had been so preposterously over-friendly that he was disgusted and alarmed.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading And yet, in spite of all this excellent common-sense, that feeling of desolation persisted.
past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading He had certainly stayed away solely because of her, because she had been so preposterously over-friendly that he was disgusted and alarmed.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading She hated and loathed the silly school, made up her mind to stop coming.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading She sat in the shorthand class, scratching down her unintelligible little symbols---- Suddenly an awful thought swept over her.
possessing sweep
From this reading She sat in the shorthand class, scratching down her unintelligible little symbols---- Suddenly an awful thought swept over her.
symbolsnounUS /ˈsɪmbəlz/
plural of “symbol” — an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance
From this reading She sat in the shorthand class, scratching down her unintelligible little symbols---- Suddenly an awful thought swept over her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And yet, in spite of all this excellent common-sense, that feeling of desolation persisted.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She hated and loathed the silly school, made up her mind to stop coming.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And yet, in spite of all this excellent common-sense, that feeling of desolation persisted.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She sat in the shorthand class, scratching down her unintelligible little symbols---- Suddenly an awful thought swept over her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She hated and loathed the silly school, made up her mind to stop coming.
unintelligibleadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪnˈtelədʒəbəl/
poorly articulated or enunciated, or drowned by noise
From this reading She sat in the shorthand class, scratching down her unintelligible little symbols---- Suddenly an awful thought swept over her.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She hated and loathed the silly school, made up her mind to stop coming.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had certainly stayed away solely because of her, because she had been so preposterously over-friendly that he was disgusted and alarmed.
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet, in spite of all this excellent common-sense, that feeling of desolation persisted.
