used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The atmosphere was heavy and close, signs of a coming storm.
(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 Pearl knew that if her letter of rupture was to be sent at all it was necessary to write it without further delay.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For over an hour she had been sitting at her writing table with the blank paper before her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading 'TWIXT SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And Pearl knew that if her letter of rupture was to be sent at all it was necessary to write it without further delay.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading The atmosphere was heavy and close, signs of a coming storm.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And Pearl knew that if her letter of rupture was to be sent at all it was necessary to write it without further delay.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For over an hour she had been sitting at her writing table with the blank paper before her.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was two or three days before Monsieur de Güldenfeldt's proposed return.
blankadjectiveUS /blæŋk/
(of a surface) not written or printed on
From this reading For over an hour she had been sitting at her writing table with the blank paper before her.
CHARYBDISnoun
(Greek mythology) a ship-devouring whirlpool lying on the other side of a narrow strait from Scylla
From this reading 'TWIXT SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The atmosphere was heavy and close, signs of a coming storm.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The atmosphere was heavy and close, signs of a coming storm.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It was two or three days before Monsieur de Güldenfeldt's proposed return.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading It was two or three days before Monsieur de Güldenfeldt's proposed return.
cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading And Pearl knew that if her letter of rupture was to be sent at all it was necessary to write it without further delay.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For over an hour she had been sitting at her writing table with the blank paper before her.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading And Pearl knew that if her letter of rupture was to be sent at all it was necessary to write it without further delay.
Güldenfeldt's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was two or three days before Monsieur de Güldenfeldt's proposed return.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For over an hour she had been sitting at her writing table with the blank paper before her.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The atmosphere was heavy and close, signs of a coming storm.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And Pearl knew that if her letter of rupture was to be sent at all it was necessary to write it without further delay.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading For over an hour she had been sitting at her writing table with the blank paper before her.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading And Pearl knew that if her letter of rupture was to be sent at all it was necessary to write it without further delay.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was two or three days before Monsieur de Güldenfeldt's proposed return.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading And Pearl knew that if her letter of rupture was to be sent at all it was necessary to write it without further delay.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading And Pearl knew that if her letter of rupture was to be sent at all it was necessary to write it without further delay.
used as a French courtesy title; equivalent to English “Mr”
From this reading It was two or three days before Monsieur de Güldenfeldt's proposed return.
absolutely essential
From this reading And Pearl knew that if her letter of rupture was to be sent at all it was necessary to write it without further delay.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And Pearl knew that if her letter of rupture was to be sent at all it was necessary to write it without further delay.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was two or three days before Monsieur de Güldenfeldt's proposed return.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading For over an hour she had been sitting at her writing table with the blank paper before her.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading For over an hour she had been sitting at her writing table with the blank paper before her.
PearlnounUS /pɜːrl/
a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
From this reading And Pearl knew that if her letter of rupture was to be sent at all it was necessary to write it without further delay.
past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading It was two or three days before Monsieur de Güldenfeldt's proposed return.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading It was two or three days before Monsieur de Güldenfeldt's proposed return.
ruptureverbUS /ˈrʌptʃər/
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading And Pearl knew that if her letter of rupture was to be sent at all it was necessary to write it without further delay.
SCYLLAnounUS /ˈsɪlə/
(Greek mythology) a sea nymph transformed into a sea monster who lived on one side of a narrow strait; drowned and devoured sailors who tried to escape Charybdis (a whirlpool) on the other side of the strait
From this reading 'TWIXT SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading And Pearl knew that if her letter of rupture was to be sent at all it was necessary to write it without further delay.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For over an hour she had been sitting at her writing table with the blank paper before her.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading The atmosphere was heavy and close, signs of a coming storm.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading For over an hour she had been sitting at her writing table with the blank paper before her.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading The atmosphere was heavy and close, signs of a coming storm.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading For over an hour she had been sitting at her writing table with the blank paper before her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And Pearl knew that if her letter of rupture was to be sent at all it was necessary to write it without further delay.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For over an hour she had been sitting at her writing table with the blank paper before her.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading It was two or three days before Monsieur de Güldenfeldt's proposed return.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And Pearl knew that if her letter of rupture was to be sent at all it was necessary to write it without further delay.
TWIXT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'TWIXT SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading It was two or three days before Monsieur de Güldenfeldt's proposed return.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was two or three days before Monsieur de Güldenfeldt's proposed return.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For over an hour she had been sitting at her writing table with the blank paper before her.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading And Pearl knew that if her letter of rupture was to be sent at all it was necessary to write it without further delay.
produce a literary work
From this reading And Pearl knew that if her letter of rupture was to be sent at all it was necessary to write it without further delay.
the act of creating written works
From this reading For over an hour she had been sitting at her writing table with the blank paper before her.
