used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before this it had been in a vague condition, a thing which might or might not come to anything.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had given her to understand that the aspect in which she appeared to him was one of great interest and attraction.
any thing at all
From this reading Before this it had been in a vague condition, a thing which might or might not come to anything.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He had given her to understand that the aspect in which she appeared to him was one of great interest and attraction.
a distinct feature or element in a problem
From this reading He had given her to understand that the aspect in which she appeared to him was one of great interest and attraction.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But now he had, to his own consciousness at least, committed himself.
attractionnounUS /əˈtrækʃən/
the force by which one object attracts another
From this reading He had given her to understand that the aspect in which she appeared to him was one of great interest and attraction.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before this it had been in a vague condition, a thing which might or might not come to anything.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But now he had, to his own consciousness at least, committed himself.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Before this it had been in a vague condition, a thing which might or might not come to anything.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading But now he had, to his own consciousness at least, committed himself.
a state at a particular time
From this reading Before this it had been in a vague condition, a thing which might or might not come to anything.
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading But now he had, to his own consciousness at least, committed himself.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading He had given her to understand that the aspect in which she appeared to him was one of great interest and attraction.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading He had given her to understand that the aspect in which she appeared to him was one of great interest and attraction.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He had given her to understand that the aspect in which she appeared to him was one of great interest and attraction.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But now he had, to his own consciousness at least, committed himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But now he had, to his own consciousness at least, committed himself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Before this it had been in a vague condition, a thing which might or might not come to anything.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading He had given her to understand that the aspect in which she appeared to him was one of great interest and attraction.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Before this it had been in a vague condition, a thing which might or might not come to anything.
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
Jean'snounUS /dʒiːnz/
possessive form of “jean” — a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading But now he had, to his own consciousness at least, committed himself.
LewisnounUS /ˈluːɪs/
United States rock star singer and pianist (born in 1935)
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Before this it had been in a vague condition, a thing which might or might not come to anything.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
Murkley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
not any; not one
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Before this it had been in a vague condition, a thing which might or might not come to anything.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But now he had, to his own consciousness at least, committed himself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had given her to understand that the aspect in which she appeared to him was one of great interest and attraction.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Before this it had been in a vague condition, a thing which might or might not come to anything.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading But now he had, to his own consciousness at least, committed himself.
made known or told about; especially presented in a formal account
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
express in words
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
in or at that place or location
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
a special situation
From this reading Before this it had been in a vague condition, a thing which might or might not come to anything.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Before this it had been in a vague condition, a thing which might or might not come to anything.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading He had given her to understand that the aspect in which she appeared to him was one of great interest and attraction.
undertakingnounUS /ˈʌndərteɪkɪŋ/
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading Before this it had been in a vague condition, a thing which might or might not come to anything.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
in the company of; together with
From this reading After the conversation with Miss Jean which has been reported, Lewis felt that he had begun the undertaking which brought him to Murkley.
the words that are spoken
From this reading What effect his words might have had on Miss Jean's mind he was of course unable to tell; but, whatever she might do, there was now no retreat for him.
