used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
equally
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I will be swift," he said, "the way the courage won't be oozing out of me!"
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
breathsnounUS /breθs/
plural of “breath” — the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
burdenedadjectiveUS /ˈbɜːrdənd/
bearing a heavy burden of work or difficulties or responsibilities
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
a person who is in charge
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
clutchnounUS /klʌtʃ/
the act of grasping
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
something that interests you because it is important or affects you
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading "I will be swift," he said, "the way the courage won't be oozing out of me!"
Daragh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, Michael Daragh!"
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
having the pinkish flush of health
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
death of a person
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She stood up straight and proud before him, waiting for his word.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I will be swift," he said, "the way the courage won't be oozing out of me!"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
IrishmannounUS /ˈaɪrɪʃmən/
a man who is a native or inhabitant of Ireland
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I will be swift," he said, "the way the courage won't be oozing out of me!"
(Old Testament) the guardian archangel of the Jews
From this reading "Yes, Michael Daragh!"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I will be swift," he said, "the way the courage won't be oozing out of me!"
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
oozingnounUS /ˈuːzɪŋ/
the process of seeping
From this reading "I will be swift," he said, "the way the courage won't be oozing out of me!"
opulentadjectiveUS /ˈɑːpjələnt/
ostentatiously rich and superior in quality
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "I will be swift," he said, "the way the courage won't be oozing out of me!"
prosperousadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːspərəs/
in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading She stood up straight and proud before him, waiting for his word.
pullingnounUS /ˈpʊlɪŋ/
the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
purposefuladjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrpəsfəl/
serving as or indicating the existence of a purpose or goal
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I will be swift," he said, "the way the courage won't be oozing out of me!"
a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She stood up straight and proud before him, waiting for his word.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
spinsterhoodnoun
the state of being a spinster (usually an elderly unmarried woman)
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading She stood up straight and proud before him, waiting for his word.
successive (without a break)
From this reading She stood up straight and proud before him, waiting for his word.
moving very fast
From this reading "I will be swift," he said, "the way the courage won't be oozing out of me!"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She stood up straight and proud before him, waiting for his word.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading She stood up straight and proud before him, waiting for his word.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The big Irishman was pulling burdened breaths and haste had flushed his lean cheeks, and they faced each other for an instant in silence before he caught her hands in a hard clutch.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "I will be swift," he said, "the way the courage won't be oozing out of me!"
belonging to which person
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "I will be swift," he said, "the way the courage won't be oozing out of me!"
woenounUS /woʊ/
misery resulting from affliction
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I will be swift," he said, "the way the courage won't be oozing out of me!"
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading She stood up straight and proud before him, waiting for his word.
world'snounUS /wɜːrldz/
possessive form of “world” — everything that exists anywhere
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes, Michael Daragh!"
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading She had waited long for it, turning her back alike on prosperous, opulent love and busy and purposeful spinsterhood, knowing that happiness for her was the grave, young saint whose chief concern would be always for the world's woe.
