used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was the third day since Giles had left her on the Cornice Road, and Jocelyn had not seen him since.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been told of his wife’s sudden death.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading She felt a tremulous compassion for the woman whose life had been so full of pain, whose end had been so sudden; and with that compassion was mingled a sense of remorse, of bitter regret that she had done her a great and unmerited wrong.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
compassionnounUS /kəmˈpæʃən/
a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering
From this reading She felt a tremulous compassion for the woman whose life had been so full of pain, whose end had been so sudden; and with that compassion was mingled a sense of remorse, of bitter regret that she had done her a great and unmerited wrong.
Cornicenoun
a decorative framework to conceal curtain fixtures at the top of a window casing
From this reading It was the third day since Giles had left her on the Cornice Road, and Jocelyn had not seen him since.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was the third day since Giles had left her on the Cornice Road, and Jocelyn had not seen him since.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading She had been told of his wife’s sudden death.
depthnounUS /depθ/
the extent downward or backward or inward
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading She longed wistfully for some glimpse into the dim future.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading She felt a tremulous compassion for the woman whose life had been so full of pain, whose end had been so sudden; and with that compassion was mingled a sense of remorse, of bitter regret that she had done her a great and unmerited wrong.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading She felt a tremulous compassion for the woman whose life had been so full of pain, whose end had been so sudden; and with that compassion was mingled a sense of remorse, of bitter regret that she had done her a great and unmerited wrong.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
fablenounUS /ˈfeɪbəl/
a deliberately false or improbable account
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading She felt a tremulous compassion for the woman whose life had been so full of pain, whose end had been so sudden; and with that compassion was mingled a sense of remorse, of bitter regret that she had done her a great and unmerited wrong.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She longed wistfully for some glimpse into the dim future.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
yet to be or coming
From this reading She longed wistfully for some glimpse into the dim future.
Giles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the third day since Giles had left her on the Cornice Road, and Jocelyn had not seen him since.
a quick look
From this reading She longed wistfully for some glimpse into the dim future.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading She felt a tremulous compassion for the woman whose life had been so full of pain, whose end had been so sudden; and with that compassion was mingled a sense of remorse, of bitter regret that she had done her a great and unmerited wrong.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was the third day since Giles had left her on the Cornice Road, and Jocelyn had not seen him since.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was the third day since Giles had left her on the Cornice Road, and Jocelyn had not seen him since.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was the third day since Giles had left her on the Cornice Road, and Jocelyn had not seen him since.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She had been told of his wife’s sudden death.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She longed wistfully for some glimpse into the dim future.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the third day since Giles had left her on the Cornice Road, and Jocelyn had not seen him since.
Jocelyn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the third day since Giles had left her on the Cornice Road, and Jocelyn had not seen him since.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading It was the third day since Giles had left her on the Cornice Road, and Jocelyn had not seen him since.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading She felt a tremulous compassion for the woman whose life had been so full of pain, whose end had been so sudden; and with that compassion was mingled a sense of remorse, of bitter regret that she had done her a great and unmerited wrong.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
longedverbUS /lɔːŋd/
past form of “long” — desire strongly or persistently
From this reading She longed wistfully for some glimpse into the dim future.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading She felt a tremulous compassion for the woman whose life had been so full of pain, whose end had been so sudden; and with that compassion was mingled a sense of remorse, of bitter regret that she had done her a great and unmerited wrong.
information about recent and important events
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
not any; not one
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was the third day since Giles had left her on the Cornice Road, and Jocelyn had not seen him since.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had been told of his wife’s sudden death.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was the third day since Giles had left her on the Cornice Road, and Jocelyn had not seen him since.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading She felt a tremulous compassion for the woman whose life had been so full of pain, whose end had been so sudden; and with that compassion was mingled a sense of remorse, of bitter regret that she had done her a great and unmerited wrong.
feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading She felt a tremulous compassion for the woman whose life had been so full of pain, whose end had been so sudden; and with that compassion was mingled a sense of remorse, of bitter regret that she had done her a great and unmerited wrong.
remorsenounUS /rɪˈmɔːrs/
a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)
From this reading She felt a tremulous compassion for the woman whose life had been so full of pain, whose end had been so sudden; and with that compassion was mingled a sense of remorse, of bitter regret that she had done her a great and unmerited wrong.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading It was the third day since Giles had left her on the Cornice Road, and Jocelyn had not seen him since.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was the third day since Giles had left her on the Cornice Road, and Jocelyn had not seen him since.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading She felt a tremulous compassion for the woman whose life had been so full of pain, whose end had been so sudden; and with that compassion was mingled a sense of remorse, of bitter regret that she had done her a great and unmerited wrong.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had been told of his wife’s sudden death.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It was the third day since Giles had left her on the Cornice Road, and Jocelyn had not seen him since.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She felt a tremulous compassion for the woman whose life had been so full of pain, whose end had been so sudden; and with that compassion was mingled a sense of remorse, of bitter regret that she had done her a great and unmerited wrong.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading She longed wistfully for some glimpse into the dim future.
in a strange manner
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading She had been told of his wife’s sudden death.
swimmernounUS /ˈswɪmər/
a trained athlete who participates in swimming meets
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was the third day since Giles had left her on the Cornice Road, and Jocelyn had not seen him since.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading It was the third day since Giles had left her on the Cornice Road, and Jocelyn had not seen him since.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading She had been told of his wife’s sudden death.
tremulousadjectiveUS /ˈtremjələs/
(of the voice) quivering as from weakness or fear
From this reading She felt a tremulous compassion for the woman whose life had been so full of pain, whose end had been so sudden; and with that compassion was mingled a sense of remorse, of bitter regret that she had done her a great and unmerited wrong.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
unmeritedadjective
not merited or deserved
From this reading She felt a tremulous compassion for the woman whose life had been so full of pain, whose end had been so sudden; and with that compassion was mingled a sense of remorse, of bitter regret that she had done her a great and unmerited wrong.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the third day since Giles had left her on the Cornice Road, and Jocelyn had not seen him since.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
belonging to which person
From this reading She felt a tremulous compassion for the woman whose life had been so full of pain, whose end had been so sudden; and with that compassion was mingled a sense of remorse, of bitter regret that she had done her a great and unmerited wrong.
wife'snounUS /waɪfs/
possessive form of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading She had been told of his wife’s sudden death.
wistfullyadverbUS /ˈwɪstfəli/
in a wistful manner
From this reading She longed wistfully for some glimpse into the dim future.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It had seemed to her like a fable with no certain meaning in it; but the news had left her strangely excited, full of fear and doubt, with the feeling that she was, like a swimmer, out of her depth and struggling in dark and uncertain waters.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading She felt a tremulous compassion for the woman whose life had been so full of pain, whose end had been so sudden; and with that compassion was mingled a sense of remorse, of bitter regret that she had done her a great and unmerited wrong.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading She felt a tremulous compassion for the woman whose life had been so full of pain, whose end had been so sudden; and with that compassion was mingled a sense of remorse, of bitter regret that she had done her a great and unmerited wrong.
