used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life.
agitatedadjectiveUS /ˈædʒəteɪtɪd/
troubled emotionally and usually deeply
From this reading The lawyer's face was pale and serious, and his manner agitated.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Certainly he had gone through an experience unpleasant enough to upset any man.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Here she had been busy making plans to go and console him in prison, and behold he walked in!
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Certainly he had gone through an experience unpleasant enough to upset any man.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life.
see with attention
From this reading Here she had been busy making plans to go and console him in prison, and behold he walked in!
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Paula did not believe her eyes.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Here she had been busy making plans to go and console him in prison, and behold he walked in!
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Certainly he had gone through an experience unpleasant enough to upset any man.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life.
consoleverbUS /ˈkɑːnsoʊl/
give moral or emotional strength to
From this reading Here she had been busy making plans to go and console him in prison, and behold he walked in!
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Paula did not believe her eyes.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Certainly he had gone through an experience unpleasant enough to upset any man.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading Certainly he had gone through an experience unpleasant enough to upset any man.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Paula did not believe her eyes.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The lawyer's face was pale and serious, and his manner agitated.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Here she had been busy making plans to go and console him in prison, and behold he walked in!
destroyed or killed
From this reading Certainly he had gone through an experience unpleasant enough to upset any man.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life.
only a very short time before
From this reading She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Here she had been busy making plans to go and console him in prison, and behold he walked in!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Paula did not believe her eyes.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here she had been busy making plans to go and console him in prison, and behold he walked in!
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Here she had been busy making plans to go and console him in prison, and behold he walked in!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The lawyer's face was pale and serious, and his manner agitated.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Here she had been busy making plans to go and console him in prison, and behold he walked in!
lawyer'snounUS /ˈlɔːjərz/
possessive form of “lawyer” — a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
From this reading The lawyer's face was pale and serious, and his manner agitated.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Here she had been busy making plans to go and console him in prison, and behold he walked in!
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The lawyer's face was pale and serious, and his manner agitated.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Paula did not believe her eyes.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading The lawyer's face was pale and serious, and his manner agitated.
Paula
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paula did not believe her eyes.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading Here she had been busy making plans to go and console him in prison, and behold he walked in!
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading Here she had been busy making plans to go and console him in prison, and behold he walked in!
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading The lawyer's face was pale and serious, and his manner agitated.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The lawyer's face was pale and serious, and his manner agitated.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Certainly he had gone through an experience unpleasant enough to upset any man.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life.
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading Certainly he had gone through an experience unpleasant enough to upset any man.
upsetverbUS /əpˈset/
disturb the balance or stability of
From this reading Certainly he had gone through an experience unpleasant enough to upset any man.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Here she had been busy making plans to go and console him in prison, and behold he walked in!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The lawyer's face was pale and serious, and his manner agitated.
