used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His face brightened a moment, as he sat wearily down at his writing-table and saw the prairie rose in the slender vase.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His face brightened a moment, as he sat wearily down at his writing-table and saw the prairie rose in the slender vase.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
bloomnounUS /bluːm/
the organic process of bearing flowers
From this reading He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him, touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of Helen's cheek.
brightenedverbUS /ˈbraɪtənd/
past form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color
From this reading His face brightened a moment, as he sat wearily down at his writing-table and saw the prairie rose in the slender vase.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
caressedverbUS /kərˈest/
past form of “caress” — touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner
From this reading He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him, touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of Helen's cheek.
either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him, touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of Helen's cheek.
conflictnounUS /ˈkɑːnflɪkt/
an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The house seemed dark and empty.
dazedadjectiveUS /deɪzd/
in a state of mental numbness especially as resulting from shock
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading His face brightened a moment, as he sat wearily down at his writing-table and saw the prairie rose in the slender vase.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him, touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of Helen's cheek.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading The house seemed dark and empty.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
exhaustionnounUS /ɪɡˈzɔːstʃən/
extreme fatigue
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His face brightened a moment, as he sat wearily down at his writing-table and saw the prairie rose in the slender vase.
fibrenounUS /ˈfaɪbər/
a slender and greatly elongated substance capable of being spun into yarn
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him, touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of Helen's cheek.
a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him, touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of Helen's cheek.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him, touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of Helen's cheek.
destroyed or killed
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him, touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of Helen's cheek.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His face brightened a moment, as he sat wearily down at his writing-table and saw the prairie rose in the slender vase.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him, touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of Helen's cheek.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
Helen'snounUS /ˈhelɪnz/
possessive form of “helen” — (Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him, touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of Helen's cheek.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him, touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of Helen's cheek.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The house seemed dark and empty.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His face brightened a moment, as he sat wearily down at his writing-table and saw the prairie rose in the slender vase.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him, touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of Helen's cheek.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him, touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of Helen's cheek.
go away from a place
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
a particular point in time
From this reading His face brightened a moment, as he sat wearily down at his writing-table and saw the prairie rose in the slender vase.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
moraladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrəl/
concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him, touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of Helen's cheek.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
parsonagenounUS /ˈpɑːrsənɪdʒ/
an official residence provided by a church for its parson or vicar or rector
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading His face brightened a moment, as he sat wearily down at his writing-table and saw the prairie rose in the slender vase.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading His face brightened a moment, as he sat wearily down at his writing-table and saw the prairie rose in the slender vase.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading His face brightened a moment, as he sat wearily down at his writing-table and saw the prairie rose in the slender vase.
cut with a saw
From this reading His face brightened a moment, as he sat wearily down at his writing-table and saw the prairie rose in the slender vase.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The house seemed dark and empty.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading His face brightened a moment, as he sat wearily down at his writing-table and saw the prairie rose in the slender vase.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
stupefiedadjective
as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him, touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of Helen's cheek.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
arousing affect
From this reading He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him, touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of Helen's cheek.
in the direction of
From this reading He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him, touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of Helen's cheek.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
vaguelyadverbUS /ˈveɪɡli/
in a vague way
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
vasenounUS /veɪs/
an open jar of glass or porcelain used as an ornament or to hold flowers
From this reading His face brightened a moment, as he sat wearily down at his writing-table and saw the prairie rose in the slender vase.
WardnounUS /wɔːrd/
a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
wearilyadverbUS /ˈwerəli/
in a weary manner
From this reading His face brightened a moment, as he sat wearily down at his writing-table and saw the prairie rose in the slender vase.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading After Helen had gone, John Ward went back to the parsonage, dazed and stupefied by the exhaustion of the moral conflict which for nearly a month had strained every fibre of his soul.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He leaned his head on his hand, and drew the flower towards him, touching it with gentle fingers, as though he caressed the bloom of Helen's cheek.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Then he pushed it in front of her picture which stood always on the same table, and thought vaguely that he would leave it there until she put a fresh one in its place.
writing-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His face brightened a moment, as he sat wearily down at his writing-table and saw the prairie rose in the slender vase.
