something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading Then Elizabeth--unprecedented action!--detached herself almost with impatience.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Then Elizabeth--unprecedented action!--detached herself almost with impatience.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But she gave him but an uncertain support for the first time in their life.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The group made up of those two figures linked into one, making but one shadow, tottered as they set out.
a line of approach
From this reading And she made no reply to his look, to the urgent clasp of his arm on hers, until they had passed out of the village street, and gained the quiet and stillness of the avenue within the gates.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she gave him but an uncertain support for the first time in their life.
claspverbUS /klæsp/
hold firmly and tightly
From this reading And she made no reply to his look, to the urgent clasp of his arm on hers, until they had passed out of the village street, and gained the quiet and stillness of the avenue within the gates.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
detachedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtætʃt/
showing lack of emotional involvement
From this reading Then Elizabeth--unprecedented action!--detached herself almost with impatience.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)
From this reading Then Elizabeth--unprecedented action!--detached herself almost with impatience.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading The group made up of those two figures linked into one, making but one shadow, tottered as they set out.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading But she gave him but an uncertain support for the first time in their life.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But she gave him but an uncertain support for the first time in their life.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading And she made no reply to his look, to the urgent clasp of his arm on hers, until they had passed out of the village street, and gained the quiet and stillness of the avenue within the gates.
United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
From this reading And she made no reply to his look, to the urgent clasp of his arm on hers, until they had passed out of the village street, and gained the quiet and stillness of the avenue within the gates.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading But she gave him but an uncertain support for the first time in their life.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading The group made up of those two figures linked into one, making but one shadow, tottered as they set out.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading And she made no reply to his look, to the urgent clasp of his arm on hers, until they had passed out of the village street, and gained the quiet and stillness of the avenue within the gates.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Then Elizabeth--unprecedented action!--detached herself almost with impatience.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
impatiencenounUS /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəns/
a lack of patience; irritation with anything that causes delay
From this reading Then Elizabeth--unprecedented action!--detached herself almost with impatience.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading But she gave him but an uncertain support for the first time in their life.
linkedadjectiveUS /lɪŋkt/
connected by a link, as railway cars or trailer trucks
From this reading The group made up of those two figures linked into one, making but one shadow, tottered as they set out.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading And she made no reply to his look, to the urgent clasp of his arm on hers, until they had passed out of the village street, and gained the quiet and stillness of the avenue within the gates.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The group made up of those two figures linked into one, making but one shadow, tottered as they set out.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading The group made up of those two figures linked into one, making but one shadow, tottered as they set out.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
not any; not one
From this reading And she made no reply to his look, to the urgent clasp of his arm on hers, until they had passed out of the village street, and gained the quiet and stillness of the avenue within the gates.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The group made up of those two figures linked into one, making but one shadow, tottered as they set out.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And she made no reply to his look, to the urgent clasp of his arm on hers, until they had passed out of the village street, and gained the quiet and stillness of the avenue within the gates.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The group made up of those two figures linked into one, making but one shadow, tottered as they set out.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The group made up of those two figures linked into one, making but one shadow, tottered as they set out.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading And she made no reply to his look, to the urgent clasp of his arm on hers, until they had passed out of the village street, and gained the quiet and stillness of the avenue within the gates.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading And she made no reply to his look, to the urgent clasp of his arm on hers, until they had passed out of the village street, and gained the quiet and stillness of the avenue within the gates.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading And she made no reply to his look, to the urgent clasp of his arm on hers, until they had passed out of the village street, and gained the quiet and stillness of the avenue within the gates.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The group made up of those two figures linked into one, making but one shadow, tottered as they set out.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading The group made up of those two figures linked into one, making but one shadow, tottered as they set out.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading And she made no reply to his look, to the urgent clasp of his arm on hers, until they had passed out of the village street, and gained the quiet and stillness of the avenue within the gates.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading And she made no reply to his look, to the urgent clasp of his arm on hers, until they had passed out of the village street, and gained the quiet and stillness of the avenue within the gates.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
From this reading But she gave him but an uncertain support for the first time in their life.
carry out
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But she gave him but an uncertain support for the first time in their life.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then Elizabeth--unprecedented action!--detached herself almost with impatience.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The group made up of those two figures linked into one, making but one shadow, tottered as they set out.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The group made up of those two figures linked into one, making but one shadow, tottered as they set out.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But she gave him but an uncertain support for the first time in their life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
tottered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The group made up of those two figures linked into one, making but one shadow, tottered as they set out.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The group made up of those two figures linked into one, making but one shadow, tottered as they set out.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading But she gave him but an uncertain support for the first time in their life.
unprecedentedadjectiveUS /ənˈpresɪdentɪd/
having no precedent; novel
From this reading Then Elizabeth--unprecedented action!--detached herself almost with impatience.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading And she made no reply to his look, to the urgent clasp of his arm on hers, until they had passed out of the village street, and gained the quiet and stillness of the avenue within the gates.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The group made up of those two figures linked into one, making but one shadow, tottered as they set out.
urgentadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrdʒənt/
compelling immediate action
From this reading And she made no reply to his look, to the urgent clasp of his arm on hers, until they had passed out of the village street, and gained the quiet and stillness of the avenue within the gates.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading And she made no reply to his look, to the urgent clasp of his arm on hers, until they had passed out of the village street, and gained the quiet and stillness of the avenue within the gates.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
wife'snounUS /waɪfs/
possessive form of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading The Colonel took his wife’s arm, drawing her close to him, leaning over her little figure: he could hold her closer in this way, and take her strength more completely into his own than if she had taken his arm in the ordinary fashion.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then Elizabeth--unprecedented action!--detached herself almost with impatience.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading And she made no reply to his look, to the urgent clasp of his arm on hers, until they had passed out of the village street, and gained the quiet and stillness of the avenue within the gates.
