used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Not a very cheerful thing to have staring at one day and night, is it?”
affectionateadjectiveUS /əˈfekʃənət/
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading The teasing which, in the first days, had been so light and affectionate, became cruel.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Not a very cheerful thing to have staring at one day and night, is it?”
associateverbUS /əˈsoʊsiət/
make a logical or causal connection
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Not a very cheerful thing to have staring at one day and night, is it?”
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The teasing which, in the first days, had been so light and affectionate, became cruel.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The teasing which, in the first days, had been so light and affectionate, became cruel.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading “Not a very cheerful thing to have staring at one day and night, is it?”
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading The teasing which, in the first days, had been so light and affectionate, became cruel.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading “Not a very cheerful thing to have staring at one day and night, is it?”
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The teasing which, in the first days, had been so light and affectionate, became cruel.
distressedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrest/
facing or experiencing financial trouble or difficulty
From this reading Emmy would have been distressed, no doubt, if she had known how much she hurt him.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “You really do,” Emmy nodded.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading Emmy would have been distressed, no doubt, if she had known how much she hurt him.
EmmynounUS /ˈemi/
an annual award by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievements in television
From this reading “You really do,” Emmy nodded.
divisible by two
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
expensenounUS /ɪkˈspens/
amounts paid for goods and services that may be currently tax deductible (as opposed to capital expenditures)
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The teasing which, in the first days, had been so light and affectionate, became cruel.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The teasing which, in the first days, had been so light and affectionate, became cruel.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Not a very cheerful thing to have staring at one day and night, is it?”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Emmy would have been distressed, no doubt, if she had known how much she hurt him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Emmy would have been distressed, no doubt, if she had known how much she hurt him.
be the source of pain
From this reading Emmy would have been distressed, no doubt, if she had known how much she hurt him.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Emmy would have been distressed, no doubt, if she had known how much she hurt him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
inexpressiblyadverb
to an inexpressible degree
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Not a very cheerful thing to have staring at one day and night, is it?”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Not a very cheerful thing to have staring at one day and night, is it?”
journalistnounUS /ˈdʒɜːrnələst/
a writer for newspapers and magazines
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Emmy would have been distressed, no doubt, if she had known how much she hurt him.
the sound of laughing
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The teasing which, in the first days, had been so light and affectionate, became cruel.
mockingadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːkɪŋ/
abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Emmy would have been distressed, no doubt, if she had known how much she hurt him.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading “Not a very cheerful thing to have staring at one day and night, is it?”
not any; not one
From this reading Emmy would have been distressed, no doubt, if she had known how much she hurt him.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading “You really do,” Emmy nodded.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Not a very cheerful thing to have staring at one day and night, is it?”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Not a very cheerful thing to have staring at one day and night, is it?”
operanounUS /ˈɑːprə/
a drama set to music; consists of singing with orchestral accompaniment and an orchestral overture and interludes
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
a human being
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading “You really do,” Emmy nodded.
have in common
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
singernounUS /ˈsɪŋər/
a person who sings
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The teasing which, in the first days, had been so light and affectionate, became cruel.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
SpencernounUS /ˈspensər/
English philosopher and sociologist who applied the theory of natural selection to human societies (1820-1903)
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading “Not a very cheerful thing to have staring at one day and night, is it?”
teasingnounUS /ˈtiːzɪŋ/
the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent annoyances
From this reading The teasing which, in the first days, had been so light and affectionate, became cruel.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
a special situation
From this reading “Not a very cheerful thing to have staring at one day and night, is it?”
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Not a very cheerful thing to have staring at one day and night, is it?”
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
precisely as stated
From this reading “Not a very cheerful thing to have staring at one day and night, is it?”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The teasing which, in the first days, had been so light and affectionate, became cruel.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Sometimes--and this to my Uncle Spencer was inexpressibly painful--she would even bring in some third person to share the sport at his expense; she would associate the bank clerk, the opera singer, or the journalist in her mocking laughter.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You really do,” Emmy nodded.
