used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
in the past
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mme. Lorraine, like the serpent crawling into Eden, had brought woe and pain where love and joy had reigned.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
of short duration or distance
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Mme. Lorraine, like the serpent crawling into Eden, had brought woe and pain where love and joy had reigned.
crawlingnounUS /ˈkrɔːlɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading Mme. Lorraine, like the serpent crawling into Eden, had brought woe and pain where love and joy had reigned.
crudeadjectiveUS /kruːd/
not carefully or expertly made
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
devouringadjectiveUS /dɪˈvaʊərɪŋ/
(often followed by “for”) ardently or excessively desirous
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
the act of discovering something
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
dreadingverbUS /ˈdredɪŋ/
-ing form of “dread” — be afraid or scared of; be frightened of
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
EdennounUS /ˈiːdən/
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading Mme. Lorraine, like the serpent crawling into Eden, had brought woe and pain where love and joy had reigned.
EliotnounUS /ˈeliət/
British poet (born in the United States) who won the Nobel prize for literature; his plays are outstanding examples of modern verse drama (1888-1965)
From this reading "This is my farewell to you, Eliot," it said.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting
From this reading "This is my farewell to you, Eliot," it said.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
made afraid
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
handwritingnounUS /ˈhændraɪtɪŋ/
something written by hand
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
inknounUS /ɪŋk/
a liquid used for printing or writing or drawing
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Mme. Lorraine, like the serpent crawling into Eden, had brought woe and pain where love and joy had reigned.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "This is my farewell to you, Eliot," it said.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading Mme. Lorraine, like the serpent crawling into Eden, had brought woe and pain where love and joy had reigned.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
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 She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
the literary culture
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Mme. Lorraine, like the serpent crawling into Eden, had brought woe and pain where love and joy had reigned.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
LorrainenounUS /lərˈeɪn/
an eastern French region rich in iron-ore deposits
From this reading Mme. Lorraine, like the serpent crawling into Eden, had brought woe and pain where love and joy had reigned.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
Mme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme. Lorraine, like the serpent crawling into Eden, had brought woe and pain where love and joy had reigned.
mutualadjectiveUS /ˈmjuːtʃuːəl/
common to or shared by two or more parties
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "This is my farewell to you, Eliot," it said.
a brief written record
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading Mme. Lorraine, like the serpent crawling into Eden, had brought woe and pain where love and joy had reigned.
pavedadjectiveUS /peɪvd/
covered with a firm surface
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
reignedverbUS /reɪnd/
past form of “reign” — have sovereign power
From this reading Mme. Lorraine, like the serpent crawling into Eden, had brought woe and pain where love and joy had reigned.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "This is my farewell to you, Eliot," it said.
only a very short time before
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
serpentnounUS /ˈsɜːrpənt/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading Mme. Lorraine, like the serpent crawling into Eden, had brought woe and pain where love and joy had reigned.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
moving very fast
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
Una
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
Una's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
precisely as stated
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
weddedadjectiveUS /ˈwedɪd/
having been taken in marriage
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
at the time that
From this reading She had left him, he felt quite sure--left him almost in the very hour when the discovery of their mutual love for each other had paved the way to their wedded happiness.
in or at the place that
From this reading Mme. Lorraine, like the serpent crawling into Eden, had brought woe and pain where love and joy had reigned.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
a Caucasian
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He stood staring with frightened eyes at the white envelope, with its large black letters formed in Una's crude handwriting, dreading to touch it, for a swift instinct told him the truth.
woenounUS /woʊ/
misery resulting from affliction
From this reading Mme. Lorraine, like the serpent crawling into Eden, had brought woe and pain where love and joy had reigned.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading All this flashed over him instinctively as he took the letter in his hand and tore it open, devouring in fierce haste the brief, sad note Una had written such a little while ago that the ink was scarcely dry upon the page.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "This is my farewell to you, Eliot," it said.
