used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
abstractionnounUS /æbˈstrækʃən/
a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
equally
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
arrestedverbUS /ərˈestɪd/
past form of “arrest” — take into custody
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
awakes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
BeatricenounUS /ˈbiːətrəs/
the woman who guided Dante through Paradise in the Divine Comedy
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
Cobbett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
constitutesverbUS /ˈkɑːnstətuːts/
third-person singular of “constitute” — form or compose
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
cottage-door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
DantenounUS /ˈdɑːnteɪ/
an Italian poet famous for writing the Divine Comedy that describes a journey through Hell and purgatory and paradise guided by Virgil and his idealized Beatrice (1265-1321)
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.
dullestadjectiveUS /ˈdʌləst/
superlative of “dull” — lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
the organ of sight
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
a long fixed look
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
a young female
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
hardestadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdəst/
superlative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
homeliest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
house-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
an instinctive motive
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
inexplicableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnəkˈsplɪsəbəl/
incapable of being explained or accounted for
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
liveliestadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪvliːəst/
superlative of “lively” — full of life and energy
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
namelessadjectiveUS /ˈneɪm.ləs/
Having no name, or having a name that is kept secret or unknown.
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.
Percival
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
quickestadverbUS /ˈkwɪkɪst/
most quickly
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
with speed
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
on the contrary
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
recognitionnounUS /ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃən/
the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged
From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
sleepernounUS /ˈsliːpər/
a rester who is sleeping
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
thrilledadjectiveUS /θrɪld/
feeling intense pleasurable excitement
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.
typesnounUS /taɪps/
plural of “type” — a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
a vivid mental image
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, "That girl should be my wife," and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
