used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A resolution thus taken is not, however, strong enough to overcome the habits which have grown with years.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading She postponed all further steps with a conscious cowardice, at which, with faint humor, she was still able to smile.
anew
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
(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 She postponed all further steps with a conscious cowardice, at which, with faint humor, she was still able to smile.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “We are two owls,” she said.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She postponed all further steps with a conscious cowardice, at which, with faint humor, she was still able to smile.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
intentionally conceived
From this reading She postponed all further steps with a conscious cowardice, at which, with faint humor, she was still able to smile.
cowardicenounUS /ˈkaʊərdəs/
the trait of lacking courage
From this reading She postponed all further steps with a conscious cowardice, at which, with faint humor, she was still able to smile.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading A resolution thus taken is not, however, strong enough to overcome the habits which have grown with years.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading “Jane, we will make a little reconnaissance first in the evening.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading She postponed all further steps with a conscious cowardice, at which, with faint humor, she was still able to smile.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading “Jane, we will make a little reconnaissance first in the evening.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading She postponed all further steps with a conscious cowardice, at which, with faint humor, she was still able to smile.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading A resolution thus taken is not, however, strong enough to overcome the habits which have grown with years.
plural of “habit” — an established custom
From this reading A resolution thus taken is not, however, strong enough to overcome the habits which have grown with years.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A resolution thus taken is not, however, strong enough to overcome the habits which have grown with years.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading A resolution thus taken is not, however, strong enough to overcome the habits which have grown with years.
humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading She postponed all further steps with a conscious cowardice, at which, with faint humor, she was still able to smile.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A resolution thus taken is not, however, strong enough to overcome the habits which have grown with years.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Jane, we will make a little reconnaissance first in the evening.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “Jane, we will make a little reconnaissance first in the evening.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
engage in
From this reading “Jane, we will make a little reconnaissance first in the evening.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A resolution thus taken is not, however, strong enough to overcome the habits which have grown with years.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
win a victory over
From this reading A resolution thus taken is not, however, strong enough to overcome the habits which have grown with years.
owlsnounUS /aʊlz/
plural of “owl” — nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading “We are two owls,” she said.
postponedverbUS /poʊstˈpoʊnd/
past form of “postpone” — hold back to a later time
From this reading She postponed all further steps with a conscious cowardice, at which, with faint humor, she was still able to smile.
presentingverbUS /prɪˈzentɪŋ/
-ing form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
reconnaissancenounUS /riˈkɑːnəsəns/
the act of reconnoitring (especially to gain information about an enemy or potential enemy)
From this reading “Jane, we will make a little reconnaissance first in the evening.
a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote
From this reading A resolution thus taken is not, however, strong enough to overcome the habits which have grown with years.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “We are two owls,” she said.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
shrankverbUS /ʃræŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading She postponed all further steps with a conscious cowardice, at which, with faint humor, she was still able to smile.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading She postponed all further steps with a conscious cowardice, at which, with faint humor, she was still able to smile.
not in physical motion
From this reading She postponed all further steps with a conscious cowardice, at which, with faint humor, she was still able to smile.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading A resolution thus taken is not, however, strong enough to overcome the habits which have grown with years.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading A resolution thus taken is not, however, strong enough to overcome the habits which have grown with years.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A resolution thus taken is not, however, strong enough to overcome the habits which have grown with years.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading A resolution thus taken is not, however, strong enough to overcome the habits which have grown with years.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A resolution thus taken is not, however, strong enough to overcome the habits which have grown with years.
Trevanion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading “We are two owls,” she said.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She postponed all further steps with a conscious cowardice, at which, with faint humor, she was still able to smile.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “We are two owls,” she said.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A resolution thus taken is not, however, strong enough to overcome the habits which have grown with years.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Jane, we will make a little reconnaissance first in the evening.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A resolution thus taken is not, however, strong enough to overcome the habits which have grown with years.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Mrs. Trevanion had been so long in the background that she shrank from the idea of presenting herself again to what seemed to her the view of the world.
a late time of life
From this reading A resolution thus taken is not, however, strong enough to overcome the habits which have grown with years.
