adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
AlthoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
arrivalnounUS /ərˈaɪvəl/
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
confusionnounUS /kənˈfjuːʒən/
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading I embraced him in the greatest possible state of confusion.
conversationnounUS /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃən/
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading He took a seat, without either one or other of us having uttered a word.
embracedverbUS /emˈbreɪst/
past form of “embrace” — include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory
From this reading I embraced him in the greatest possible state of confusion.
expectverbUS /ɪkˈspekt/
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading It was my father.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
greatestadjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪtəst/
highest in quality
From this reading I embraced him in the greatest possible state of confusion.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He took a seat, without either one or other of us having uttered a word.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He took a seat, without either one or other of us having uttered a word.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I embraced him in the greatest possible state of confusion.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was my father.
lieutenant-general
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
melancholynounUS /ˈmelənkɑːli/
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
occupiedadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪd/
held or filled or in use
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He took a seat, without either one or other of us having uttered a word.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He took a seat, without either one or other of us having uttered a word.
oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
policenounUS /pəˈliːs/
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
possibleadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːsəbəl/
capable of happening or existing
From this reading I embraced him in the greatest possible state of confusion.
preparedadjectiveUS /priˈperd/
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
reasonsnounUS /ˈriːzənz/
plural of “reason” — a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
reflectionsnounUS /rɪˈflekʃənz/
plural of “reflection” — a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
seatnounUS /siːt/
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading He took a seat, without either one or other of us having uttered a word.
seeingnounUS /ˈsiːɪŋ/
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
statenounUS /steɪt/
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading I embraced him in the greatest possible state of confusion.
sunkadjectiveUS /sʌŋk/
doomed to extinction
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
thinkingnounUS /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
thunderstruckadjectiveUS /ˈθʌndərstrʌk/
as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took a seat, without either one or other of us having uttered a word.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He took a seat, without either one or other of us having uttered a word.
utteredadjectiveUS /ˈʌtərd/
communicated in words
From this reading He took a seat, without either one or other of us having uttered a word.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
willinglyadverbUS /ˈwɪlɪŋli/
in a willing manner
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "I had been occupied with the most melancholy reflections, and was thinking of the conversation I had had with the lieutenant-general of police, when I heard my door open.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He took a seat, without either one or other of us having uttered a word.
wordnounUS /wɜːrd/
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading He took a seat, without either one or other of us having uttered a word.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Although I ought to have been half prepared for seeing him, and had reasons to expect his arrival within a day or two, yet I was so thunderstruck, that I could willingly have sunk into the earth, if it had been open at my feet.
