used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The settling of this affair seemed only to give mind-room to other concerns.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading In the slow hours before the coming of the slate-colored dawn a vague, disturbing doubt crept in upon him.
blockedadjectiveUS /blɑːkt/
closed to traffic
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there was not.
Clifford's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading In the slow hours before the coming of the slate-colored dawn a vague, disturbing doubt crept in upon him.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
concernsnounUS /kənˈsɜːrnz/
plural of “concern” — something that interests you because it is important or affects you
From this reading The settling of this affair seemed only to give mind-room to other concerns.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading In the slow hours before the coming of the slate-colored dawn a vague, disturbing doubt crept in upon him.
the first light of day
From this reading In the slow hours before the coming of the slate-colored dawn a vague, disturbing doubt crept in upon him.
disturbingadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ/
causing distress or worry or anxiety
From this reading In the slow hours before the coming of the slate-colored dawn a vague, disturbing doubt crept in upon him.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading In the slow hours before the coming of the slate-colored dawn a vague, disturbing doubt crept in upon him.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
finalitynounUS /faɪˈnæləti/
the quality of being final or definitely settled
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The settling of this affair seemed only to give mind-room to other concerns.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In the slow hours before the coming of the slate-colored dawn a vague, disturbing doubt crept in upon him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the slow hours before the coming of the slate-colored dawn a vague, disturbing doubt crept in upon him.
let-down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
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 THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
Loveman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
mind-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The settling of this affair seemed only to give mind-room to other concerns.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But there was not.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
and nothing more
From this reading The settling of this affair seemed only to give mind-room to other concerns.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The settling of this affair seemed only to give mind-room to other concerns.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
potentiallyadverbUS /pəˈtenʃəli/
with a possibility of becoming actual
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
restlesslyadverbUS /ˈrestləsli/
in a restless manner
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
restlessnessnounUS /ˈrestləsnəs/
the quality of being ceaselessly moving or active
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The settling of this affair seemed only to give mind-room to other concerns.
settlingnounUS /ˈsetəlɪŋ/
a gradual sinking to a lower level
From this reading The settling of this affair seemed only to give mind-room to other concerns.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
slate-colored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the slow hours before the coming of the slate-colored dawn a vague, disturbing doubt crept in upon him.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading In the slow hours before the coming of the slate-colored dawn a vague, disturbing doubt crept in upon him.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
suspensenounUS /səˈspens/
apprehension about what is going to happen
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
TESTnounUS /test/
trying something to find out about it
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The settling of this affair seemed only to give mind-room to other concerns.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The settling of this affair seemed only to give mind-room to other concerns.
tossedverbUS /tɔːst/
past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In the slow hours before the coming of the slate-colored dawn a vague, disturbing doubt crept in upon him.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading In the slow hours before the coming of the slate-colored dawn a vague, disturbing doubt crept in upon him.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But there was not.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
the basic unit of money in South Korea
From this reading THE TEST OF LIFE Now that he had won, now that the marriage and Loveman’s plans were potentially blocked, there should have been a let-down from Clifford’s long strain.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He tossed about restlessly during the few hours that remained of the night; and he realized that his restlessness was not due wholly to the suspense of waiting for the finality that would come with Loveman’s completed promise.
