used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It seemed rather to be a resolved incuriousness about things around her, a turning away of the face from life, as from something dreadful, that had only pain to offer her.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He wondered much about this silence of hers.
(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 Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
apatheticadjectiveUS /ˌæpəˈθetɪk/
showing little or no emotion or animation
From this reading It was scarcely apathy; no eyes could be as bright as hers if the heart were apathetic.
apathynounUS /ˈæpəθi/
an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
From this reading It was scarcely apathy; no eyes could be as bright as hers if the heart were apathetic.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading It seemed rather to be a resolved incuriousness about things around her, a turning away of the face from life, as from something dreadful, that had only pain to offer her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was scarcely apathy; no eyes could be as bright as hers if the heart were apathetic.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It seemed rather to be a resolved incuriousness about things around her, a turning away of the face from life, as from something dreadful, that had only pain to offer her.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was scarcely apathy; no eyes could be as bright as hers if the heart were apathetic.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading It was scarcely apathy; no eyes could be as bright as hers if the heart were apathetic.
BrightonnounUS /ˈbraɪtən/
a city in East Sussex in southern England that is a popular resort; site of the University of Sussex
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading It seemed rather to be a resolved incuriousness about things around her, a turning away of the face from life, as from something dreadful, that had only pain to offer her.
at any time
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
opinion or judgment
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading It seemed rather to be a resolved incuriousness about things around her, a turning away of the face from life, as from something dreadful, that had only pain to offer her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
set up or found
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
fragileadjectiveUS /ˈfrædʒəl/
easily broken or damaged or destroyed
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It seemed rather to be a resolved incuriousness about things around her, a turning away of the face from life, as from something dreadful, that had only pain to offer her.
gem-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
glitternounUS /ˈɡlɪtər/
the quality of shining with a bright reflected light
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
gulfnounUS /ɡʌlf/
an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading He wondered much about this silence of hers.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was scarcely apathy; no eyes could be as bright as hers if the heart were apathetic.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
incuriousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed rather to be a resolved incuriousness about things around her, a turning away of the face from life, as from something dreadful, that had only pain to offer her.
inviteverbUS /ˌɪnˈvaɪt/
increase the likelihood of
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was scarcely apathy; no eyes could be as bright as hers if the heart were apathetic.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It seemed rather to be a resolved incuriousness about things around her, a turning away of the face from life, as from something dreadful, that had only pain to offer her.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He wondered much about this silence of hers.
not any; not one
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading It seemed rather to be a resolved incuriousness about things around her, a turning away of the face from life, as from something dreadful, that had only pain to offer her.
on one occasion
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
and nothing more
From this reading It seemed rather to be a resolved incuriousness about things around her, a turning away of the face from life, as from something dreadful, that had only pain to offer her.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading It seemed rather to be a resolved incuriousness about things around her, a turning away of the face from life, as from something dreadful, that had only pain to offer her.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
on the contrary
From this reading It seemed rather to be a resolved incuriousness about things around her, a turning away of the face from life, as from something dreadful, that had only pain to offer her.
reconciledadjectiveUS /ˈrekənsaɪld/
made compatible or consistent
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
determined
From this reading It seemed rather to be a resolved incuriousness about things around her, a turning away of the face from life, as from something dreadful, that had only pain to offer her.
only a very short time before
From this reading It was scarcely apathy; no eyes could be as bright as hers if the heart were apathetic.
sea-plain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
be seated
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It seemed rather to be a resolved incuriousness about things around her, a turning away of the face from life, as from something dreadful, that had only pain to offer her.
in the near future
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
not in physical motion
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
in or at that place or location
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading It seemed rather to be a resolved incuriousness about things around her, a turning away of the face from life, as from something dreadful, that had only pain to offer her.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He wondered much about this silence of hers.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading It seemed rather to be a resolved incuriousness about things around her, a turning away of the face from life, as from something dreadful, that had only pain to offer her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
at the time that
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading More than once he was moved to open all his heart to his mother, and there were times when her eyes seemed to invite his confidence; but always between them was that gulf of silence, for which speech could frame no bridge.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Helen had soon found friends, and was now quite reconciled to Brighton; his mother, more fragile than ever in appearance, was content to sit still all day, looking at the smooth sea-plain with its gem-like glitter.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading He wondered much about this silence of hers.
