used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Rush walked up and down the room for a few moments in silence.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Rush walked up and down the room for a few moments in silence.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Are you really not a bit nervous?" demanded Rush, swinging on his heel and confronting her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Mrs. Balfame sat back and folded her hands.
Balfame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Balfame sat back and folded her hands.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading "Are you really not a bit nervous?" demanded Rush, swinging on his heel and confronting her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
confrontingverbUS /kənˈfrʌntɪŋ/
-ing form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading "Are you really not a bit nervous?" demanded Rush, swinging on his heel and confronting her.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading "Are you really not a bit nervous?" demanded Rush, swinging on his heel and confronting her.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rest didn't matter.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Rush walked up and down the room for a few moments in silence.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Rush walked up and down the room for a few moments in silence.
past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other
From this reading Mrs. Balfame sat back and folded her hands.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Rush walked up and down the room for a few moments in silence.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Mrs. Balfame sat back and folded her hands.
hauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
heelnounUS /hiːl/
the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading "Are you really not a bit nervous?" demanded Rush, swinging on his heel and confronting her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Balfame sat back and folded her hands.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Are you really not a bit nervous?" demanded Rush, swinging on his heel and confronting her.
deeply or markedly affected or influenced
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Rush walked up and down the room for a few moments in silence.
inefficiencynounUS /ˌɪnɪˈfɪʃənsi/
unskillfulness resulting from a lack of efficiency
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The rest didn't matter.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading Rush walked up and down the room for a few moments in silence.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Balfame sat back and folded her hands.
easily agitated
From this reading "Are you really not a bit nervous?" demanded Rush, swinging on his heel and confronting her.
not any; not one
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Are you really not a bit nervous?" demanded Rush, swinging on his heel and confronting her.
and nothing more
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading "Are you really not a bit nervous?" demanded Rush, swinging on his heel and confronting her.
reportersnounUS /rɪˈpɔːrtərz/
plural of “reporter” — a person who investigates and reports or edits news stories
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The rest didn't matter.
risenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪzən/
(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Rush walked up and down the room for a few moments in silence.
move hurridly
From this reading Rush walked up and down the room for a few moments in silence.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Mrs. Balfame sat back and folded her hands.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Rush walked up and down the room for a few moments in silence.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading "Are you really not a bit nervous?" demanded Rush, swinging on his heel and confronting her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Rush walked up and down the room for a few moments in silence.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Rush walked up and down the room for a few moments in silence.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Rush walked up and down the room for a few moments in silence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading She was haunted by a vague sense of inefficiency, of having not quite risen to the occasion, but she felt there could be no doubt that she not only had impressed the reporters as an innocent woman but as a perfect lady.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Are you really not a bit nervous?" demanded Rush, swinging on his heel and confronting her.
