used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
quickly and without warning
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
any thing at all
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "It is a right tone just now, you asked me to help to see what could be done.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "It is a right tone just now, you asked me to help to see what could be done.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Grace can never forgive what you said--never."
the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "It is a right tone just now, you asked me to help to see what could be done.
deprecatingadjectiveUS /ˈdeprəkeɪtɪŋ/
tending to diminish or disparage
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "I feel nothing of the kind, and I do not see it, either.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading "It is a right tone just now, you asked me to help to see what could be done.
Dorriman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
one or the other of two
From this reading "I feel nothing of the kind, and I do not see it, either.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This is a new tone for you to take with me."
stop blaming or grant forgiveness
From this reading Grace can never forgive what you said--never."
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading Grace can never forgive what you said--never."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading "It is a right tone just now, you asked me to help to see what could be done.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I feel nothing of the kind, and I do not see it, either.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This is a new tone for you to take with me."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I feel nothing of the kind, and I do not see it, either.
and nothing more
From this reading "It is a right tone just now, you asked me to help to see what could be done.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading "I feel nothing of the kind, and I do not see it, either.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This is a new tone for you to take with me."
used to form the superlative
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Grace can never forgive what you said--never."
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading This is a new tone for you to take with me."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "I feel nothing of the kind, and I do not see it, either.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "I feel nothing of the kind, and I do not see it, either.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I feel nothing of the kind, and I do not see it, either.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
with speed
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
on the contrary
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
precisely, exactly
From this reading "It is a right tone just now, you asked me to help to see what could be done.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
express in words
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
shyverbUS /ʃaɪ/
start suddenly, as from fright
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
carry out
From this reading This is a new tone for you to take with me."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "I feel nothing of the kind, and I do not see it, either.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This is a new tone for you to take with me."
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading This is a new tone for you to take with me."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "It is a right tone just now, you asked me to help to see what could be done.
at the time that
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Mrs. Dorriman, like most shy people, spoke quickly when she had anything to say that cost her an effort, and she said rather abruptly, though with a little deprecating air, "You see, you were wrong--you must feel that now."
