used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
all-absorbing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
argueverbUS /ˈɑːrɡjuː/
present reasons and arguments
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
any cognitive content held as true
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
put or pin the blame on
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
confrontverbUS /kənˈfrʌnt/
oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading When night fell and the household slept, memory came to confront her.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
countedverbUS /ˈkaʊntɪd/
past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
feelings of ardent love
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
disturbverbUS /dɪˈstɜːrb/
move deeply
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
failingnounUS /ˈfeɪlɪŋ/
a flaw or weak point
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading When night fell and the household slept, memory came to confront her.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
set up or found
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
a social unit living together
From this reading When night fell and the household slept, memory came to confront her.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
illnessnounUS /ˈɪlnəs/
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
From this reading Was it that she was weaker, and that her illness had shaken her nerves?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading When night fell and the household slept, memory came to confront her.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading Was it that she was weaker, and that her illness had shaken her nerves?
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading When night fell and the household slept, memory came to confront her.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
remorsenounUS /rɪˈmɔːrs/
a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
Renton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
selfishnessnounUS /ˈselfɪʃnəs/
stinginess resulting from a concern for your own welfare and a disregard of others
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
a general conscious awareness
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
shakenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪkən/
disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock
From this reading Was it that she was weaker, and that her illness had shaken her nerves?
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
shieldedadjectiveUS /ˈʃiːldɪd/
(used especially of machinery) protected by a shield to prevent injury
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading When night fell and the household slept, memory came to confront her.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
sweetnessnounUS /ˈswiːtnəs/
the taste experience when sugar dissolves in the mouth
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
testedadjectiveUS /ˈtestɪd/
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
veinnounUS /veɪn/
a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Was it that she was weaker, and that her illness had shaken her nerves?
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
weakeradjectiveUS /ˈwiːkər/
comparative of “weak” — wanting in physical strength
From this reading Was it that she was weaker, and that her illness had shaken her nerves?
at the time that
From this reading When Margaret left Renton Place, and that Grace had seen her off, the first real sense of having been to blame came to disturb her mind.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading That intense belief in herself which, as a rule, shielded her from uncomfortable feelings, deserted her now; she tried to argue herself into some more cheerful vein, but found it hopeless.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her selfishness filled her with remorse; how many things she could look back upon now, when Margaret, her sweetness, and her devotion never failing, had been counted as so little, tested by her own all-absorbing love of having her own way?
