used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
(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 And Gerard, whom she had known all her life, was to be there to make things smooth for her.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN INDELIBLE STAIN The next day dawned for Ursula in unclouded brightness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And Gerard, whom she had known all her life, was to be there to make things smooth for her.
any thing at all
From this reading She had never been to anything so magnificent before.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was going to an entertainment at one of the great houses of Drum.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And Gerard, whom she had known all her life, was to be there to make things smooth for her.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had never been to anything so magnificent before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She had never been to anything so magnificent before.
brightnessnounUS /ˈbraɪtnəs/
the location of a visual perception along a continuum from black to white
From this reading AN INDELIBLE STAIN The next day dawned for Ursula in unclouded brightness.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
curbnounUS /kɜːrb/
an edge between a sidewalk and a roadway consisting of a line of curbstones (usually forming part of a gutter)
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
dawnedverbUS /dɔːnd/
past form of “dawn” — become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
From this reading AN INDELIBLE STAIN The next day dawned for Ursula in unclouded brightness.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading AN INDELIBLE STAIN The next day dawned for Ursula in unclouded brightness.
DrumnounUS /drʌm/
a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
From this reading She was going to an entertainment at one of the great houses of Drum.
entertainmentnounUS /ˌentərˈteɪnmənt/
an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention
From this reading She was going to an entertainment at one of the great houses of Drum.
excessnounUS /ˈekses/
a quantity much larger than is needed
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
expectancynounUS /ɪkˈspektənsi/
an expectation
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading AN INDELIBLE STAIN The next day dawned for Ursula in unclouded brightness.
stop blaming or grant forgiveness
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
Gerard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Gerard, whom she had known all her life, was to be there to make things smooth for her.
the act of departing
From this reading She was going to an entertainment at one of the great houses of Drum.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading She was going to an entertainment at one of the great houses of Drum.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had never been to anything so magnificent before.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading She was going to an entertainment at one of the great houses of Drum.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AN INDELIBLE STAIN The next day dawned for Ursula in unclouded brightness.
INDELIBLEadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdelɪbəl/
cannot be removed or erased
From this reading AN INDELIBLE STAIN The next day dawned for Ursula in unclouded brightness.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading And Gerard, whom she had known all her life, was to be there to make things smooth for her.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading And Gerard, whom she had known all her life, was to be there to make things smooth for her.
for more time
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
characterized by grandeur
From this reading She had never been to anything so magnificent before.
engage in
From this reading And Gerard, whom she had known all her life, was to be there to make things smooth for her.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She had never been to anything so magnificent before.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading AN INDELIBLE STAIN The next day dawned for Ursula in unclouded brightness.
not any; not one
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She was going to an entertainment at one of the great houses of Drum.
the one or ones belonging to us
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
To recall to mind.
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading And Gerard, whom she had known all her life, was to be there to make things smooth for her.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She had never been to anything so magnificent before.
STAINnounUS /steɪn/
a soiled or discolored appearance
From this reading AN INDELIBLE STAIN The next day dawned for Ursula in unclouded brightness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN INDELIBLE STAIN The next day dawned for Ursula in unclouded brightness.
in or at that place or location
From this reading And Gerard, whom she had known all her life, was to be there to make things smooth for her.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading And Gerard, whom she had known all her life, was to be there to make things smooth for her.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
uncloudedadjective
(of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims
From this reading AN INDELIBLE STAIN The next day dawned for Ursula in unclouded brightness.
Ursula
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INDELIBLE STAIN The next day dawned for Ursula in unclouded brightness.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
which person or people
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And Gerard, whom she had known all her life, was to be there to make things smooth for her.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading Those few of us who remember a youth no longer ours will forgive her the excess of an expectancy she was unable to curb by experience.
