used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The Eumenides galloped in full cry after my lady.
anew
From this reading Their quarry was run down, scrambled up and staggered on again--was near the end of the run now.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Their quarry was run down, scrambled up and staggered on again--was near the end of the run now.
applenounUS /ˈæpəl/
fruit with red or yellow or green skin and sweet to tart crisp whitish flesh
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
on or to one side
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
biddenverbUS /ˈbɪdɪn/
inflected form of “bid” — propose a payment
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
cause to be bored
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading The Eumenides galloped in full cry after my lady.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Their quarry was run down, scrambled up and staggered on again--was near the end of the run now.
drainedadjectiveUS /dreɪnd/
emptied or exhausted of (as by drawing off e.g. water or other liquid)
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
EAVESDROPPINGverbUS /ˈiːvzdrɑːpɪŋ/
inflected form of “eavesdrop” — listen without the speaker's knowledge
From this reading EAVESDROPPING.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Their quarry was run down, scrambled up and staggered on again--was near the end of the run now.
Eumenidesnoun
(classical mythology) the hideous snake-haired monsters (usually three in number) who pursued unpunished criminals
From this reading The Eumenides galloped in full cry after my lady.
the organ of sight
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The Eumenides galloped in full cry after my lady.
gallopedverbUS /ˈɡæləpt/
past form of “gallop” — ride at a galloping pace
From this reading The Eumenides galloped in full cry after my lady.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
gobletnounUS /ˈɡɑːblət/
a drinking glass with a base and stem
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Eumenides galloped in full cry after my lady.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The Eumenides galloped in full cry after my lady.
immediately past
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
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 The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The Eumenides galloped in full cry after my lady.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Their quarry was run down, scrambled up and staggered on again--was near the end of the run now.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Their quarry was run down, scrambled up and staggered on again--was near the end of the run now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Their quarry was run down, scrambled up and staggered on again--was near the end of the run now.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Their quarry was run down, scrambled up and staggered on again--was near the end of the run now.
pushverbUS /pʊʃ/
move with force
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
quarrynounUS /ˈkwɔːri/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading Their quarry was run down, scrambled up and staggered on again--was near the end of the run now.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Their quarry was run down, scrambled up and staggered on again--was near the end of the run now.
ruthlessadjectiveUS /ˈruːθləs/
without mercy or pity
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
scrambledadjectiveUS /ˈskræmbəld/
thrown together in a disorderly fashion
From this reading Their quarry was run down, scrambled up and staggered on again--was near the end of the run now.
Shane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
stabverbUS /stæb/
use a knife on
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
staggeredverbUS /ˈstæɡərd/
past form of “stagger” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading Their quarry was run down, scrambled up and staggered on again--was near the end of the run now.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Eumenides galloped in full cry after my lady.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their quarry was run down, scrambled up and staggered on again--was near the end of the run now.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Their quarry was run down, scrambled up and staggered on again--was near the end of the run now.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Their quarry was run down, scrambled up and staggered on again--was near the end of the run now.
at the time that
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
wincingverbUS /ˈwɪnsɪŋ/
-ing form of “wince” — draw back, as with fear or pain
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
wintryadjectiveUS /ˈwɪntri/
characteristic of or occurring in winter
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading When Shane, apple of his mother's eye, gave the last unconscious stab, she bore it without wincing, and sat up and attempted a wintry smile, as he had bidden her.
a late time of life
From this reading The goblet which, through her strength of character, she had been able to push aside during many years, was held at her lips by a ruthless hand, and must be drained.
