used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Stunned at first, Anne, rallying, felt the blow as a manifestation of offended Power.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
afflictionnounUS /əˈflɪkʃən/
a state of great suffering and distress due to adversity
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
(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 But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)
From this reading Stunned at first, Anne, rallying, felt the blow as a manifestation of offended Power.
Anne'snounUS /ænz/
possessive form of “anne” — Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
blastsnounUS /blæsts/
plural of “blast” — a very long fly ball
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
exhale hard
From this reading Stunned at first, Anne, rallying, felt the blow as a manifestation of offended Power.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
cloakedadjectiveUS /kloʊkt/
having its true character concealed with the intent of misleading
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
crueltynounUS /ˈkruːlti/
a cruel act; a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Stunned at first, Anne, rallying, felt the blow as a manifestation of offended Power.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Stunned at first, Anne, rallying, felt the blow as a manifestation of offended Power.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
hold firmly
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
heavenwardadjective
directed toward heaven or the sky
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading A mind like hers works in strangely tortuous ways.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
husband'snounUS /ˈhʌzbəndz/
possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
leafnounUS /liːf/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A mind like hers works in strangely tortuous ways.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
loosedverbUS /luːst/
past form of “loose” — grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
manifestationnounUS /ˌmænəfeˈsteɪʃən/
a clear appearance
From this reading Stunned at first, Anne, rallying, felt the blow as a manifestation of offended Power.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading A mind like hers works in strangely tortuous ways.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
offendedadjectiveUS /əˈfendəd/
emotionally hurt or upset or annoyed
From this reading Stunned at first, Anne, rallying, felt the blow as a manifestation of offended Power.
in other respects or ways
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
go across or through
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
by chance
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading Stunned at first, Anne, rallying, felt the blow as a manifestation of offended Power.
plural of “power” — possession of controlling influence
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
rallyingnounUS /ˈræliɪŋ/
the act of mobilizing for a common purpose
From this reading Stunned at first, Anne, rallying, felt the blow as a manifestation of offended Power.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
in a strange manner
From this reading A mind like hers works in strangely tortuous ways.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
StunnedadjectiveUS /stʌnd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading Stunned at first, Anne, rallying, felt the blow as a manifestation of offended Power.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then came the accident, striking down the strong man at the height of his powers, as the lightning blasts the mighty oak in full leaf.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
tortuousadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrtʃəwəs/
highly complex or intricate and occasionally devious
From this reading A mind like hers works in strangely tortuous ways.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
violentlyadverbUS /ˈvaɪələntli/
in a violent manner
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
wanadjectiveUS /wɑːn/
(of light) lacking in intensity or brightness; dim or feeble
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading A mind like hers works in strangely tortuous ways.
at the time that
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading But after a while she began to see in this awful affliction a means of grace thus given when all else had failed; and it was then that the wan ghost of happiness began to visit Anne's desolate breast.
buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading A mind like hers works in strangely tortuous ways.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
wrenchedverbUS /rentʃt/
past form of “wrench” — twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates
From this reading The world had been violently wrenched away from her husband's grasp, which otherwise would, most likely, never have loosed; it might perhaps now come to pass--through mercy cloaked in cruelty--that his thoughts would turn heavenward.
