used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The heat was overpowering: there was not a breath of air.
(of mail) marked with a destination
From this reading He looked up as he went by; and, without stopping, he addressed her a rapid gesture, which she alone could understand, and which meant, “Come, I beseech you!”
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The heat was overpowering: there was not a breath of air.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading He looked up as he went by; and, without stopping, he addressed her a rapid gesture, which she alone could understand, and which meant, “Come, I beseech you!”
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading She feared but one thing,--that he would not come, or that he may already have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She feared but one thing,--that he would not come, or that he may already have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading One by one, as the hour was approaching when she expected to see Marius, the hesitations of the young girl vanished like smoke.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading One by one, as the hour was approaching when she expected to see Marius, the hesitations of the young girl vanished like smoke.
back-shops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Already did the objects become less distinct; and the gas was being lit in the back-shops, when she recognized him on the other side of the street.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Already did the objects become less distinct; and the gas was being lit in the back-shops, when she recognized him on the other side of the street.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Already did the objects become less distinct; and the gas was being lit in the back-shops, when she recognized him on the other side of the street.
beseechverbUS /biˈsiːtʃ/
ask for or request earnestly
From this reading He looked up as he went by; and, without stopping, he addressed her a rapid gesture, which she alone could understand, and which meant, “Come, I beseech you!”
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading The heat was overpowering: there was not a breath of air.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She feared but one thing,--that he would not come, or that he may already have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading One by one, as the hour was approaching when she expected to see Marius, the hesitations of the young girl vanished like smoke.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She feared but one thing,--that he would not come, or that he may already have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He looked up as he went by; and, without stopping, he addressed her a rapid gesture, which she alone could understand, and which meant, “Come, I beseech you!”
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Already did the objects become less distinct; and the gas was being lit in the back-shops, when she recognized him on the other side of the street.
distinctadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality
From this reading Already did the objects become less distinct; and the gas was being lit in the back-shops, when she recognized him on the other side of the street.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading One by one, as the hour was approaching when she expected to see Marius, the hesitations of the young girl vanished like smoke.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading She feared but one thing,--that he would not come, or that he may already have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
gasnounUS /ɡæs/
the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity
From this reading Already did the objects become less distinct; and the gas was being lit in the back-shops, when she recognized him on the other side of the street.
motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
From this reading He looked up as he went by; and, without stopping, he addressed her a rapid gesture, which she alone could understand, and which meant, “Come, I beseech you!”
a young female
From this reading One by one, as the hour was approaching when she expected to see Marius, the hesitations of the young girl vanished like smoke.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She feared but one thing,--that he would not come, or that he may already have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She feared but one thing,--that he would not come, or that he may already have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading The heat was overpowering: there was not a breath of air.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She feared but one thing,--that he would not come, or that he may already have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
hesitationsnounUS /ˌhezəˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “hesitation” — indecision in speech or action
From this reading One by one, as the hour was approaching when she expected to see Marius, the hesitations of the young girl vanished like smoke.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Already did the objects become less distinct; and the gas was being lit in the back-shops, when she recognized him on the other side of the street.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading One by one, as the hour was approaching when she expected to see Marius, the hesitations of the young girl vanished like smoke.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He looked up as he went by; and, without stopping, he addressed her a rapid gesture, which she alone could understand, and which meant, “Come, I beseech you!”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She feared but one thing,--that he would not come, or that he may already have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
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 She feared but one thing,--that he would not come, or that he may already have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Already did the objects become less distinct; and the gas was being lit in the back-shops, when she recognized him on the other side of the street.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading One by one, as the hour was approaching when she expected to see Marius, the hesitations of the young girl vanished like smoke.
provided with artificial light
From this reading Already did the objects become less distinct; and the gas was being lit in the back-shops, when she recognized him on the other side of the street.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked up as he went by; and, without stopping, he addressed her a rapid gesture, which she alone could understand, and which meant, “Come, I beseech you!”
Marius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One by one, as the hour was approaching when she expected to see Marius, the hesitations of the young girl vanished like smoke.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading She feared but one thing,--that he would not come, or that he may already have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading He looked up as he went by; and, without stopping, he addressed her a rapid gesture, which she alone could understand, and which meant, “Come, I beseech you!”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The heat was overpowering: there was not a breath of air.
plural of “object” — a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading Already did the objects become less distinct; and the gas was being lit in the back-shops, when she recognized him on the other side of the street.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The heat was overpowering: there was not a breath of air.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Already did the objects become less distinct; and the gas was being lit in the back-shops, when she recognized him on the other side of the street.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One by one, as the hour was approaching when she expected to see Marius, the hesitations of the young girl vanished like smoke.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She feared but one thing,--that he would not come, or that he may already have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Already did the objects become less distinct; and the gas was being lit in the back-shops, when she recognized him on the other side of the street.
overpoweringadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərˈpaʊrɪŋ/
so strong as to be irresistible
From this reading The heat was overpowering: there was not a breath of air.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading He looked up as he went by; and, without stopping, he addressed her a rapid gesture, which she alone could understand, and which meant, “Come, I beseech you!”
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading Already did the objects become less distinct; and the gas was being lit in the back-shops, when she recognized him on the other side of the street.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading One by one, as the hour was approaching when she expected to see Marius, the hesitations of the young girl vanished like smoke.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading She feared but one thing,--that he would not come, or that he may already have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One by one, as the hour was approaching when she expected to see Marius, the hesitations of the young girl vanished like smoke.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Already did the objects become less distinct; and the gas was being lit in the back-shops, when she recognized him on the other side of the street.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading One by one, as the hour was approaching when she expected to see Marius, the hesitations of the young girl vanished like smoke.
fastener consisting of a narrow strip of welded metal used to join steel members
From this reading He looked up as he went by; and, without stopping, he addressed her a rapid gesture, which she alone could understand, and which meant, “Come, I beseech you!”
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Already did the objects become less distinct; and the gas was being lit in the back-shops, when she recognized him on the other side of the street.
succeedingadjectiveUS /səkˈsiːdɪŋ/
coming after or following
From this reading She feared but one thing,--that he would not come, or that he may already have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She feared but one thing,--that he would not come, or that he may already have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The heat was overpowering: there was not a breath of air.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The heat was overpowering: there was not a breath of air.
a special situation
From this reading She feared but one thing,--that he would not come, or that he may already have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One by one, as the hour was approaching when she expected to see Marius, the hesitations of the young girl vanished like smoke.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading He looked up as he went by; and, without stopping, he addressed her a rapid gesture, which she alone could understand, and which meant, “Come, I beseech you!”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He looked up as he went by; and, without stopping, he addressed her a rapid gesture, which she alone could understand, and which meant, “Come, I beseech you!”
having passed out of existence
From this reading One by one, as the hour was approaching when she expected to see Marius, the hesitations of the young girl vanished like smoke.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The heat was overpowering: there was not a breath of air.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He looked up as he went by; and, without stopping, he addressed her a rapid gesture, which she alone could understand, and which meant, “Come, I beseech you!”
at the time that
From this reading One by one, as the hour was approaching when she expected to see Marius, the hesitations of the young girl vanished like smoke.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He looked up as he went by; and, without stopping, he addressed her a rapid gesture, which she alone could understand, and which meant, “Come, I beseech you!”
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading She feared but one thing,--that he would not come, or that he may already have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She feared but one thing,--that he would not come, or that he may already have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading He looked up as he went by; and, without stopping, he addressed her a rapid gesture, which she alone could understand, and which meant, “Come, I beseech you!”
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading One by one, as the hour was approaching when she expected to see Marius, the hesitations of the young girl vanished like smoke.
