used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Felicia, shortly after her father's return, burst into Maurice's dressing-room.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She had known a tormenting doubt of her own distrust; now her indignation was sure of itself, her distrust was justified; there was almost a relief in the fulness of her anger.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
From this reading She had known a tormenting doubt of her own distrust; now her indignation was sure of itself, her distrust was justified; there was almost a relief in the fulness of her anger.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
ascentnounUS /əˈsent/
an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
attainedadjectiveUS /əˈteɪnd/
achieved or reached
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading Felicia, shortly after her father's return, burst into Maurice's dressing-room.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading "Maurice, what do you think has happened?" she demanded.
destinedadjectiveUS /ˈdestɪnd/
headed or intending to head in a certain direction; often used as a combining form as in “college-bound students”
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
distrustnounUS /dɪˈstrʌst/
doubt about someone's honesty
From this reading She had known a tormenting doubt of her own distrust; now her indignation was sure of itself, her distrust was justified; there was almost a relief in the fulness of her anger.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Maurice, what do you think has happened?" she demanded.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading She had known a tormenting doubt of her own distrust; now her indignation was sure of itself, her distrust was justified; there was almost a relief in the fulness of her anger.
dressingnounUS /ˈdresɪŋ/
savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type
From this reading Maurice was just finishing his dressing.
dressing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Felicia, shortly after her father's return, burst into Maurice's dressing-room.
explosiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsploʊsɪv/
serving to explode or characterized by explosion or sudden outburst
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Felicia, shortly after her father's return, burst into Maurice's dressing-room.
FelicianounUS /fəˈliːʃə/
genus of tropical African herbs or subshrubs with usually blue flowers
From this reading Felicia, shortly after her father's return, burst into Maurice's dressing-room.
finishingnounUS /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading Maurice was just finishing his dressing.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
fulness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had known a tormenting doubt of her own distrust; now her indignation was sure of itself, her distrust was justified; there was almost a relief in the fulness of her anger.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading "Maurice, what do you think has happened?" she demanded.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Maurice, what do you think has happened?" she demanded.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Felicia, shortly after her father's return, burst into Maurice's dressing-room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Maurice was just finishing his dressing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had known a tormenting doubt of her own distrust; now her indignation was sure of itself, her distrust was justified; there was almost a relief in the fulness of her anger.
a feeling of righteous anger
From this reading She had known a tormenting doubt of her own distrust; now her indignation was sure of itself, her distrust was justified; there was almost a relief in the fulness of her anger.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading She had known a tormenting doubt of her own distrust; now her indignation was sure of itself, her distrust was justified; there was almost a relief in the fulness of her anger.
and nothing more
From this reading Maurice was just finishing his dressing.
justifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdʒʌstəfaɪd/
having words so spaced that lines have straight even margins
From this reading She had known a tormenting doubt of her own distrust; now her indignation was sure of itself, her distrust was justified; there was almost a relief in the fulness of her anger.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading She had known a tormenting doubt of her own distrust; now her indignation was sure of itself, her distrust was justified; there was almost a relief in the fulness of her anger.
Maurice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Maurice, what do you think has happened?" she demanded.
Maurice's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Felicia, shortly after her father's return, burst into Maurice's dressing-room.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She had known a tormenting doubt of her own distrust; now her indignation was sure of itself, her distrust was justified; there was almost a relief in the fulness of her anger.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
on one occasion
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading She had known a tormenting doubt of her own distrust; now her indignation was sure of itself, her distrust was justified; there was almost a relief in the fulness of her anger.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading She had known a tormenting doubt of her own distrust; now her indignation was sure of itself, her distrust was justified; there was almost a relief in the fulness of her anger.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Felicia, shortly after her father's return, burst into Maurice's dressing-room.
rocketnounUS /ˈrɑːkət/
any vehicle self-propelled by a rocket engine
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had known a tormenting doubt of her own distrust; now her indignation was sure of itself, her distrust was justified; there was almost a relief in the fulness of her anger.
shocksnounUS /ʃɑːks/
plural of “shock” — the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
for a short time
From this reading Felicia, shortly after her father's return, burst into Maurice's dressing-room.
suaveadjectiveUS /swɑːv/
having a sophisticated charm
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
successiveadjectiveUS /səkˈsesɪv/
in regular succession without gaps
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading She had known a tormenting doubt of her own distrust; now her indignation was sure of itself, her distrust was justified; there was almost a relief in the fulness of her anger.
in a swift manner
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She had known a tormenting doubt of her own distrust; now her indignation was sure of itself, her distrust was justified; there was almost a relief in the fulness of her anger.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Maurice, what do you think has happened?" she demanded.
tormentingverbUS /ˈtɔːrmentɪŋ/
-ing form of “torment” — torment emotionally or mentally
From this reading She had known a tormenting doubt of her own distrust; now her indignation was sure of itself, her distrust was justified; there was almost a relief in the fulness of her anger.
transformationnounUS /ˌtrænsfərˈmeɪʃən/
a qualitative change
From this reading The talk had been as suave as the ascent of a rocket; and once its destined height attained its transformation into successive explosive shocks swiftly followed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had known a tormenting doubt of her own distrust; now her indignation was sure of itself, her distrust was justified; there was almost a relief in the fulness of her anger.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Maurice, what do you think has happened?" she demanded.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Maurice, what do you think has happened?" she demanded.
