used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
absurdlyadverbUS /əbˈsɜːrdli/
in an absurd manner or to an absurd degree
From this reading He saw his quest as something absurdly romantic—like an adventure in the “cinema.”
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading He saw his quest as something absurdly romantic—like an adventure in the “cinema.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He saw his quest as something absurdly romantic—like an adventure in the “cinema.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE DEPTHS And now Emerson became troubled with doubts.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “There isn’t any logical connection,” said Emerson in his prim, nice way.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He saw his quest as something absurdly romantic—like an adventure in the “cinema.”
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading THE DEPTHS And now Emerson became troubled with doubts.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He emerged and clambered up a heap of masonry which might once have been a flight of stone steps.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
cinemanounUS /ˈsɪnəmə/
a medium that disseminates moving pictures
From this reading He saw his quest as something absurdly romantic—like an adventure in the “cinema.”
clamberedverbUS /ˈklæmbərd/
past form of “clamber” — climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling
From this reading He emerged and clambered up a heap of masonry which might once have been a flight of stone steps.
a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it)
From this reading “There isn’t any logical connection,” said Emerson in his prim, nice way.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading THE DEPTHS And now Emerson became troubled with doubts.
doubtsnounUS /daʊts/
plural of “doubt” — the state of being unsure of something
From this reading THE DEPTHS And now Emerson became troubled with doubts.
emergedverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒd/
past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading He emerged and clambered up a heap of masonry which might once have been a flight of stone steps.
EmersonnounUS /ˈemərsən/
United States writer and leading exponent of transcendentalism (1803-1882)
From this reading THE DEPTHS And now Emerson became troubled with doubts.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading He emerged and clambered up a heap of masonry which might once have been a flight of stone steps.
a young female
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He emerged and clambered up a heap of masonry which might once have been a flight of stone steps.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He saw his quest as something absurdly romantic—like an adventure in the “cinema.”
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading He emerged and clambered up a heap of masonry which might once have been a flight of stone steps.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He saw his quest as something absurdly romantic—like an adventure in the “cinema.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He saw his quest as something absurdly romantic—like an adventure in the “cinema.”
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There isn’t any logical connection,” said Emerson in his prim, nice way.
ivynounUS /ˈaɪvi/
Old World vine with lobed evergreen leaves and black berrylike fruits
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He saw his quest as something absurdly romantic—like an adventure in the “cinema.”
logicaladjectiveUS /ˈlɑːdʒɪkəl/
capable of or reflecting the capability for correct and valid reasoning
From this reading “There isn’t any logical connection,” said Emerson in his prim, nice way.
masonrynounUS /ˈmeɪsənri/
structure built of stone or brick by a mason
From this reading He emerged and clambered up a heap of masonry which might once have been a flight of stone steps.
make reference to
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He emerged and clambered up a heap of masonry which might once have been a flight of stone steps.
neighbornounUS /ˈneɪbər/
a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading “There isn’t any logical connection,” said Emerson in his prim, nice way.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading THE DEPTHS And now Emerson became troubled with doubts.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
on one occasion
From this reading He emerged and clambered up a heap of masonry which might once have been a flight of stone steps.
primverbUS /prɪm/
assume a prim appearance
From this reading “There isn’t any logical connection,” said Emerson in his prim, nice way.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
questnounUS /kwest/
a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria
From this reading He saw his quest as something absurdly romantic—like an adventure in the “cinema.”
an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
romanticadjectiveUS /roʊˈmæntɪk/
belonging to or characteristic of Romanticism or the Romantic Movement in the arts
From this reading He saw his quest as something absurdly romantic—like an adventure in the “cinema.”
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “There isn’t any logical connection,” said Emerson in his prim, nice way.
cut with a saw
From this reading He saw his quest as something absurdly romantic—like an adventure in the “cinema.”
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He saw his quest as something absurdly romantic—like an adventure in the “cinema.”
speaker'snounUS /ˈspiːkərz/
possessive form of “speaker” — someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
spookyadjectiveUS /ˈspuːki/
unpredictably excitable (especially of horses)
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading He emerged and clambered up a heap of masonry which might once have been a flight of stone steps.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading He emerged and clambered up a heap of masonry which might once have been a flight of stone steps.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DEPTHS And now Emerson became troubled with doubts.
in or at that place or location
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading THE DEPTHS And now Emerson became troubled with doubts.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He emerged and clambered up a heap of masonry which might once have been a flight of stone steps.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading “There isn’t any logical connection,” said Emerson in his prim, nice way.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He emerged and clambered up a heap of masonry which might once have been a flight of stone steps.
whisperingnounUS /ˈwɪspərɪŋ/
a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind
From this reading What relation was there between a public speaker’s mention of ivy, and a small girl turning and whispering to her neighbor, and this spooky old ruin?
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE DEPTHS And now Emerson became troubled with doubts.
