Chapter XII · Chapter 12

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

perfect or complete or pure

From this reading The sense of something vast and ominous seemed to hang over the darkness, where, for a second or two, the silence of absolute surprise reigned.

something done (usually as opposed to something said)

From this reading The thought came and went like a flash, for it was not a time for meditation, but for hurried and desperate action.

presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

United States comedienne remembered as the confused but imperturbable partner of her husband, George Burns (1906-1964)

From this reading "Miss Allen, are you here?

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading "Miss Allen, are you here?

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The thought came and went like a flash, for it was not a time for meditation, but for hurried and desperate action.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The thought came and went like a flash, for it was not a time for meditation, but for hurried and desperate action.

take exception to

From this reading The last-comer, too, seemed to feel this sense of something impending, for a moment later his voice rang out, clear and unhesitating, with a touch of challenge in it.

rid of obstructions

From this reading The last-comer, too, seemed to feel this sense of something impending, for a moment later his voice rang out, clear and unhesitating, with a touch of challenge in it.

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

-ing form of “contend” — maintain or assert

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading The sense of something vast and ominous seemed to hang over the darkness, where, for a second or two, the silence of absolute surprise reigned.

arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope

From this reading The thought came and went like a flash, for it was not a time for meditation, but for hurried and desperate action.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

not produced by natural forces

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading The last-comer, too, seemed to feel this sense of something impending, for a moment later his voice rang out, clear and unhesitating, with a touch of challenge in it.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading The thought came and went like a flash, for it was not a time for meditation, but for hurried and desperate action.

past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

the trait of acting stupidly or rashly

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The thought came and went like a flash, for it was not a time for meditation, but for hurried and desperate action.

plural of “force” — a powerful effect or influence

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

the quality of happening accidentally and by lucky chance

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

plural of “france” — a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

the quality of being magnificent or splendid or grand

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

be suspended or hanging

From this reading The sense of something vast and ominous seemed to hang over the darkness, where, for a second or two, the silence of absolute surprise reigned.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading "Miss Allen, are you here?

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The last-comer, too, seemed to feel this sense of something impending, for a moment later his voice rang out, clear and unhesitating, with a touch of challenge in it.

moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste

From this reading The thought came and went like a flash, for it was not a time for meditation, but for hurried and desperate action.

close in time; about to occur

From this reading The last-comer, too, seemed to feel this sense of something impending, for a moment later his voice rang out, clear and unhesitating, with a touch of challenge in it.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The thought came and went like a flash, for it was not a time for meditation, but for hurried and desperate action.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The last-comer, too, seemed to feel this sense of something impending, for a moment later his voice rang out, clear and unhesitating, with a touch of challenge in it.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading The last-comer, too, seemed to feel this sense of something impending, for a moment later his voice rang out, clear and unhesitating, with a touch of challenge in it.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The thought came and went like a flash, for it was not a time for meditation, but for hurried and desperate action.

continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature

From this reading The thought came and went like a flash, for it was not a time for meditation, but for hurried and desperate action.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading "Miss Allen, are you here?

a particular point in time

From this reading The last-comer, too, seemed to feel this sense of something impending, for a moment later his voice rang out, clear and unhesitating, with a touch of challenge in it.

lasting for a markedly brief time

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The thought came and went like a flash, for it was not a time for meditation, but for hurried and desperate action.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

From this reading The sense of something vast and ominous seemed to hang over the darkness, where, for a second or two, the silence of absolute surprise reigned.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

characterized by active hostility

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The sense of something vast and ominous seemed to hang over the darkness, where, for a second or two, the silence of absolute surprise reigned.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The last-comer, too, seemed to feel this sense of something impending, for a moment later his voice rang out, clear and unhesitating, with a touch of challenge in it.

above and across; more than

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading The last-comer, too, seemed to feel this sense of something impending, for a moment later his voice rang out, clear and unhesitating, with a touch of challenge in it.

past form of “reign” — have sovereign power

From this reading The sense of something vast and ominous seemed to hang over the darkness, where, for a second or two, the silence of absolute surprise reigned.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading The sense of something vast and ominous seemed to hang over the darkness, where, for a second or two, the silence of absolute surprise reigned.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading The sense of something vast and ominous seemed to hang over the darkness, where, for a second or two, the silence of absolute surprise reigned.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading The sense of something vast and ominous seemed to hang over the darkness, where, for a second or two, the silence of absolute surprise reigned.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading The sense of something vast and ominous seemed to hang over the darkness, where, for a second or two, the silence of absolute surprise reigned.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

in or at that place or location

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading The last-comer, too, seemed to feel this sense of something impending, for a moment later his voice rang out, clear and unhesitating, with a touch of challenge in it.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading The thought came and went like a flash, for it was not a time for meditation, but for hurried and desperate action.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading The thought came and went like a flash, for it was not a time for meditation, but for hurried and desperate action.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading The last-comer, too, seemed to feel this sense of something impending, for a moment later his voice rang out, clear and unhesitating, with a touch of challenge in it.

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading The last-comer, too, seemed to feel this sense of something impending, for a moment later his voice rang out, clear and unhesitating, with a touch of challenge in it.

a three-sided polygon

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading The sense of something vast and ominous seemed to hang over the darkness, where, for a second or two, the silence of absolute surprise reigned.

characterized by quickness and firmness

From this reading The last-comer, too, seemed to feel this sense of something impending, for a moment later his voice rang out, clear and unhesitating, with a touch of challenge in it.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading The sense of something vast and ominous seemed to hang over the darkness, where, for a second or two, the silence of absolute surprise reigned.

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading The last-comer, too, seemed to feel this sense of something impending, for a moment later his voice rang out, clear and unhesitating, with a touch of challenge in it.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "THE FOLLY OF GRANDEUR" There flashed through Frances Durkin's mind, in the momentary silence that fell over that strange company, the consciousness that the triangle was completed; that there, in one room, through a fortuitousness that seemed to her more factitious than actual, stood the three contending and opposing forces.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading The thought came and went like a flash, for it was not a time for meditation, but for hurried and desperate action.

in or at the place that

From this reading The sense of something vast and ominous seemed to hang over the darkness, where, for a second or two, the silence of absolute surprise reigned.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The last-comer, too, seemed to feel this sense of something impending, for a moment later his voice rang out, clear and unhesitating, with a touch of challenge in it.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Miss Allen, are you here?