used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The position was a terrible one indeed, and for a long time she was unable to think connectedly about it, or of anything else.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
Adele
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
(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 She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
any thing at all
From this reading The position was a terrible one indeed, and for a long time she was unable to think connectedly about it, or of anything else.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
behavedverbUS /bɪˈheɪvd/
past form of “behave” — behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
exhale hard
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
Bonaventura's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading But for the two nights of sound sleep she had got by taking the chloral, she must inevitably have broken down.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But for the two nights of sound sleep she had got by taking the chloral, she must inevitably have broken down.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading She sank into the nearest chair, utterly overcome.
chloral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the two nights of sound sleep she had got by taking the chloral, she must inevitably have broken down.
connectedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position was a terrible one indeed, and for a long time she was unable to think connectedly about it, or of anything else.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading But for the two nights of sound sleep she had got by taking the chloral, she must inevitably have broken down.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position was a terrible one indeed, and for a long time she was unable to think connectedly about it, or of anything else.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The position was a terrible one indeed, and for a long time she was unable to think connectedly about it, or of anything else.
brought together in one place
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading But for the two nights of sound sleep she had got by taking the chloral, she must inevitably have broken down.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But for the two nights of sound sleep she had got by taking the chloral, she must inevitably have broken down.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading The position was a terrible one indeed, and for a long time she was unable to think connectedly about it, or of anything else.
inevitablyadverbUS /ˌɪˈnevətəbli/
in such a manner as could not be otherwise
From this reading But for the two nights of sound sleep she had got by taking the chloral, she must inevitably have broken down.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She sank into the nearest chair, utterly overcome.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The position was a terrible one indeed, and for a long time she was unable to think connectedly about it, or of anything else.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The position was a terrible one indeed, and for a long time she was unable to think connectedly about it, or of anything else.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading But for the two nights of sound sleep she had got by taking the chloral, she must inevitably have broken down.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading She sank into the nearest chair, utterly overcome.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading But for the two nights of sound sleep she had got by taking the chloral, she must inevitably have broken down.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The position was a terrible one indeed, and for a long time she was unable to think connectedly about it, or of anything else.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
win a victory over
From this reading She sank into the nearest chair, utterly overcome.
PadrenounUS /ˈpædreɪ/
a chaplain in one of the military services
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
a human being
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading The position was a terrible one indeed, and for a long time she was unable to think connectedly about it, or of anything else.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
realisedadjectiveUS /ˈriːəlaɪzd/
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading She sank into the nearest chair, utterly overcome.
scatterverbUS /ˈskætər/
to cause to separate and go in different directions
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
shredsnounUS /ʃredz/
plural of “shred” — a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading But for the two nights of sound sleep she had got by taking the chloral, she must inevitably have broken down.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading But for the two nights of sound sleep she had got by taking the chloral, she must inevitably have broken down.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
stunnedadjectiveUS /stʌnd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading But for the two nights of sound sleep she had got by taking the chloral, she must inevitably have broken down.
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The position was a terrible one indeed, and for a long time she was unable to think connectedly about it, or of anything else.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She sank into the nearest chair, utterly overcome.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading The position was a terrible one indeed, and for a long time she was unable to think connectedly about it, or of anything else.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The position was a terrible one indeed, and for a long time she was unable to think connectedly about it, or of anything else.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
two times
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But for the two nights of sound sleep she had got by taking the chloral, she must inevitably have broken down.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading The position was a terrible one indeed, and for a long time she was unable to think connectedly about it, or of anything else.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading She sank into the nearest chair, utterly overcome.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The position was a terrible one indeed, and for a long time she was unable to think connectedly about it, or of anything else.
at the time that
From this reading When Adele had read Padre Bonaventura's letter twice over and had realised its meaning, she behaved like a person stunned by an actual blow.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading She had barely the presence of mind to tear up the sheet of paper into minute shreds, which she gathered all in one hand, until she could find strength to scatter them out of the window.
