used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Ellen, still silent, found that she was praying idiotically for a thing which could never be.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Fergus lying there with his blond, curly head against the white pillows under the flying gilt swans!
(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 Fergus whom they had all loved so that they had spoiled him!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She knew now, sharply and cruelly, what the war, that grand parade, had been.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Ellen, still silent, found that she was praying idiotically for a thing which could never be.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She knew now, sharply and cruelly, what the war, that grand parade, had been.
blondadjectiveUS /blɑːnd/
being or having light colored skin and hair and usually blue or grey eyes
From this reading Fergus lying there with his blond, curly head against the white pillows under the flying gilt swans!
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Ellen, still silent, found that she was praying idiotically for a thing which could never be.
cruellyadverbUS /ˈkruːli/
excessively
From this reading She knew now, sharply and cruelly, what the war, that grand parade, had been.
curlyadjectiveUS /ˈkɜːrli/
(of hair) having curls or waves
From this reading Fergus lying there with his blond, curly head against the white pillows under the flying gilt swans!
Ellen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ellen, still silent, found that she was praying idiotically for a thing which could never be.
to or in any or all places
From this reading Fergus who had loved life so passionately, who found pleasure and excitement everywhere!
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading Fergus who had loved life so passionately, who found pleasure and excitement everywhere!
Fergus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fergus who had loved life so passionately, who found pleasure and excitement everywhere!
moving swiftly
From this reading Fergus lying there with his blond, curly head against the white pillows under the flying gilt swans!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Ellen, still silent, found that she was praying idiotically for a thing which could never be.
set up or found
From this reading Ellen, still silent, found that she was praying idiotically for a thing which could never be.
giltadjectiveUS /ɡɪlt/
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading Fergus lying there with his blond, curly head against the white pillows under the flying gilt swans!
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading She knew now, sharply and cruelly, what the war, that grand parade, had been.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She knew now, sharply and cruelly, what the war, that grand parade, had been.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Fergus lying there with his blond, curly head against the white pillows under the flying gilt swans!
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Fergus whom they had all loved so that they had spoiled him!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Fergus lying there with his blond, curly head against the white pillows under the flying gilt swans!
idioticallyadverbUS /ˌɪdiˈɑːtɪkli/
in an idiotic manner
From this reading Ellen, still silent, found that she was praying idiotically for a thing which could never be.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She knew now, sharply and cruelly, what the war, that grand parade, had been.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Fergus who had loved life so passionately, who found pleasure and excitement everywhere!
held dear
From this reading Fergus who had loved life so passionately, who found pleasure and excitement everywhere!
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Fergus lying there with his blond, curly head against the white pillows under the flying gilt swans!
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Ellen, still silent, found that she was praying idiotically for a thing which could never be.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She knew now, sharply and cruelly, what the war, that grand parade, had been.
paradenounUS /pərˈeɪd/
a ceremonial procession including people marching
From this reading She knew now, sharply and cruelly, what the war, that grand parade, had been.
passionatelyadverbUS /ˈpæʃənətli/
with passion
From this reading Fergus who had loved life so passionately, who found pleasure and excitement everywhere!
pillowsnounUS /ˈpɪloʊz/
plural of “pillow” — a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading Fergus lying there with his blond, curly head against the white pillows under the flying gilt swans!
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Fergus who had loved life so passionately, who found pleasure and excitement everywhere!
prayingverbUS /ˈpreɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “pray” — address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading Ellen, still silent, found that she was praying idiotically for a thing which could never be.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading She knew now, sharply and cruelly, what the war, that grand parade, had been.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ellen, still silent, found that she was praying idiotically for a thing which could never be.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Ellen, still silent, found that she was praying idiotically for a thing which could never be.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Fergus who had loved life so passionately, who found pleasure and excitement everywhere!
spoiledadjectiveUS /spɔɪld/
having the character or disposition harmed by pampering or oversolicitous attention
From this reading Fergus whom they had all loved so that they had spoiled him!
not in physical motion
From this reading Ellen, still silent, found that she was praying idiotically for a thing which could never be.
swansnounUS /swɑːnz/
plural of “swan” — stately heavy-bodied aquatic bird with very long neck and usually white plumage as adult
From this reading Fergus lying there with his blond, curly head against the white pillows under the flying gilt swans!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Ellen, still silent, found that she was praying idiotically for a thing which could never be.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She knew now, sharply and cruelly, what the war, that grand parade, had been.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Fergus lying there with his blond, curly head against the white pillows under the flying gilt swans!
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Fergus whom they had all loved so that they had spoiled him!
a special situation
From this reading Ellen, still silent, found that she was praying idiotically for a thing which could never be.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Fergus lying there with his blond, curly head against the white pillows under the flying gilt swans!
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading She knew now, sharply and cruelly, what the war, that grand parade, had been.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Ellen, still silent, found that she was praying idiotically for a thing which could never be.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She knew now, sharply and cruelly, what the war, that grand parade, had been.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Ellen, still silent, found that she was praying idiotically for a thing which could never be.
a Caucasian
From this reading Fergus lying there with his blond, curly head against the white pillows under the flying gilt swans!
which person or people
From this reading Fergus who had loved life so passionately, who found pleasure and excitement everywhere!
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Fergus whom they had all loved so that they had spoiled him!
in the company of; together with
From this reading Fergus lying there with his blond, curly head against the white pillows under the flying gilt swans!
