used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The mother hid her aching heart behind a smile: a woman's usual veil.
achingadjectiveUS /ˈeɪkɪŋ/
causing a dull and steady pain
From this reading The mother hid her aching heart behind a smile: a woman's usual veil.
a positive feeling of liking
From this reading The child was all warmth and affection and love for the man she was going to marry.
(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 PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was not what a novelist describes as a sad sweet smile; it had degenerated into an hysterical, jerky, clattering, little laugh.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The child was all warmth and affection and love for the man she was going to marry.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was not what a novelist describes as a sad sweet smile; it had degenerated into an hysterical, jerky, clattering, little laugh.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading His interest in Gracie induced him not to avoid meeting her on the front.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The mother hid her aching heart behind a smile: a woman's usual veil.
bungalownounUS /ˈbʌŋɡəloʊ/
a small house with a single story
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
a young person of either sex
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
clatteringverbUS /ˈklætərɪŋ/
-ing form of “clatter” — make a rattling sound
From this reading It was not what a novelist describes as a sad sweet smile; it had degenerated into an hysterical, jerky, clattering, little laugh.
convalescencenounUS /ˌkɑːnvəˈlesəns/
gradual healing (through rest) after sickness or injury
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
degeneratedverbUS /dɪˈdʒenəreɪtɪd/
past form of “degenerate” — grow worse
From this reading It was not what a novelist describes as a sad sweet smile; it had degenerated into an hysterical, jerky, clattering, little laugh.
describesverbUS /dɪˈskraɪbz/
third-person singular of “describe” — give a description of
From this reading It was not what a novelist describes as a sad sweet smile; it had degenerated into an hysterical, jerky, clattering, little laugh.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The child was all warmth and affection and love for the man she was going to marry.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading His interest in Gracie induced him not to avoid meeting her on the front.
the act of departing
From this reading The child was all warmth and affection and love for the man she was going to marry.
GracienounUS /ˈɡreɪsi/
United States comedienne remembered as the confused but imperturbable partner of her husband, George Burns (1906-1964)
From this reading His interest in Gracie induced him not to avoid meeting her on the front.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading The mother hid her aching heart behind a smile: a woman's usual veil.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading His interest in Gracie induced him not to avoid meeting her on the front.
inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading The mother hid her aching heart behind a smile: a woman's usual veil.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His interest in Gracie induced him not to avoid meeting her on the front.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
hystericaladjectiveUS /hɪˈsterɪkəl/
characterized by or arising from psychoneurotic hysteria
From this reading It was not what a novelist describes as a sad sweet smile; it had degenerated into an hysterical, jerky, clattering, little laugh.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His interest in Gracie induced him not to avoid meeting her on the front.
inducedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈduːst/
brought about or caused; not spontaneous
From this reading His interest in Gracie induced him not to avoid meeting her on the front.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading His interest in Gracie induced him not to avoid meeting her on the front.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was not what a novelist describes as a sad sweet smile; it had degenerated into an hysterical, jerky, clattering, little laugh.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not what a novelist describes as a sad sweet smile; it had degenerated into an hysterical, jerky, clattering, little laugh.
jerkyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɜːrki/
lacking a steady rhythm
From this reading It was not what a novelist describes as a sad sweet smile; it had degenerated into an hysterical, jerky, clattering, little laugh.
the sound of laughing
From this reading It was not what a novelist describes as a sad sweet smile; it had degenerated into an hysterical, jerky, clattering, little laugh.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was not what a novelist describes as a sad sweet smile; it had degenerated into an hysterical, jerky, clattering, little laugh.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading The child was all warmth and affection and love for the man she was going to marry.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The child was all warmth and affection and love for the man she was going to marry.
take in marriage
From this reading The child was all warmth and affection and love for the man she was going to marry.
MastersnounUS /ˈmæstərz/
United States poet (1869-1950)
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading His interest in Gracie induced him not to avoid meeting her on the front.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading The mother hid her aching heart behind a smile: a woman's usual veil.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His interest in Gracie induced him not to avoid meeting her on the front.
novelistnounUS /ˈnɑːvələst/
one who writes novels
From this reading It was not what a novelist describes as a sad sweet smile; it had degenerated into an hysterical, jerky, clattering, little laugh.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading It was not what a novelist describes as a sad sweet smile; it had degenerated into an hysterical, jerky, clattering, little laugh.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The child was all warmth and affection and love for the man she was going to marry.
signpostsnounUS /ˈsaɪnpoʊsts/
plural of “signpost” — a post bearing a sign that gives directions or shows the way
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The mother hid her aching heart behind a smile: a woman's usual veil.
SPYverbUS /spaɪ/
catch sight of
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading It was not what a novelist describes as a sad sweet smile; it had degenerated into an hysterical, jerky, clattering, little laugh.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The mother hid her aching heart behind a smile: a woman's usual veil.
a garment that covers the head and face
From this reading The mother hid her aching heart behind a smile: a woman's usual veil.
visitsnounUS /ˈvɪzɪts/
plural of “visit” — the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
warmthnounUS /wɔːrmθ/
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading The child was all warmth and affection and love for the man she was going to marry.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The child was all warmth and affection and love for the man she was going to marry.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It was not what a novelist describes as a sad sweet smile; it had degenerated into an hysterical, jerky, clattering, little laugh.
at the time that
From this reading PLAYING THE SPY When the child had passed all the signposts on the road of convalescence, had reached perfect health, Masters ceased his visits to the bungalow.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The mother hid her aching heart behind a smile: a woman's usual veil.
