used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
in actual fact
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
anew
From this reading Jack breathed again.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The interview which he most dreaded in the morning was averted, or at any rate postponed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The interview which he most dreaded in the morning was averted, or at any rate postponed.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
avertedverbUS /əˈvɜːrtɪd/
past form of “avert” — prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
From this reading The interview which he most dreaded in the morning was averted, or at any rate postponed.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
for the reason that
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been thinking of the revelation which he had to make to his mother before many hours had passed, and the more he thought of it the greater repugnance did he feel for the discharge of this duty.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He had been thinking of the revelation which he had to make to his mother before many hours had passed, and the more he thought of it the greater repugnance did he feel for the discharge of this duty.
uttered without voice
From this reading Jack breathed again.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He had been thinking of the revelation which he had to make to his mother before many hours had passed, and the more he thought of it the greater repugnance did he feel for the discharge of this duty.
dischargeverbUS /dɪsˈtʃɑːrdʒ/
complete or carry out
From this reading He had been thinking of the revelation which he had to make to his mother before many hours had passed, and the more he thought of it the greater repugnance did he feel for the discharge of this duty.
disquietingadjectiveUS /dɪˈskwaɪətɪŋ/
causing mental discomfort
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
dreadedadjectiveUS /ˈdredɪd/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The interview which he most dreaded in the morning was averted, or at any rate postponed.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading He had been thinking of the revelation which he had to make to his mother before many hours had passed, and the more he thought of it the greater repugnance did he feel for the discharge of this duty.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading He had been thinking of the revelation which he had to make to his mother before many hours had passed, and the more he thought of it the greater repugnance did he feel for the discharge of this duty.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
fortnightnounUS /ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/
a period of fourteen consecutive days
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading He had been thinking of the revelation which he had to make to his mother before many hours had passed, and the more he thought of it the greater repugnance did he feel for the discharge of this duty.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The interview which he most dreaded in the morning was averted, or at any rate postponed.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading He had been thinking of the revelation which he had to make to his mother before many hours had passed, and the more he thought of it the greater repugnance did he feel for the discharge of this duty.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The interview which he most dreaded in the morning was averted, or at any rate postponed.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading The interview which he most dreaded in the morning was averted, or at any rate postponed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Jack breathed again.
conformity or harmony
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
go away from a place
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
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 Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
engage in
From this reading He had been thinking of the revelation which he had to make to his mother before many hours had passed, and the more he thought of it the greater repugnance did he feel for the discharge of this duty.
maladynounUS /ˈmælədi/
any unwholesome or desperate condition
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading He had been thinking of the revelation which he had to make to his mother before many hours had passed, and the more he thought of it the greater repugnance did he feel for the discharge of this duty.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He had been thinking of the revelation which he had to make to his mother before many hours had passed, and the more he thought of it the greater repugnance did he feel for the discharge of this duty.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The interview which he most dreaded in the morning was averted, or at any rate postponed.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The interview which he most dreaded in the morning was averted, or at any rate postponed.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
absolutely essential
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had been thinking of the revelation which he had to make to his mother before many hours had passed, and the more he thought of it the greater repugnance did he feel for the discharge of this duty.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The interview which he most dreaded in the morning was averted, or at any rate postponed.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading He had been thinking of the revelation which he had to make to his mother before many hours had passed, and the more he thought of it the greater repugnance did he feel for the discharge of this duty.
postponedverbUS /poʊstˈpoʊnd/
past form of “postpone” — hold back to a later time
From this reading The interview which he most dreaded in the morning was averted, or at any rate postponed.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading The interview which he most dreaded in the morning was averted, or at any rate postponed.
recoverynounUS /rɪˈkʌvri/
return to an original state
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
repugnancenoun
intense aversion
From this reading He had been thinking of the revelation which he had to make to his mother before many hours had passed, and the more he thought of it the greater repugnance did he feel for the discharge of this duty.
revelationnounUS /ˌrevəˈleɪʃən/
the speech act of making something evident
From this reading He had been thinking of the revelation which he had to make to his mother before many hours had passed, and the more he thought of it the greater repugnance did he feel for the discharge of this duty.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The interview which he most dreaded in the morning was averted, or at any rate postponed.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading He had been thinking of the revelation which he had to make to his mother before many hours had passed, and the more he thought of it the greater repugnance did he feel for the discharge of this duty.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He had been thinking of the revelation which he had to make to his mother before many hours had passed, and the more he thought of it the greater repugnance did he feel for the discharge of this duty.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He had been thinking of the revelation which he had to make to his mother before many hours had passed, and the more he thought of it the greater repugnance did he feel for the discharge of this duty.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
precisely as stated
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The interview which he most dreaded in the morning was averted, or at any rate postponed.
weakeningnounUS /ˈwiːkənɪŋ/
becoming weaker
From this reading Her malady, though not actually dangerous, was disquieting because it was so weakening, a bad attack frequently keeping her in bed for ten days or a fortnight; and complete quiet was necessary for her recovery and long afterwards.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading His mother had had a very bad night and was unable to get up--she might not be able to leave her bed for a week.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The interview which he most dreaded in the morning was averted, or at any rate postponed.
