used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For the next two weeks Eleanor made a heroic effort to follow Quin's advice and be nice to Madam.
adorationnounUS /ˌædərˈeɪʃən/
a feeling of profound love and admiration
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
a proposal for an appropriate course of action
From this reading For the next two weeks Eleanor made a heroic effort to follow Quin's advice and be nice to Madam.
(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 wanted, with all her heart, to gain her point peacefully, and she also wanted Quin's approval of what she was doing.
in addition
From this reading She wanted, with all her heart, to gain her point peacefully, and she also wanted Quin's approval of what she was doing.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading For the first time, she began to wonder if she could be partly to blame for the friction that always existed between herself and her grandmother.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She certainly had taken an unholy joy in flaunting her Martel characteristics in the old lady's face.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For the next two weeks Eleanor made a heroic effort to follow Quin's advice and be nice to Madam.
approvalnounUS /əˈpruːvəl/
the formal act of approving
From this reading She wanted, with all her heart, to gain her point peacefully, and she also wanted Quin's approval of what she was doing.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For the next two weeks Eleanor made a heroic effort to follow Quin's advice and be nice to Madam.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading For the first time, she began to wonder if she could be partly to blame for the friction that always existed between herself and her grandmother.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading For the first time, she began to wonder if she could be partly to blame for the friction that always existed between herself and her grandmother.
put or pin the blame on
From this reading For the first time, she began to wonder if she could be partly to blame for the friction that always existed between herself and her grandmother.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading She certainly had taken an unholy joy in flaunting her Martel characteristics in the old lady's face.
characteristicsnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪks/
plural of “characteristic” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading She certainly had taken an unholy joy in flaunting her Martel characteristics in the old lady's face.
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For the first time, she began to wonder if she could be partly to blame for the friction that always existed between herself and her grandmother.
criticismnounUS /ˈkrɪtɪsɪzəm/
disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
detectedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtektəd/
perceived or discerned
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
disturbingadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ/
causing distress or worry or anxiety
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading She wanted, with all her heart, to gain her point peacefully, and she also wanted Quin's approval of what she was doing.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading For the next two weeks Eleanor made a heroic effort to follow Quin's advice and be nice to Madam.
Eleanor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the next two weeks Eleanor made a heroic effort to follow Quin's advice and be nice to Madam.
existedverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪstəd/
past form of “exist” — have an existence, be extant
From this reading For the first time, she began to wonder if she could be partly to blame for the friction that always existed between herself and her grandmother.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She certainly had taken an unholy joy in flaunting her Martel characteristics in the old lady's face.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading For the first time, she began to wonder if she could be partly to blame for the friction that always existed between herself and her grandmother.
flauntingverbUS /ˈflɔːntɪŋ/
-ing form of “flaunt” — display proudly; act ostentatiously or pretentiously
From this reading She certainly had taken an unholy joy in flaunting her Martel characteristics in the old lady's face.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading For the next two weeks Eleanor made a heroic effort to follow Quin's advice and be nice to Madam.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the next two weeks Eleanor made a heroic effort to follow Quin's advice and be nice to Madam.
many times at short intervals
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
frictionnounUS /ˈfrɪkʃən/
a state of conflict between persons
From this reading For the first time, she began to wonder if she could be partly to blame for the friction that always existed between herself and her grandmother.
obtain
From this reading She wanted, with all her heart, to gain her point peacefully, and she also wanted Quin's approval of what she was doing.
grandmothernounUS /ˈɡrændmʌðər/
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading For the first time, she began to wonder if she could be partly to blame for the friction that always existed between herself and her grandmother.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She certainly had taken an unholy joy in flaunting her Martel characteristics in the old lady's face.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading She wanted, with all her heart, to gain her point peacefully, and she also wanted Quin's approval of what she was doing.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She wanted, with all her heart, to gain her point peacefully, and she also wanted Quin's approval of what she was doing.
heroicadjectiveUS /hɪˈroʊɪk/
very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary (especially in size or scale)
From this reading For the next two weeks Eleanor made a heroic effort to follow Quin's advice and be nice to Madam.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading For the first time, she began to wonder if she could be partly to blame for the friction that always existed between herself and her grandmother.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading For the first time, she began to wonder if she could be partly to blame for the friction that always existed between herself and her grandmother.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading She certainly had taken an unholy joy in flaunting her Martel characteristics in the old lady's face.
lady'snounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
possessive form of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading She certainly had taken an unholy joy in flaunting her Martel characteristics in the old lady's face.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
a woman of refinement
From this reading For the next two weeks Eleanor made a heroic effort to follow Quin's advice and be nice to Madam.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading For the next two weeks Eleanor made a heroic effort to follow Quin's advice and be nice to Madam.
Martel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She certainly had taken an unholy joy in flaunting her Martel characteristics in the old lady's face.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading For the next two weeks Eleanor made a heroic effort to follow Quin's advice and be nice to Madam.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading For the next two weeks Eleanor made a heroic effort to follow Quin's advice and be nice to Madam.
a brief written record
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
obviousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbviəs/
easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She wanted, with all her heart, to gain her point peacefully, and she also wanted Quin's approval of what she was doing.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She certainly had taken an unholy joy in flaunting her Martel characteristics in the old lady's face.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading For the first time, she began to wonder if she could be partly to blame for the friction that always existed between herself and her grandmother.
peacefullyadverbUS /ˈpiːsfəli/
in a peaceful manner
From this reading She wanted, with all her heart, to gain her point peacefully, and she also wanted Quin's approval of what she was doing.
piquedverbUS /piːkt/
past form of “pique” — cause to feel resentment or indignation
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading She wanted, with all her heart, to gain her point peacefully, and she also wanted Quin's approval of what she was doing.
Quin's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the next two weeks Eleanor made a heroic effort to follow Quin's advice and be nice to Madam.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She wanted, with all her heart, to gain her point peacefully, and she also wanted Quin's approval of what she was doing.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading She certainly had taken an unholy joy in flaunting her Martel characteristics in the old lady's face.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the next two weeks Eleanor made a heroic effort to follow Quin's advice and be nice to Madam.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For the first time, she began to wonder if she could be partly to blame for the friction that always existed between herself and her grandmother.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For the next two weeks Eleanor made a heroic effort to follow Quin's advice and be nice to Madam.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading For the next two weeks Eleanor made a heroic effort to follow Quin's advice and be nice to Madam.
unholyadjectiveUS /ənˈhoʊli/
not hallowed or consecrated
From this reading She certainly had taken an unholy joy in flaunting her Martel characteristics in the old lady's face.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading She wanted, with all her heart, to gain her point peacefully, and she also wanted Quin's approval of what she was doing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She wanted, with all her heart, to gain her point peacefully, and she also wanted Quin's approval of what she was doing.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading For the next two weeks Eleanor made a heroic effort to follow Quin's advice and be nice to Madam.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She wanted, with all her heart, to gain her point peacefully, and she also wanted Quin's approval of what she was doing.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading In spite of his obvious adoration, she frequently detected a note of criticism in his voice, that, while it piqued her, also stirred her conscience and made her see things in a new and disturbing light.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She wanted, with all her heart, to gain her point peacefully, and she also wanted Quin's approval of what she was doing.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading For the first time, she began to wonder if she could be partly to blame for the friction that always existed between herself and her grandmother.
