used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Blurdon lay for some days, and was at intervals able to converse.
(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 The week that followed my first visit to the hospital was full of painful excitement to us all.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Blurdon lay for some days, and was at intervals able to converse.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Blurdon lay for some days, and was at intervals able to converse.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
Blurdon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Blurdon lay for some days, and was at intervals able to converse.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading I need not dwell on those closing scenes.
contriteadjectiveUS /kənˈtraɪt/
feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
converseverbUS /ˈkɑːnvərs/
carry on a conversation
From this reading Blurdon lay for some days, and was at intervals able to converse.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Blurdon lay for some days, and was at intervals able to converse.
dwellverbUS /dwel/
think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading I need not dwell on those closing scenes.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading The week that followed my first visit to the hospital was full of painful excitement to us all.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
ferocitynounUS /fərˈɑːsəti/
the property of being wild or turbulent
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The week that followed my first visit to the hospital was full of painful excitement to us all.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The week that followed my first visit to the hospital was full of painful excitement to us all.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Blurdon lay for some days, and was at intervals able to converse.
forgivenessnounUS /fərˈɡɪvnəs/
compassionate feelings that support a willingness to forgive
From this reading He gradually sank, and his last words were a petition for forgiveness.
made afraid
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The week that followed my first visit to the hospital was full of painful excitement to us all.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
depressingly dark
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
in a gradual manner
From this reading He gradually sank, and his last words were a petition for forgiveness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
harshnessnounUS /ˈhɑːrʃnəs/
the roughness of a substance that causes abrasions
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He gradually sank, and his last words were a petition for forgiveness.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
a health facility where patients receive treatment
From this reading The week that followed my first visit to the hospital was full of painful excitement to us all.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I need not dwell on those closing scenes.
intervalsnounUS /ˈɪntərvəlz/
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading Blurdon lay for some days, and was at intervals able to converse.
immediately past
From this reading He gradually sank, and his last words were a petition for forgiveness.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Blurdon lay for some days, and was at intervals able to converse.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The week that followed my first visit to the hospital was full of painful excitement to us all.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading I need not dwell on those closing scenes.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The week that followed my first visit to the hospital was full of painful excitement to us all.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I need not dwell on those closing scenes.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading The week that followed my first visit to the hospital was full of painful excitement to us all.
petitionnounUS /pəˈtɪʃən/
a formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority
From this reading He gradually sank, and his last words were a petition for forgiveness.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
repelledverbUS /rəˈpeld/
inflected form of “repel” — cause to move back by force or influence
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading He gradually sank, and his last words were a petition for forgiveness.
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs
From this reading I need not dwell on those closing scenes.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Blurdon lay for some days, and was at intervals able to converse.
strengthenverbUS /ˈstreŋθən/
make strong or stronger
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The week that followed my first visit to the hospital was full of painful excitement to us all.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The week that followed my first visit to the hospital was full of painful excitement to us all.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I need not dwell on those closing scenes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The week that followed my first visit to the hospital was full of painful excitement to us all.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The week that followed my first visit to the hospital was full of painful excitement to us all.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading The week that followed my first visit to the hospital was full of painful excitement to us all.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The week that followed my first visit to the hospital was full of painful excitement to us all.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading The week that followed my first visit to the hospital was full of painful excitement to us all.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He gradually sank, and his last words were a petition for forgiveness.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading All the gloomy ferocity, the savage harshness of his tone, look and manner, which before so repelled and frightened me, had now given place to a subdued, contrite voice and expression, such as could not but strengthen my hope that his heart was changed.
the words that are spoken
From this reading He gradually sank, and his last words were a petition for forgiveness.
