used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
acheverbUS /eɪk/
feel physical pain
From this reading The numb ache of a sorrow was always with her, but her consciousness of it was dulled in the diversion of every day’s occupations.
(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 ROOT OF ALL EVIL The conversation with her old friend had upset Mrs. Ryan.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading The numb ache of a sorrow was always with her, but her consciousness of it was dulled in the diversion of every day’s occupations.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading Bringing it to the surface this way gave it a new vitality, and when the conversation was over and the visitor gone it refused to subside into its old place.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The numb ache of a sorrow was always with her, but her consciousness of it was dulled in the diversion of every day’s occupations.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading The numb ache of a sorrow was always with her, but her consciousness of it was dulled in the diversion of every day’s occupations.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL The conversation with her old friend had upset Mrs. Ryan.
Cornelia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went slowly up stairs, hearing the low murmur of voices from the sitting-room where Cornelia and Jack Duffy were still secluded.
day'snounUS /deɪz/
possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The numb ache of a sorrow was always with her, but her consciousness of it was dulled in the diversion of every day’s occupations.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
diversionnounUS /daɪˈvɜːrʒən/
an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates
From this reading The numb ache of a sorrow was always with her, but her consciousness of it was dulled in the diversion of every day’s occupations.
Duffy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went slowly up stairs, hearing the low murmur of voices from the sitting-room where Cornelia and Jack Duffy were still secluded.
dulledadjectiveUS /dʌld/
having lost or been caused to lose interest because of overexposure
From this reading The numb ache of a sorrow was always with her, but her consciousness of it was dulled in the diversion of every day’s occupations.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The numb ache of a sorrow was always with her, but her consciousness of it was dulled in the diversion of every day’s occupations.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL The conversation with her old friend had upset Mrs. Ryan.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL The conversation with her old friend had upset Mrs. Ryan.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She went slowly up stairs, hearing the low murmur of voices from the sitting-room where Cornelia and Jack Duffy were still secluded.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Bringing it to the surface this way gave it a new vitality, and when the conversation was over and the visitor gone it refused to subside into its old place.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Bringing it to the surface this way gave it a new vitality, and when the conversation was over and the visitor gone it refused to subside into its old place.
grievancesnounUS /ˈɡriːvənsəz/
plural of “grievance” — a resentment strong enough to justify retaliation
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL The conversation with her old friend had upset Mrs. Ryan.
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading She went slowly up stairs, hearing the low murmur of voices from the sitting-room where Cornelia and Jack Duffy were still secluded.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL The conversation with her old friend had upset Mrs. Ryan.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The numb ache of a sorrow was always with her, but her consciousness of it was dulled in the diversion of every day’s occupations.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Bringing it to the surface this way gave it a new vitality, and when the conversation was over and the visitor gone it refused to subside into its old place.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The numb ache of a sorrow was always with her, but her consciousness of it was dulled in the diversion of every day’s occupations.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Bringing it to the surface this way gave it a new vitality, and when the conversation was over and the visitor gone it refused to subside into its old place.
a small worthless amount
From this reading She went slowly up stairs, hearing the low murmur of voices from the sitting-room where Cornelia and Jack Duffy were still secluded.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading She went slowly up stairs, hearing the low murmur of voices from the sitting-room where Cornelia and Jack Duffy were still secluded.
luxurynounUS /ˈlʌɡʒəri/
something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL The conversation with her old friend had upset Mrs. Ryan.
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading She went slowly up stairs, hearing the low murmur of voices from the sitting-room where Cornelia and Jack Duffy were still secluded.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Bringing it to the surface this way gave it a new vitality, and when the conversation was over and the visitor gone it refused to subside into its old place.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
numbadjectiveUS /nʌm/
lacking sensation
From this reading The numb ache of a sorrow was always with her, but her consciousness of it was dulled in the diversion of every day’s occupations.
occupationsnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃənz/
plural of “occupation” — the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading The numb ache of a sorrow was always with her, but her consciousness of it was dulled in the diversion of every day’s occupations.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL The conversation with her old friend had upset Mrs. Ryan.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL The conversation with her old friend had upset Mrs. Ryan.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Bringing it to the surface this way gave it a new vitality, and when the conversation was over and the visitor gone it refused to subside into its old place.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Bringing it to the surface this way gave it a new vitality, and when the conversation was over and the visitor gone it refused to subside into its old place.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
re-awakened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading Bringing it to the surface this way gave it a new vitality, and when the conversation was over and the visitor gone it refused to subside into its old place.
ROOTnounUS /ruːt/
(botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground
From this reading THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL The conversation with her old friend had upset Mrs. Ryan.
Ryan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL The conversation with her old friend had upset Mrs. Ryan.
secludedadjectiveUS /sɪˈkluːdɪd/
hidden from general view or use
From this reading She went slowly up stairs, hearing the low murmur of voices from the sitting-room where Cornelia and Jack Duffy were still secluded.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went slowly up stairs, hearing the low murmur of voices from the sitting-room where Cornelia and Jack Duffy were still secluded.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading She went slowly up stairs, hearing the low murmur of voices from the sitting-room where Cornelia and Jack Duffy were still secluded.
smartadjectiveUS /smɑːrt/
showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement
From this reading The numb ache of a sorrow was always with her, but her consciousness of it was dulled in the diversion of every day’s occupations.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading She went slowly up stairs, hearing the low murmur of voices from the sitting-room where Cornelia and Jack Duffy were still secluded.
not in physical motion
From this reading She went slowly up stairs, hearing the low murmur of voices from the sitting-room where Cornelia and Jack Duffy were still secluded.
subsideverbUS /səbˈsaɪd/
wear off or die down
From this reading Bringing it to the surface this way gave it a new vitality, and when the conversation was over and the visitor gone it refused to subside into its old place.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Bringing it to the surface this way gave it a new vitality, and when the conversation was over and the visitor gone it refused to subside into its old place.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL The conversation with her old friend had upset Mrs. Ryan.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Bringing it to the surface this way gave it a new vitality, and when the conversation was over and the visitor gone it refused to subside into its old place.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She went slowly up stairs, hearing the low murmur of voices from the sitting-room where Cornelia and Jack Duffy were still secluded.
upsetverbUS /əpˈset/
disturb the balance or stability of
From this reading THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL The conversation with her old friend had upset Mrs. Ryan.
someone who visits
From this reading Bringing it to the surface this way gave it a new vitality, and when the conversation was over and the visitor gone it refused to subside into its old place.
vitalitynounUS /vaɪˈtæləti/
an energetic style
From this reading Bringing it to the surface this way gave it a new vitality, and when the conversation was over and the visitor gone it refused to subside into its old place.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading She went slowly up stairs, hearing the low murmur of voices from the sitting-room where Cornelia and Jack Duffy were still secluded.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Bringing it to the surface this way gave it a new vitality, and when the conversation was over and the visitor gone it refused to subside into its old place.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She went slowly up stairs, hearing the low murmur of voices from the sitting-room where Cornelia and Jack Duffy were still secluded.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
at the time that
From this reading Bringing it to the surface this way gave it a new vitality, and when the conversation was over and the visitor gone it refused to subside into its old place.
in or at the place that
From this reading She went slowly up stairs, hearing the low murmur of voices from the sitting-room where Cornelia and Jack Duffy were still secluded.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL The conversation with her old friend had upset Mrs. Ryan.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading These were grievances she did not talk of to all the world, and the luxury of such plain speaking was paid for by a re-awakened smart.
