used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
AlexandrianounUS /ˌæləɡˈzændriə/
a town in Louisiana on the Red River
From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.
broodingnounUS /ˈbruːdɪŋ/
sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.
CatherinenounUS /ˈkæθərən/
first wife of Henry VIII; Henry VIII's divorce from her was the initial step of the Reformation in England (1485-1536)
From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.
represented in words especially with sharpness and detail
From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
etherealadjectiveUS /ɪˈθɪriəl/
characterized by lightness and insubstantiality; as impalpable or intangible as air
From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.
exaltationnoun
a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion
From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
intangiblenounUS /ˌɪnˈtændʒəbəl/
assets that are saleable though not material or physical
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
involuntarilyadverbUS /ˌɪnvoʊˈlʌntərɪli/
against your will
From this reading The words had slipped from her involuntarily in the spiritual tension of her mood.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
and nothing more
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.
maddeningadjectiveUS /ˈmædənɪŋ/
extremely annoying or displeasing
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
a particular point in time
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading The words had slipped from her involuntarily in the spiritual tension of her mood.
namesakenounUS /ˈneɪmseɪk/
a person with the same name as another
From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
obstaclenounUS /ˈɑːbstəkəl/
something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
and nothing more
From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
phrasenounUS /freɪz/
an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
reducedadjectiveUS /rəˈduːst/
made less in size or amount or degree
From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.
ringingnounUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/
the sound of a bell ringing
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading The words had slipped from her involuntarily in the spiritual tension of her mood.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
From this reading The words had slipped from her involuntarily in the spiritual tension of her mood.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
tensionnounUS /ˈtenʃən/
(psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
From this reading The words had slipped from her involuntarily in the spiritual tension of her mood.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.
unnoticedadjectiveUS /ənˈnoʊtɪst/
not noticed
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
precisely as stated
From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.
vicar's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He spent a brooding and miserable hour in the vicar’s study afterward, making up his mind as to what he should do.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Robert was very nearly reduced to despair by the scene with Catherine we have described.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The words had slipped from her involuntarily in the spiritual tension of her mood.
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading ‘_We are not here only to be happy_,’ she had said to him, with a look of ethereal exaltation worthy of her namesake of Alexandria.
but in spite of that
From this reading One phrase of hers which had passed almost unnoticed in the shock of the moment was now ringing in his ears, maddening him by a sense of joy just within his reach, and yet barred away from him by an obstacle as strong as it was intangible.
