used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had enjoyed a month of almost unclouded happiness.
abstractionnounUS /æbˈstrækʃən/
a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
From this reading The only trouble Ruth had was the discovery she had made that her husband was subject to occasional fits of despondency and abstraction.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading They had enjoyed a month of almost unclouded happiness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Marston and Ruth were back from their honeymoon.
react verbally
From this reading Sometimes she would speak to him and he would not answer her.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading His thoughts were far away.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Marston and Ruth were back from their honeymoon.
despondencynounUS /dɪˈspɑːndənsi/
feeling downcast and disheartened and hopeless
From this reading The only trouble Ruth had was the discovery she had made that her husband was subject to occasional fits of despondency and abstraction.
the act of discovering something
From this reading The only trouble Ruth had was the discovery she had made that her husband was subject to occasional fits of despondency and abstraction.
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading They had enjoyed a month of almost unclouded happiness.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading His thoughts were far away.
fitsnounUS /fɪts/
plural of “fit” — a display of bad temper
From this reading The only trouble Ruth had was the discovery she had made that her husband was subject to occasional fits of despondency and abstraction.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Marston and Ruth were back from their honeymoon.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had enjoyed a month of almost unclouded happiness.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading They had enjoyed a month of almost unclouded happiness.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sometimes she would speak to him and he would not answer her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The only trouble Ruth had was the discovery she had made that her husband was subject to occasional fits of despondency and abstraction.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Sometimes she would speak to him and he would not answer her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His thoughts were far away.
honeymoonnounUS /ˈhʌnimuːn/
a holiday taken by a newly married couple
From this reading Marston and Ruth were back from their honeymoon.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading The only trouble Ruth had was the discovery she had made that her husband was subject to occasional fits of despondency and abstraction.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The only trouble Ruth had was the discovery she had made that her husband was subject to occasional fits of despondency and abstraction.
Marston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marston and Ruth were back from their honeymoon.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading They had enjoyed a month of almost unclouded happiness.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Sometimes she would speak to him and he would not answer her.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading The only trouble Ruth had was the discovery she had made that her husband was subject to occasional fits of despondency and abstraction.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had enjoyed a month of almost unclouded happiness.
and nothing more
From this reading The only trouble Ruth had was the discovery she had made that her husband was subject to occasional fits of despondency and abstraction.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading Marston and Ruth were back from their honeymoon.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The only trouble Ruth had was the discovery she had made that her husband was subject to occasional fits of despondency and abstraction.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes she would speak to him and he would not answer her.
express in speech
From this reading Sometimes she would speak to him and he would not answer her.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading The only trouble Ruth had was the discovery she had made that her husband was subject to occasional fits of despondency and abstraction.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The only trouble Ruth had was the discovery she had made that her husband was subject to occasional fits of despondency and abstraction.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The only trouble Ruth had was the discovery she had made that her husband was subject to occasional fits of despondency and abstraction.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Marston and Ruth were back from their honeymoon.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had enjoyed a month of almost unclouded happiness.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading His thoughts were far away.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The only trouble Ruth had was the discovery she had made that her husband was subject to occasional fits of despondency and abstraction.
a source of difficulty
From this reading The only trouble Ruth had was the discovery she had made that her husband was subject to occasional fits of despondency and abstraction.
uncloudedadjective
(of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims
From this reading They had enjoyed a month of almost unclouded happiness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The only trouble Ruth had was the discovery she had made that her husband was subject to occasional fits of despondency and abstraction.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Marston and Ruth were back from their honeymoon.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Sometimes she would speak to him and he would not answer her.
