used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
affectionsnounUS /əˈfekʃənz/
plural of “affection” — a positive feeling of liking
From this reading He loved his wife with the unreasoning idolatry of one who has centred all his affections on a single object.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
(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 He loved his wife with the unreasoning idolatry of one who has centred all his affections on a single object.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FATHER AND CHILD.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading His children had been gradually estranged from him, his wife had taken their place in his heart, and now she was listening to the vows of another!
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His children had been gradually estranged from him, his wife had taken their place in his heart, and now she was listening to the vows of another!
centred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He loved his wife with the unreasoning idolatry of one who has centred all his affections on a single object.
a young person of either sex
From this reading FATHER AND CHILD.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading His children had been gradually estranged from him, his wife had taken their place in his heart, and now she was listening to the vows of another!
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading What he had heard was enough to make him fear the worst.
estrangedadjectiveUS /eˈstreɪndʒd/
caused to be unloved
From this reading His children had been gradually estranged from him, his wife had taken their place in his heart, and now she was listening to the vows of another!
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading FATHER AND CHILD.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading What he had heard was enough to make him fear the worst.
foregoingadjectiveUS /fɔːrˈɡoʊɪŋ/
especially of writing or speech; going before
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His children had been gradually estranged from him, his wife had taken their place in his heart, and now she was listening to the vows of another!
in a gradual manner
From this reading His children had been gradually estranged from him, his wife had taken their place in his heart, and now she was listening to the vows of another!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His children had been gradually estranged from him, his wife had taken their place in his heart, and now she was listening to the vows of another!
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He loved his wife with the unreasoning idolatry of one who has centred all his affections on a single object.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading What he had heard was enough to make him fear the worst.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading His children had been gradually estranged from him, his wife had taken their place in his heart, and now she was listening to the vows of another!
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His children had been gradually estranged from him, his wife had taken their place in his heart, and now she was listening to the vows of another!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
idolatrynounUS /aɪˈdɑːlətri/
the worship of idols; the worship of physical objects or images as gods
From this reading He loved his wife with the unreasoning idolatry of one who has centred all his affections on a single object.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His children had been gradually estranged from him, his wife had taken their place in his heart, and now she was listening to the vows of another!
and nothing more
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading His children had been gradually estranged from him, his wife had taken their place in his heart, and now she was listening to the vows of another!
held dear
From this reading He loved his wife with the unreasoning idolatry of one who has centred all his affections on a single object.
engage in
From this reading What he had heard was enough to make him fear the worst.
MeredithnounUS /ˈmerɪdɪθ/
United States civil rights leader whose college registration caused riots in traditionally segregated Mississippi (born in 1933)
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading His children had been gradually estranged from him, his wife had taken their place in his heart, and now she was listening to the vows of another!
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading He loved his wife with the unreasoning idolatry of one who has centred all his affections on a single object.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He loved his wife with the unreasoning idolatry of one who has centred all his affections on a single object.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
overheardverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhɜːrd/
inflected form of “overhear” — hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading His children had been gradually estranged from him, his wife had taken their place in his heart, and now she was listening to the vows of another!
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His children had been gradually estranged from him, his wife had taken their place in his heart, and now she was listening to the vows of another!
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading He loved his wife with the unreasoning idolatry of one who has centred all his affections on a single object.
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading His children had been gradually estranged from him, his wife had taken their place in his heart, and now she was listening to the vows of another!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading His children had been gradually estranged from him, his wife had taken their place in his heart, and now she was listening to the vows of another!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
unreasoningadjectiveUS /ənˈriːznɪŋ/
not based on reason or evidence
From this reading He loved his wife with the unreasoning idolatry of one who has centred all his affections on a single object.
vowsnounUS /vaʊz/
plural of “vow” — a solemn pledge (to oneself or to another or to a deity) to do something or to behave in a certain manner
From this reading His children had been gradually estranged from him, his wife had taken their place in his heart, and now she was listening to the vows of another!
Vyner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His children had been gradually estranged from him, his wife had taken their place in his heart, and now she was listening to the vows of another!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What he had heard was enough to make him fear the worst.
which person or people
From this reading Meredith Vyner stole back to his study, after having overheard a portion of the foregoing scene, like one who has just received a sentence of death.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He loved his wife with the unreasoning idolatry of one who has centred all his affections on a single object.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He loved his wife with the unreasoning idolatry of one who has centred all his affections on a single object.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading What he had heard was enough to make him fear the worst.
