used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "We join in the fraud, and ourselves we deceive, What we wish to be true, love bids us believe."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He avoided society as if the breath of man was pestilential; and occupied his time in brooding over his own melancholy.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
avoidedverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪd/
past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading He avoided society as if the breath of man was pestilential; and occupied his time in brooding over his own melancholy.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "We join in the fraud, and ourselves we deceive, What we wish to be true, love bids us believe."
bedsidenounUS /ˈbedsaɪd/
space by the side of a bed (especially the bed of a sick or dying person)
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading "We join in the fraud, and ourselves we deceive, What we wish to be true, love bids us believe."
bereftadjectiveUS /bərˈeft/
unhappy in love; suffering from unrequited love
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
bidsnounUS /bɪdz/
plural of “bid” — an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading "We join in the fraud, and ourselves we deceive, What we wish to be true, love bids us believe."
blastedadjectiveUS /ˈblæstəd/
expletives used informally as intensifiers
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
blissnounUS /blɪs/
a state of extreme happiness
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading He avoided society as if the breath of man was pestilential; and occupied his time in brooding over his own melancholy.
broodingnounUS /ˈbruːdɪŋ/
sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
From this reading He avoided society as if the breath of man was pestilential; and occupied his time in brooding over his own melancholy.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
creationnounUS /kriˈeɪʃən/
the human act of creating
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
deceiveverbUS /dɪˈsiːv/
be false to; be dishonest with
From this reading "We join in the fraud, and ourselves we deceive, What we wish to be true, love bids us believe."
deepestadjectiveUS /ˈdiːpəst/
superlative of “deep” — relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
spoiled or ruined or demolished
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
expiredadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspaɪrd/
having come to an end or become void after passage of a period of time
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
the organ of sight
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
opinion or judgment
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
falteredverbUS /ˈfɑːltərd/
past form of “falter” — be unsure or weak
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading From this moment a smile was never seen to illuminate his features, the most gloomy and secluded places were his favourite haunts.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading From this moment a smile was never seen to illuminate his features, the most gloomy and secluded places were his favourite haunts.
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
fraudnounUS /frɔːd/
intentional deception resulting in injury to another person
From this reading "We join in the fraud, and ourselves we deceive, What we wish to be true, love bids us believe."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From this moment a smile was never seen to illuminate his features, the most gloomy and secluded places were his favourite haunts.
yet to be or coming
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
depressingly dark
From this reading From this moment a smile was never seen to illuminate his features, the most gloomy and secluded places were his favourite haunts.
hauntsnounUS /hɔːnts/
plural of “haunt” — a frequently visited place
From this reading From this moment a smile was never seen to illuminate his features, the most gloomy and secluded places were his favourite haunts.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He avoided society as if the breath of man was pestilential; and occupied his time in brooding over his own melancholy.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
huenounUS /hjuː/
the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He avoided society as if the breath of man was pestilential; and occupied his time in brooding over his own melancholy.
illuminateverbUS /ɪˈluː.mɪ.neɪt/
To light up or make clear; to decorate a manuscript with gold, silver, or brilliant colors.
From this reading From this moment a smile was never seen to illuminate his features, the most gloomy and secluded places were his favourite haunts.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "We join in the fraud, and ourselves we deceive, What we wish to be true, love bids us believe."
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
become part of; become a member of a group or organization
From this reading "We join in the fraud, and ourselves we deceive, What we wish to be true, love bids us believe."
languidadjectiveUS /ˈlæŋɡwəd/
lacking spirit or liveliness
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
immediately past
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading "We join in the fraud, and ourselves we deceive, What we wish to be true, love bids us believe."
a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He avoided society as if the breath of man was pestilential; and occupied his time in brooding over his own melancholy.
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading He avoided society as if the breath of man was pestilential; and occupied his time in brooding over his own melancholy.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
a particular point in time
From this reading From this moment a smile was never seen to illuminate his features, the most gloomy and secluded places were his favourite haunts.
used to form the superlative
From this reading From this moment a smile was never seen to illuminate his features, the most gloomy and secluded places were his favourite haunts.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading From this moment a smile was never seen to illuminate his features, the most gloomy and secluded places were his favourite haunts.
held or filled or in use
From this reading He avoided society as if the breath of man was pestilential; and occupied his time in brooding over his own melancholy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
once-blooming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading "We join in the fraud, and ourselves we deceive, What we wish to be true, love bids us believe."
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He avoided society as if the breath of man was pestilential; and occupied his time in brooding over his own melancholy.
overspreadverb
spread across or over
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
overwhelmedverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈwelmd/
past form of “overwhelm” — overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He avoided society as if the breath of man was pestilential; and occupied his time in brooding over his own melancholy.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
pestilentialadjective
likely to spread and cause an epidemic disease
From this reading He avoided society as if the breath of man was pestilential; and occupied his time in brooding over his own melancholy.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading From this moment a smile was never seen to illuminate his features, the most gloomy and secluded places were his favourite haunts.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
secludedadjectiveUS /sɪˈkluːdɪd/
hidden from general view or use
From this reading From this moment a smile was never seen to illuminate his features, the most gloomy and secluded places were his favourite haunts.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading From this moment a smile was never seen to illuminate his features, the most gloomy and secluded places were his favourite haunts.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading From this moment a smile was never seen to illuminate his features, the most gloomy and secluded places were his favourite haunts.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading He avoided society as if the breath of man was pestilential; and occupied his time in brooding over his own melancholy.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
sustainverbUS /səˈsteɪn/
lengthen or extend in duration or space
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "We join in the fraud, and ourselves we deceive, What we wish to be true, love bids us believe."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading From this moment a smile was never seen to illuminate his features, the most gloomy and secluded places were his favourite haunts.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He avoided society as if the breath of man was pestilential; and occupied his time in brooding over his own melancholy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "We join in the fraud, and ourselves we deceive, What we wish to be true, love bids us believe."
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
in the direction of
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading "We join in the fraud, and ourselves we deceive, What we wish to be true, love bids us believe."
moved around an axis or center
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "We join in the fraud, and ourselves we deceive, What we wish to be true, love bids us believe."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We join in the fraud, and ourselves we deceive, What we wish to be true, love bids us believe."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The deepest despair overwhelmed him--his hopes were blasted--his fond creation of future bliss was in an instant destroyed, and his mind received a shock too powerful for nature to sustain.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "We join in the fraud, and ourselves we deceive, What we wish to be true, love bids us believe."
at the time that
From this reading When at last the pale hue of death overspread her once-blooming cheek, when she turned her languid eye towards her lover and faltered "farewell," when she closed her faded eyes and expired in prayer, Charles stood by the bedside like a being bereft of power and motion.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading "We join in the fraud, and ourselves we deceive, What we wish to be true, love bids us believe."
