used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
afflictionnounUS /əˈflɪkʃən/
a state of great suffering and distress due to adversity
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
react verbally
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
Arwed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading 'What is it that you particularly want of me?' asked Megret, with mingled embarrassment and vexation.
avoidedverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪd/
past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading 'We have both of us so long and so carefully avoided each other, that this unexpected visit may well excite my wonder.'
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
the two together, not just one
From this reading 'We have both of us so long and so carefully avoided each other, that this unexpected visit may well excite my wonder.'
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading 'We have both of us so long and so carefully avoided each other, that this unexpected visit may well excite my wonder.'
chainedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪnd/
bound with chains
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
diseasenounUS /dɪˈziːz/
an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading 'We have both of us so long and so carefully avoided each other, that this unexpected visit may well excite my wonder.'
embarrassmentnounUS /ɪmˈberəsmənt/
the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public
From this reading 'What is it that you particularly want of me?' asked Megret, with mingled embarrassment and vexation.
exciteverbUS /ɪkˈsaɪt/
arouse or elicit a feeling
From this reading 'We have both of us so long and so carefully avoided each other, that this unexpected visit may well excite my wonder.'
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
grovenounUS /ɡroʊv/
a small growth of trees without underbrush
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
guidedadjectiveUS /ˈɡaɪdəd/
subject to guidance or control especially after launching
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading 'We have both of us so long and so carefully avoided each other, that this unexpected visit may well excite my wonder.'
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
inquiriesnounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪəriz/
plural of “inquiry” — a search for knowledge
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
irresistibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbəl/
impossible to resist; overpowering
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'What is it that you particularly want of me?' asked Megret, with mingled embarrassment and vexation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading 'What is it that you particularly want of me?' asked Megret, with mingled embarrassment and vexation.
leaflessadjectiveUS /ˈliːfləs/
having no leaves
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading 'We have both of us so long and so carefully avoided each other, that this unexpected visit may well excite my wonder.'
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading 'We have both of us so long and so carefully avoided each other, that this unexpected visit may well excite my wonder.'
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading 'What is it that you particularly want of me?' asked Megret, with mingled embarrassment and vexation.
Megret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading 'What is it that you particularly want of me?' asked Megret, with mingled embarrassment and vexation.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading 'We have both of us so long and so carefully avoided each other, that this unexpected visit may well excite my wonder.'
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading 'We have both of us so long and so carefully avoided each other, that this unexpected visit may well excite my wonder.'
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading 'What is it that you particularly want of me?' asked Megret, with mingled embarrassment and vexation.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
Siquier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading 'We have both of us so long and so carefully avoided each other, that this unexpected visit may well excite my wonder.'
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading 'We have both of us so long and so carefully avoided each other, that this unexpected visit may well excite my wonder.'
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading 'We have both of us so long and so carefully avoided each other, that this unexpected visit may well excite my wonder.'
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading 'We have both of us so long and so carefully avoided each other, that this unexpected visit may well excite my wonder.'
vexationnoun
anger produced by some annoying irritation
From this reading 'What is it that you particularly want of me?' asked Megret, with mingled embarrassment and vexation.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading 'We have both of us so long and so carefully avoided each other, that this unexpected visit may well excite my wonder.'
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
walksnounUS /wɔːks/
plural of “walk” — the act of traveling by foot
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading 'What is it that you particularly want of me?' asked Megret, with mingled embarrassment and vexation.
wastedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪstɪd/
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
From this reading A glance through an opening in the branches of the trees discovered to him the face of Siquier, pale and wasted by disease and affliction; and the interest of a conversation which now commenced between them, chained him with irresistible power to the spot.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading 'We have both of us so long and so carefully avoided each other, that this unexpected visit may well excite my wonder.'
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading 'We have both of us so long and so carefully avoided each other, that this unexpected visit may well excite my wonder.'
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading 'What is it that you particularly want of me?' asked Megret, with mingled embarrassment and vexation.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In answer to his inquiries for Megret, Arwed learned that he had retired into the garden in company with a strange officer.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading 'We have both of us so long and so carefully avoided each other, that this unexpected visit may well excite my wonder.'
yew-trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He followed him there, and their voices guided him through the leafless and snow covered walks to a thick grove of yew-trees, in which Megret and the stranger were sitting.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 'What is it that you particularly want of me?' asked Megret, with mingled embarrassment and vexation.
