used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before I had spoken a word I saw that she knew what was coming, and had hardened her heart against me.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading But if I should live to the advanced age of Methusaleh, I could never forget Mrs. Pinkerton’s appearance on that memorable occasion.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Before I had spoken a word I saw that she knew what was coming, and had hardened her heart against me.
how long something has existed
From this reading But if I should live to the advanced age of Methusaleh, I could never forget Mrs. Pinkerton’s appearance on that memorable occasion.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I felt diffident and uneasy, although I am not usually troubled that way.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I felt diffident and uneasy, although I am not usually troubled that way.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton sat in an easy-chair near the window, doing nothing, when I marched in to begin the siege.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I felt diffident and uneasy, although I am not usually troubled that way.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading But if I should live to the advanced age of Methusaleh, I could never forget Mrs. Pinkerton’s appearance on that memorable occasion.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before I had spoken a word I saw that she knew what was coming, and had hardened her heart against me.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton sat in an easy-chair near the window, doing nothing, when I marched in to begin the siege.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But if I should live to the advanced age of Methusaleh, I could never forget Mrs. Pinkerton’s appearance on that memorable occasion.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Before I had spoken a word I saw that she knew what was coming, and had hardened her heart against me.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But if I should live to the advanced age of Methusaleh, I could never forget Mrs. Pinkerton’s appearance on that memorable occasion.
COURTINGnounUS /ˈkɔːrtɪŋ/
a man's courting of a woman; seeking the affections of a woman (usually with the hope of marriage)
From this reading COURTING THE MOTHER.
diffidentadjective
showing modest reserve
From this reading I felt diffident and uneasy, although I am not usually troubled that way.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton sat in an easy-chair near the window, doing nothing, when I marched in to begin the siege.
easy-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton sat in an easy-chair near the window, doing nothing, when I marched in to begin the siege.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading I felt diffident and uneasy, although I am not usually troubled that way.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading But if I should live to the advanced age of Methusaleh, I could never forget Mrs. Pinkerton’s appearance on that memorable occasion.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before I had spoken a word I saw that she knew what was coming, and had hardened her heart against me.
hardenedadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdənd/
used of persons; emotionally hardened
From this reading Before I had spoken a word I saw that she knew what was coming, and had hardened her heart against me.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Before I had spoken a word I saw that she knew what was coming, and had hardened her heart against me.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Before I had spoken a word I saw that she knew what was coming, and had hardened her heart against me.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton sat in an easy-chair near the window, doing nothing, when I marched in to begin the siege.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But if I should live to the advanced age of Methusaleh, I could never forget Mrs. Pinkerton’s appearance on that memorable occasion.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton sat in an easy-chair near the window, doing nothing, when I marched in to begin the siege.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Before I had spoken a word I saw that she knew what was coming, and had hardened her heart against me.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading But if I should live to the advanced age of Methusaleh, I could never forget Mrs. Pinkerton’s appearance on that memorable occasion.
past form of “march” — march in a procession
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton sat in an easy-chair near the window, doing nothing, when I marched in to begin the siege.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Before I had spoken a word I saw that she knew what was coming, and had hardened her heart against me.
memorableadjectiveUS /ˈmemərəbəl/
worth remembering
From this reading But if I should live to the advanced age of Methusaleh, I could never forget Mrs. Pinkerton’s appearance on that memorable occasion.
Methusaleh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if I should live to the advanced age of Methusaleh, I could never forget Mrs. Pinkerton’s appearance on that memorable occasion.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading COURTING THE MOTHER.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton sat in an easy-chair near the window, doing nothing, when I marched in to begin the siege.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton sat in an easy-chair near the window, doing nothing, when I marched in to begin the siege.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading But if I should live to the advanced age of Methusaleh, I could never forget Mrs. Pinkerton’s appearance on that memorable occasion.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I felt diffident and uneasy, although I am not usually troubled that way.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton sat in an easy-chair near the window, doing nothing, when I marched in to begin the siege.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading But if I should live to the advanced age of Methusaleh, I could never forget Mrs. Pinkerton’s appearance on that memorable occasion.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But if I should live to the advanced age of Methusaleh, I could never forget Mrs. Pinkerton’s appearance on that memorable occasion.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But if I should live to the advanced age of Methusaleh, I could never forget Mrs. Pinkerton’s appearance on that memorable occasion.
Pinkerton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton sat in an easy-chair near the window, doing nothing, when I marched in to begin the siege.
Pinkerton's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if I should live to the advanced age of Methusaleh, I could never forget Mrs. Pinkerton’s appearance on that memorable occasion.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton sat in an easy-chair near the window, doing nothing, when I marched in to begin the siege.
cut with a saw
From this reading Before I had spoken a word I saw that she knew what was coming, and had hardened her heart against me.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before I had spoken a word I saw that she knew what was coming, and had hardened her heart against me.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading But if I should live to the advanced age of Methusaleh, I could never forget Mrs. Pinkerton’s appearance on that memorable occasion.
siegenounUS /siːdʒ/
the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton sat in an easy-chair near the window, doing nothing, when I marched in to begin the siege.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Before I had spoken a word I saw that she knew what was coming, and had hardened her heart against me.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I felt diffident and uneasy, although I am not usually troubled that way.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading COURTING THE MOTHER.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton sat in an easy-chair near the window, doing nothing, when I marched in to begin the siege.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading I felt diffident and uneasy, although I am not usually troubled that way.
uneasyadjectiveUS /əˈniːzi/
lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading I felt diffident and uneasy, although I am not usually troubled that way.
under normal conditions
From this reading I felt diffident and uneasy, although I am not usually troubled that way.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Before I had spoken a word I saw that she knew what was coming, and had hardened her heart against me.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading I felt diffident and uneasy, although I am not usually troubled that way.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Before I had spoken a word I saw that she knew what was coming, and had hardened her heart against me.
at the time that
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton sat in an easy-chair near the window, doing nothing, when I marched in to begin the siege.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Mrs. Pinkerton sat in an easy-chair near the window, doing nothing, when I marched in to begin the siege.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Before I had spoken a word I saw that she knew what was coming, and had hardened her heart against me.
