used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A week ago she would have shrunk from taking luncheon with him, but now such a prospect had no terrors.
adaptedadjectiveUS /əˈdæptɪd/
changed in order to improve or made more fit for a particular purpose
From this reading Had she known Mr. Marcus Stepney as well as Jean knew him, she would have realised that he adapted his mental attitude to his audience.
in the past
From this reading A week ago she would have shrunk from taking luncheon with him, but now such a prospect had no terrors.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His views of things and people were more generous than she had expected.
anticipatedadjectiveUS /ænˈtɪsəpeɪtɪd/
expected hopefully
From this reading She had anticipated his attitude would be a little cynical, but to her surprise he oozed loving-kindness.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Had she known Mr. Marcus Stepney as well as Jean knew him, she would have realised that he adapted his mental attitude to his audience.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading She had anticipated his attitude would be a little cynical, but to her surprise he oozed loving-kindness.
a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance
From this reading Had she known Mr. Marcus Stepney as well as Jean knew him, she would have realised that he adapted his mental attitude to his audience.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She had anticipated his attitude would be a little cynical, but to her surprise he oozed loving-kindness.
bearableadjectiveUS /ˈberəbəl/
capable of being borne though unpleasant
From this reading Mr. Stepney had become more bearable.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Mr. Stepney had become more bearable.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A week ago she would have shrunk from taking luncheon with him, but now such a prospect had no terrors.
cynicaladjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪkəl/
believing the worst of human nature and motives; having a sneering disbelief in e.g. selflessness of others
From this reading She had anticipated his attitude would be a little cynical, but to her surprise he oozed loving-kindness.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading His views of things and people were more generous than she had expected.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A week ago she would have shrunk from taking luncheon with him, but now such a prospect had no terrors.
willing to give and share unstintingly
From this reading His views of things and people were more generous than she had expected.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mr. Stepney had become more bearable.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A week ago she would have shrunk from taking luncheon with him, but now such a prospect had no terrors.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had anticipated his attitude would be a little cynical, but to her surprise he oozed loving-kindness.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had anticipated his attitude would be a little cynical, but to her surprise he oozed loving-kindness.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A week ago she would have shrunk from taking luncheon with him, but now such a prospect had no terrors.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His views of things and people were more generous than she had expected.
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading Had she known Mr. Marcus Stepney as well as Jean knew him, she would have realised that he adapted his mental attitude to his audience.
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 Had she known Mr. Marcus Stepney as well as Jean knew him, she would have realised that he adapted his mental attitude to his audience.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Had she known Mr. Marcus Stepney as well as Jean knew him, she would have realised that he adapted his mental attitude to his audience.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had anticipated his attitude would be a little cynical, but to her surprise he oozed loving-kindness.
loving-kindnessnoun
tender kindness motivated by a feeling of affection
From this reading She had anticipated his attitude would be a little cynical, but to her surprise he oozed loving-kindness.
luncheonnounUS /ˈlʌntʃən/
a midday meal
From this reading A week ago she would have shrunk from taking luncheon with him, but now such a prospect had no terrors.
Marcus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had she known Mr. Marcus Stepney as well as Jean knew him, she would have realised that he adapted his mental attitude to his audience.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading Had she known Mr. Marcus Stepney as well as Jean knew him, she would have realised that he adapted his mental attitude to his audience.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Mr. Stepney had become more bearable.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Stepney had become more bearable.
not any; not one
From this reading A week ago she would have shrunk from taking luncheon with him, but now such a prospect had no terrors.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A week ago she would have shrunk from taking luncheon with him, but now such a prospect had no terrors.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His views of things and people were more generous than she had expected.
oozedverbUS /uːzd/
past form of “ooze” — pass gradually or leak through or as if through small openings
From this reading She had anticipated his attitude would be a little cynical, but to her surprise he oozed loving-kindness.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading His views of things and people were more generous than she had expected.
the possibility of future success
From this reading A week ago she would have shrunk from taking luncheon with him, but now such a prospect had no terrors.
realisedadjectiveUS /ˈriːəlaɪzd/
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Had she known Mr. Marcus Stepney as well as Jean knew him, she would have realised that he adapted his mental attitude to his audience.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A week ago she would have shrunk from taking luncheon with him, but now such a prospect had no terrors.
shrunkverbUS /ʃrʌŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading A week ago she would have shrunk from taking luncheon with him, but now such a prospect had no terrors.
Stepney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Stepney had become more bearable.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading A week ago she would have shrunk from taking luncheon with him, but now such a prospect had no terrors.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading She had anticipated his attitude would be a little cynical, but to her surprise he oozed loving-kindness.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading A week ago she would have shrunk from taking luncheon with him, but now such a prospect had no terrors.
terrorsnounUS /ˈterərz/
plural of “terror” — an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading A week ago she would have shrunk from taking luncheon with him, but now such a prospect had no terrors.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading His views of things and people were more generous than she had expected.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Had she known Mr. Marcus Stepney as well as Jean knew him, she would have realised that he adapted his mental attitude to his audience.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading His views of things and people were more generous than she had expected.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had anticipated his attitude would be a little cynical, but to her surprise he oozed loving-kindness.
plural of “view” — a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading His views of things and people were more generous than she had expected.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading A week ago she would have shrunk from taking luncheon with him, but now such a prospect had no terrors.
(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 Had she known Mr. Marcus Stepney as well as Jean knew him, she would have realised that he adapted his mental attitude to his audience.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His views of things and people were more generous than she had expected.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A week ago she would have shrunk from taking luncheon with him, but now such a prospect had no terrors.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A week ago she would have shrunk from taking luncheon with him, but now such a prospect had no terrors.
