used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MATTER OF TASTE "What are you writin' so hard for, Mr. Gael?"
not being in a specified place
From this reading She had been sitting in her chair, listless and wan, now staring at the flames, now following Wen Ho's activities with absent eyes.
activitiesnounUS /ækˈtɪvətiz/
plural of “activity” — any specific behavior
From this reading She had been sitting in her chair, listless and wan, now staring at the flames, now following Wen Ho's activities with absent eyes.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She drew it from a silence which seemed to her to have filled this strange, gay house for an eternity.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had been sitting in her chair, listless and wan, now staring at the flames, now following Wen Ho's activities with absent eyes.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A MATTER OF TASTE "What are you writin' so hard for, Mr. Gael?"
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She had been sitting in her chair, listless and wan, now staring at the flames, now following Wen Ho's activities with absent eyes.
awarenessnounUS /əˈwernəs/
having knowledge of
From this reading For the first time full awareness of the present cut a rift in the troubled cloudiness of her introspection.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been sitting in her chair, listless and wan, now staring at the flames, now following Wen Ho's activities with absent eyes.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Joan voiced the question wistfully on the height of a long breath.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading She had been sitting in her chair, listless and wan, now staring at the flames, now following Wen Ho's activities with absent eyes.
cloudinessnounUS /ˈklaʊdinɪs/
the state of the sky when it is covered by clouds
From this reading For the first time full awareness of the present cut a rift in the troubled cloudiness of her introspection.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading For the first time full awareness of the present cut a rift in the troubled cloudiness of her introspection.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading She drew it from a silence which seemed to her to have filled this strange, gay house for an eternity.
eternitynounUS /ɪˈtɜːrnəti/
time without end
From this reading She drew it from a silence which seemed to her to have filled this strange, gay house for an eternity.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She had been sitting in her chair, listless and wan, now staring at the flames, now following Wen Ho's activities with absent eyes.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading She drew it from a silence which seemed to her to have filled this strange, gay house for an eternity.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading For the first time full awareness of the present cut a rift in the troubled cloudiness of her introspection.
flamesnounUS /fleɪmz/
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading She had been sitting in her chair, listless and wan, now staring at the flames, now following Wen Ho's activities with absent eyes.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading She had been sitting in her chair, listless and wan, now staring at the flames, now following Wen Ho's activities with absent eyes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A MATTER OF TASTE "What are you writin' so hard for, Mr. Gael?"
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She drew it from a silence which seemed to her to have filled this strange, gay house for an eternity.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading For the first time full awareness of the present cut a rift in the troubled cloudiness of her introspection.
GaelnounUS /ɡeɪl/
a Gaelic-speaking Celt in Ireland or Scotland or the Isle of Man
From this reading A MATTER OF TASTE "What are you writin' so hard for, Mr. Gael?"
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading She drew it from a silence which seemed to her to have filled this strange, gay house for an eternity.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had been sitting in her chair, listless and wan, now staring at the flames, now following Wen Ho's activities with absent eyes.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading A MATTER OF TASTE "What are you writin' so hard for, Mr. Gael?"
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She drew it from a silence which seemed to her to have filled this strange, gay house for an eternity.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading Joan voiced the question wistfully on the height of a long breath.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She drew it from a silence which seemed to her to have filled this strange, gay house for an eternity.
Ho'snounUS /hoʊz/
possessive form of “ho” — a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs together with yttrium; forms highly magnetic compounds
From this reading She had been sitting in her chair, listless and wan, now staring at the flames, now following Wen Ho's activities with absent eyes.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading She drew it from a silence which seemed to her to have filled this strange, gay house for an eternity.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For the first time full awareness of the present cut a rift in the troubled cloudiness of her introspection.
introspectionnounUS /ˌɪntrəˈspekʃən/
the contemplation of your own thoughts and desires and conduct
From this reading For the first time full awareness of the present cut a rift in the troubled cloudiness of her introspection.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She drew it from a silence which seemed to her to have filled this strange, gay house for an eternity.
Joan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan voiced the question wistfully on the height of a long breath.
listlessadjectiveUS /ˈlɪstləs/
lacking zest or vivacity
From this reading She had been sitting in her chair, listless and wan, now staring at the flames, now following Wen Ho's activities with absent eyes.
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 Joan voiced the question wistfully on the height of a long breath.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading A MATTER OF TASTE "What are you writin' so hard for, Mr. Gael?"
a form of address for a man
From this reading A MATTER OF TASTE "What are you writin' so hard for, Mr. Gael?"
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She had been sitting in her chair, listless and wan, now staring at the flames, now following Wen Ho's activities with absent eyes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A MATTER OF TASTE "What are you writin' so hard for, Mr. Gael?"
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Joan voiced the question wistfully on the height of a long breath.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading For the first time full awareness of the present cut a rift in the troubled cloudiness of her introspection.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Joan voiced the question wistfully on the height of a long breath.
riftnounUS /rɪft/
a gap between cloud masses
From this reading For the first time full awareness of the present cut a rift in the troubled cloudiness of her introspection.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She drew it from a silence which seemed to her to have filled this strange, gay house for an eternity.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She drew it from a silence which seemed to her to have filled this strange, gay house for an eternity.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading She drew it from a silence which seemed to her to have filled this strange, gay house for an eternity.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading She had been sitting in her chair, listless and wan, now staring at the flames, now following Wen Ho's activities with absent eyes.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A MATTER OF TASTE "What are you writin' so hard for, Mr. Gael?"
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading She had been sitting in her chair, listless and wan, now staring at the flames, now following Wen Ho's activities with absent eyes.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading She drew it from a silence which seemed to her to have filled this strange, gay house for an eternity.
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading A MATTER OF TASTE "What are you writin' so hard for, Mr. Gael?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Joan voiced the question wistfully on the height of a long breath.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She drew it from a silence which seemed to her to have filled this strange, gay house for an eternity.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For the first time full awareness of the present cut a rift in the troubled cloudiness of her introspection.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She drew it from a silence which seemed to her to have filled this strange, gay house for an eternity.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading For the first time full awareness of the present cut a rift in the troubled cloudiness of her introspection.
voicedadjectiveUS /vɔɪst/
produced with vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading Joan voiced the question wistfully on the height of a long breath.
wanadjectiveUS /wɑːn/
(of light) lacking in intensity or brightness; dim or feeble
From this reading She had been sitting in her chair, listless and wan, now staring at the flames, now following Wen Ho's activities with absent eyes.
WennounUS /wen/
a common cyst of the skin; filled with fatty matter (sebum) that is secreted by a sebaceous gland that has been blocked
From this reading She had been sitting in her chair, listless and wan, now staring at the flames, now following Wen Ho's activities with absent eyes.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A MATTER OF TASTE "What are you writin' so hard for, Mr. Gael?"
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She drew it from a silence which seemed to her to have filled this strange, gay house for an eternity.
wistfullyadverbUS /ˈwɪstfəli/
in a wistful manner
From this reading Joan voiced the question wistfully on the height of a long breath.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She had been sitting in her chair, listless and wan, now staring at the flames, now following Wen Ho's activities with absent eyes.
writin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MATTER OF TASTE "What are you writin' so hard for, Mr. Gael?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading A MATTER OF TASTE "What are you writin' so hard for, Mr. Gael?"
