used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Now we must try to sleep," he said, to prevent her from speaking any more of the words that were torturing him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she must not know.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading He felt that he would be willing to die to keep her ignorant of the truth forever.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He felt that he would be willing to die to keep her ignorant of the truth forever.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
for a limitless time
From this reading He felt that he would be willing to die to keep her ignorant of the truth forever.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "Now we must try to sleep," he said, to prevent her from speaking any more of the words that were torturing him.
gloried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He felt that he would be willing to die to keep her ignorant of the truth forever.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her words were terrible to him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Her words were terrible to him.
uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication
From this reading He felt that he would be willing to die to keep her ignorant of the truth forever.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading He felt that he would be willing to die to keep her ignorant of the truth forever.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading But she must not know.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "Now we must try to sleep," he said, to prevent her from speaking any more of the words that were torturing him.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading But she must not know.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But she must not know.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now we must try to sleep," he said, to prevent her from speaking any more of the words that were torturing him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading "Now we must try to sleep," he said, to prevent her from speaking any more of the words that were torturing him.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Now we must try to sleep," he said, to prevent her from speaking any more of the words that were torturing him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
SiciliannounUS /sɪˈsɪliən/
a resident of Sicily
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading "Now we must try to sleep," he said, to prevent her from speaking any more of the words that were torturing him.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading "Now we must try to sleep," he said, to prevent her from speaking any more of the words that were torturing him.
having a supporting base
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading Her words were terrible to him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He felt that he would be willing to die to keep her ignorant of the truth forever.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Her words were terrible to him.
torturingadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrtʃərɪŋ/
extremely painful
From this reading "Now we must try to sleep," he said, to prevent her from speaking any more of the words that were torturing him.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading He felt that he would be willing to die to keep her ignorant of the truth forever.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading "Now we must try to sleep," he said, to prevent her from speaking any more of the words that were torturing him.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Now we must try to sleep," he said, to prevent her from speaking any more of the words that were torturing him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her words were terrible to him.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading He felt that he would be willing to die to keep her ignorant of the truth forever.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Her words were terrible to him.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The sound of a step, a figure standing before her, a few Sicilian words--and all this world in which she gloried would be changed for her.
