used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To break the nerve-wrecking spell would be a betrayal of weakness.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To break the nerve-wrecking spell would be a betrayal of weakness.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But to the woman gazing out blindly through the cobweb-covered window into the night, it might well have been hours.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
betrayalnounUS /bɪˈtreɪ.əl/
The action of betraying one's country, a group, or a person; breach of trust.
From this reading To break the nerve-wrecking spell would be a betrayal of weakness.
blindlyadverbUS /ˈblaɪndli/
without seeing or looking
From this reading But to the woman gazing out blindly through the cobweb-covered window into the night, it might well have been hours.
terminate
From this reading To break the nerve-wrecking spell would be a betrayal of weakness.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But to the woman gazing out blindly through the cobweb-covered window into the night, it might well have been hours.
clenchedadjectiveUS /klentʃt/
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
cobweb-covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to the woman gazing out blindly through the cobweb-covered window into the night, it might well have been hours.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
elapsedadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæpst/
(of time) having passed or slipped by
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading But to the woman gazing out blindly through the cobweb-covered window into the night, it might well have been hours.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But to the woman gazing out blindly through the cobweb-covered window into the night, it might well have been hours.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading But to the woman gazing out blindly through the cobweb-covered window into the night, it might well have been hours.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
hystericaladjectiveUS /hɪˈsterɪkəl/
characterized by or arising from psychoneurotic hysteria
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
illogicaladjectiveUS /ˌɪˈlɑːdʒɪkəl/
lacking in correct logical relation
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But to the woman gazing out blindly through the cobweb-covered window into the night, it might well have been hours.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But to the woman gazing out blindly through the cobweb-covered window into the night, it might well have been hours.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
for more time
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading But to the woman gazing out blindly through the cobweb-covered window into the night, it might well have been hours.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
used to form the superlative
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
nerve-wrecking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To break the nerve-wrecking spell would be a betrayal of weakness.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading But to the woman gazing out blindly through the cobweb-covered window into the night, it might well have been hours.
not any; not one
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
not one, and not any
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But to the woman gazing out blindly through the cobweb-covered window into the night, it might well have been hours.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
performverbUS /pərˈfɔːrm/
carry out or perform an action
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
screamverbUS /skriːm/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of
From this reading To break the nerve-wrecking spell would be a betrayal of weakness.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
tensionnounUS /ˈtenʃən/
(psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But to the woman gazing out blindly through the cobweb-covered window into the night, it might well have been hours.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading But to the woman gazing out blindly through the cobweb-covered window into the night, it might well have been hours.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But to the woman gazing out blindly through the cobweb-covered window into the night, it might well have been hours.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading How much time elapsed before he spoke she had no means of knowing; probably, at most, two or three minutes.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
a flaw or weak point
From this reading To break the nerve-wrecking spell would be a betrayal of weakness.
(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 But to the woman gazing out blindly through the cobweb-covered window into the night, it might well have been hours.
at the time that
From this reading None the less, she had arrived at the point when, the tension on her own nerves becoming too great, she felt she must scream, drive her clenched hand through the glass of the window, or perform some other act of hysterical violence; then he spoke, and in the ordinary tone of daily life.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
which person or people
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
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 But to the woman gazing out blindly through the cobweb-covered window into the night, it might well have been hours.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading But to the woman gazing out blindly through the cobweb-covered window into the night, it might well have been hours.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading For some illogical reason, which she could not have explained to herself, she had the feeling that the victory in the coming struggle would lie with the one who kept silent the longer.
