used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the afternoon of the twenty-third day of December the novice was kneeling in her cell, supposedly at prayer, in reality indulging in a rather forlorn and melancholy reverie.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading On the afternoon of the twenty-third day of December the novice was kneeling in her cell, supposedly at prayer, in reality indulging in a rather forlorn and melancholy reverie.
(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 In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The stillness brought a chill to Laure’s heart, and she was near to tears, when her door was suddenly pushed open, and some one halted there.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading On the afternoon of the twenty-third day of December the novice was kneeling in her cell, supposedly at prayer, in reality indulging in a rather forlorn and melancholy reverie.
a formal event performed on a special occasion
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
a young person of either sex
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading The stillness brought a chill to Laure’s heart, and she was near to tears, when her door was suddenly pushed open, and some one halted there.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading It was the hour of recreation; and the convent was very quiet, for most of the nuns were sleeping, in preparation for the strain of the forty-eight-hour Christmas service.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
conventnounUS /ˈkɑːnvənt/
a religious residence especially for nuns
From this reading It was the hour of recreation; and the convent was very quiet, for most of the nuns were sleeping, in preparation for the strain of the forty-eight-hour Christmas service.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
a female human offspring
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading On the afternoon of the twenty-third day of December the novice was kneeling in her cell, supposedly at prayer, in reality indulging in a rather forlorn and melancholy reverie.
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The stillness brought a chill to Laure’s heart, and she was near to tears, when her door was suddenly pushed open, and some one halted there.
Eleanore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
for a limitless time
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
forlornadjectiveUS /fərˈlɔːrn/
marked by or showing hopelessness
From this reading On the afternoon of the twenty-third day of December the novice was kneeling in her cell, supposedly at prayer, in reality indulging in a rather forlorn and melancholy reverie.
forty-eight-hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the hour of recreation; and the convent was very quiet, for most of the nuns were sleeping, in preparation for the strain of the forty-eight-hour Christmas service.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading The stillness brought a chill to Laure’s heart, and she was near to tears, when her door was suddenly pushed open, and some one halted there.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading The stillness brought a chill to Laure’s heart, and she was near to tears, when her door was suddenly pushed open, and some one halted there.
heart-sickness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It was the hour of recreation; and the convent was very quiet, for most of the nuns were sleeping, in preparation for the strain of the forty-eight-hour Christmas service.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
indulgingnounUS /ˌɪnˈdʌldʒɪŋ/
the act of indulging or gratifying a desire
From this reading On the afternoon of the twenty-third day of December the novice was kneeling in her cell, supposedly at prayer, in reality indulging in a rather forlorn and melancholy reverie.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
kneelingnounUS /ˈniːlɪŋ/
supporting yourself on your knees
From this reading On the afternoon of the twenty-third day of December the novice was kneeling in her cell, supposedly at prayer, in reality indulging in a rather forlorn and melancholy reverie.
Laure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
Laure's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stillness brought a chill to Laure’s heart, and she was near to tears, when her door was suddenly pushed open, and some one halted there.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading On the afternoon of the twenty-third day of December the novice was kneeling in her cell, supposedly at prayer, in reality indulging in a rather forlorn and melancholy reverie.
used to form the superlative
From this reading It was the hour of recreation; and the convent was very quiet, for most of the nuns were sleeping, in preparation for the strain of the forty-eight-hour Christmas service.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
mother-feeling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The stillness brought a chill to Laure’s heart, and she was near to tears, when her door was suddenly pushed open, and some one halted there.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
novicenounUS /ˈnɑːvəs/
someone who has entered a religious order but has not taken final vows
From this reading On the afternoon of the twenty-third day of December the novice was kneeling in her cell, supposedly at prayer, in reality indulging in a rather forlorn and melancholy reverie.
nunsnounUS /nʌnz/
plural of “nun” — a woman religious
From this reading It was the hour of recreation; and the convent was very quiet, for most of the nuns were sleeping, in preparation for the strain of the forty-eight-hour Christmas service.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the afternoon of the twenty-third day of December the novice was kneeling in her cell, supposedly at prayer, in reality indulging in a rather forlorn and melancholy reverie.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The stillness brought a chill to Laure’s heart, and she was near to tears, when her door was suddenly pushed open, and some one halted there.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The stillness brought a chill to Laure’s heart, and she was near to tears, when her door was suddenly pushed open, and some one halted there.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading On the afternoon of the twenty-third day of December the novice was kneeling in her cell, supposedly at prayer, in reality indulging in a rather forlorn and melancholy reverie.
preparationnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃən/
the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading It was the hour of recreation; and the convent was very quiet, for most of the nuns were sleeping, in preparation for the strain of the forty-eight-hour Christmas service.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading The stillness brought a chill to Laure’s heart, and she was near to tears, when her door was suddenly pushed open, and some one halted there.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading It was the hour of recreation; and the convent was very quiet, for most of the nuns were sleeping, in preparation for the strain of the forty-eight-hour Christmas service.
on the contrary
From this reading On the afternoon of the twenty-third day of December the novice was kneeling in her cell, supposedly at prayer, in reality indulging in a rather forlorn and melancholy reverie.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading On the afternoon of the twenty-third day of December the novice was kneeling in her cell, supposedly at prayer, in reality indulging in a rather forlorn and melancholy reverie.
recreationnounUS /ˌrekriˈeɪʃən/
an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates
From this reading It was the hour of recreation; and the convent was very quiet, for most of the nuns were sleeping, in preparation for the strain of the forty-eight-hour Christmas service.
reverienounUS /ˈrevəri/
absentminded dreaming while awake
From this reading On the afternoon of the twenty-third day of December the novice was kneeling in her cell, supposedly at prayer, in reality indulging in a rather forlorn and melancholy reverie.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading It was the hour of recreation; and the convent was very quiet, for most of the nuns were sleeping, in preparation for the strain of the forty-eight-hour Christmas service.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
the state of being asleep
From this reading It was the hour of recreation; and the convent was very quiet, for most of the nuns were sleeping, in preparation for the strain of the forty-eight-hour Christmas service.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The stillness brought a chill to Laure’s heart, and she was near to tears, when her door was suddenly pushed open, and some one halted there.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading The stillness brought a chill to Laure’s heart, and she was near to tears, when her door was suddenly pushed open, and some one halted there.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading It was the hour of recreation; and the convent was very quiet, for most of the nuns were sleeping, in preparation for the strain of the forty-eight-hour Christmas service.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading The stillness brought a chill to Laure’s heart, and she was near to tears, when her door was suddenly pushed open, and some one halted there.
supposedlyadverbUS /səˈpoʊzədli/
believed or reputed to be the case
From this reading On the afternoon of the twenty-third day of December the novice was kneeling in her cell, supposedly at prayer, in reality indulging in a rather forlorn and melancholy reverie.
believed likely
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading The stillness brought a chill to Laure’s heart, and she was near to tears, when her door was suddenly pushed open, and some one halted there.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The stillness brought a chill to Laure’s heart, and she was near to tears, when her door was suddenly pushed open, and some one halted there.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
twenty-thirdadjective
coming next after the twenty-second in position
From this reading On the afternoon of the twenty-third day of December the novice was kneeling in her cell, supposedly at prayer, in reality indulging in a rather forlorn and melancholy reverie.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was the hour of recreation; and the convent was very quiet, for most of the nuns were sleeping, in preparation for the strain of the forty-eight-hour Christmas service.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She suspected nothing of her mother’s heart-sickness over the approaching ceremony that was to cut her child off from her forever; and, indeed, had Laure been told of the mother-feeling, she could not have understood it.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading In the first three weeks of December Madame Eleanore did not come at all to see her daughter, and Laure grew lonely for her.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was the hour of recreation; and the convent was very quiet, for most of the nuns were sleeping, in preparation for the strain of the forty-eight-hour Christmas service.
at the time that
From this reading The stillness brought a chill to Laure’s heart, and she was near to tears, when her door was suddenly pushed open, and some one halted there.
