used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE LADY--AND THE GENTLEMAN Apparently each of the pair was equally surprised.
from appearances alone
From this reading THE LADY--AND THE GENTLEMAN Apparently each of the pair was equally surprised.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
Bewicke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
boanounUS /ˈboʊə/
a long thin fluffy scarf of feathers or fur
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The word came with a little gasp, as if she uttered it unwittingly.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading THE LADY--AND THE GENTLEMAN Apparently each of the pair was equally surprised.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading THE LADY--AND THE GENTLEMAN Apparently each of the pair was equally surprised.
facultynounUS /ˈfækəlti/
one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind
From this reading It was she who first regained the faculty of speech.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was she who first regained the faculty of speech.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
gaspnounUS /ɡæsp/
a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open
From this reading The word came with a little gasp, as if she uttered it unwittingly.
a man of refinement
From this reading THE LADY--AND THE GENTLEMAN Apparently each of the pair was equally surprised.
an informal term for a youth or man
From this reading 'Guy!'
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
the act of retaining something
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
HollandnounUS /ˈhɑːlənd/
a constitutional monarchy in western Europe on the North Sea; half the country lies below sea level
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
intendingverbUS /ˌɪnˈtendɪŋ/
-ing form of “intend” — have in mind as a purpose
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was she who first regained the faculty of speech.
and nothing more
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading THE LADY--AND THE GENTLEMAN Apparently each of the pair was equally surprised.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
not in physical motion
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE LADY--AND THE GENTLEMAN Apparently each of the pair was equally surprised.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading THE LADY--AND THE GENTLEMAN Apparently each of the pair was equally surprised.
paralysisnounUS /pərˈæləsəs/
loss of the ability to move a body part
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
regainedverbUS /riˈɡeɪnd/
past form of “regain” — get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading It was she who first regained the faculty of speech.
removeverbUS /riˈmuːv/
remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading It was she who first regained the faculty of speech.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
a state of acute pain
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading THE LADY--AND THE GENTLEMAN Apparently each of the pair was equally surprised.
temporaryadjectiveUS /ˈtempəreri/
not permanent; not lasting
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LADY--AND THE GENTLEMAN Apparently each of the pair was equally surprised.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
tongue-tiedadjective
unable to express yourself clearly or fluently
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
unwittinglyadverbUS /ənˈwɪtɪŋli/
without knowledge or intention
From this reading The word came with a little gasp, as if she uttered it unwittingly.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
communicated in words
From this reading The word came with a little gasp, as if she uttered it unwittingly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE LADY--AND THE GENTLEMAN Apparently each of the pair was equally surprised.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
which person or people
From this reading It was she who first regained the faculty of speech.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Each stared at the other as if tongue-tied; Mr Holland motionless, holding the ring a little in front of him, as if suffering from at least temporary paralysis; Miss Bewicke, equally rigid, with her fingers up to her throat, just as she had raised them intending to remove the boa which was about her neck.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading The word came with a little gasp, as if she uttered it unwittingly.
