used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.
addressingverbUS /əˈdresɪŋ/
-ing form of “address” — speak to
From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
from appearances alone
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
contractionnounUS /kənˈtrækʃən/
(physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.
endearingadjectiveUS /enˈdiːrɪŋ/
lovable especially in a childlike or naive way
From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.
epithetsnounUS /ˈepəθets/
plural of “epithet” — a defamatory or abusive word or phrase
From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.
divisible by two
From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.
the point or degree to which something extends
From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.
opinion or judgment
From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.
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 REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.
HollandnounUS /ˈhɑːlənd/
a constitutional monarchy in western Europe on the North Sea; half the country lies below sea level
From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.
involuntaryadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlənteri/
not subject to the control of the will
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
a form of address for a man
From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.
musclesnounUS /ˈmʌsəlz/
plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.
owingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊɪŋ/
owed as a debt
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
pupilsnounUS /ˈpjuːpəlz/
plural of “pupil” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
REINFORCEDadjectiveUS /ˌriːɪnˈfɔːrst/
given added strength or support
From this reading REINFORCED Mr Holland had opened his eyes; he had done nothing more.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She bent over the bed, addressing him by a dozen endearing epithets.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
unseeingadjective
not consciously observing
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
volitionnounUS /voʊˈlɪʃən/
the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention
From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But, for the instant, it was sufficient for Miss Broad that he had shown signs of volition even to so small an extent.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The movement might have been owing to an involuntary contraction of the muscles, so rigid did his attitude continue to be, so apparently unseeing were the staring pupils.
