used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With a growing anxiety he asked himself what could have occurred to delay her.
aghastadjectiveUS /əˈɡæst/
struck with fear, dread, or consternation
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading With a growing anxiety he asked himself what could have occurred to delay her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Something had happened to her, and as he considered the possibilities, he grew more and more uneasy.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading With a growing anxiety he asked himself what could have occurred to delay her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The contingency was one which neither of them had foreseen, and for the moment he was at a loss as to how to cope with it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He knew her well enough to be satisfied that she would not change her mind through sudden caprice.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
capricenounUS /kəˈpriːs/
a sudden desire
From this reading He knew her well enough to be satisfied that she would not change her mind through sudden caprice.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading He knew her well enough to be satisfied that she would not change her mind through sudden caprice.
Cheyne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
carefully weighed
From this reading Something had happened to her, and as he considered the possibilities, he grew more and more uneasy.
contingencynounUS /kənˈtɪndʒənsi/
a possible event or occurrence or result
From this reading The contingency was one which neither of them had foreseen, and for the moment he was at a loss as to how to cope with it.
copeverbUS /koʊp/
succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available
From this reading The contingency was one which neither of them had foreseen, and for the moment he was at a loss as to how to cope with it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading With a growing anxiety he asked himself what could have occurred to delay her.
cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading With a growing anxiety he asked himself what could have occurred to delay her.
disquietingadjectiveUS /dɪˈskwaɪətɪŋ/
causing mental discomfort
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading He knew her well enough to be satisfied that she would not change her mind through sudden caprice.
communicated in words
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The contingency was one which neither of them had foreseen, and for the moment he was at a loss as to how to cope with it.
foreseenverbUS /ˌfɔːrˈsiːn/
inflected form of “foresee” — realize beforehand
From this reading The contingency was one which neither of them had foreseen, and for the moment he was at a loss as to how to cope with it.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Something had happened to her, and as he considered the possibilities, he grew more and more uneasy.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading With a growing anxiety he asked himself what could have occurred to delay her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Something had happened to her, and as he considered the possibilities, he grew more and more uneasy.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading With a growing anxiety he asked himself what could have occurred to delay her.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With a growing anxiety he asked himself what could have occurred to delay her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading With a growing anxiety he asked himself what could have occurred to delay her.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The contingency was one which neither of them had foreseen, and for the moment he was at a loss as to how to cope with it.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
irresoluteadjective
uncertain how to act or proceed
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The contingency was one which neither of them had foreseen, and for the moment he was at a loss as to how to cope with it.
Joan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew her well enough to be satisfied that she would not change her mind through sudden caprice.
something that is lost
From this reading The contingency was one which neither of them had foreseen, and for the moment he was at a loss as to how to cope with it.
Merrill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading He knew her well enough to be satisfied that she would not change her mind through sudden caprice.
a particular point in time
From this reading The contingency was one which neither of them had foreseen, and for the moment he was at a loss as to how to cope with it.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Something had happened to her, and as he considered the possibilities, he grew more and more uneasy.
not in physical motion
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading The contingency was one which neither of them had foreseen, and for the moment he was at a loss as to how to cope with it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He knew her well enough to be satisfied that she would not change her mind through sudden caprice.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading With a growing anxiety he asked himself what could have occurred to delay her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The contingency was one which neither of them had foreseen, and for the moment he was at a loss as to how to cope with it.
Otto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
possibilitiesnounUS /ˌpɑːsəˈbɪlətiz/
plural of “possibility” — a future prospect or potential
From this reading Something had happened to her, and as he considered the possibilities, he grew more and more uneasy.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading He knew her well enough to be satisfied that she would not change her mind through sudden caprice.
Schulz's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He knew her well enough to be satisfied that she would not change her mind through sudden caprice.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Something had happened to her, and as he considered the possibilities, he grew more and more uneasy.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading He knew her well enough to be satisfied that she would not change her mind through sudden caprice.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The contingency was one which neither of them had foreseen, and for the moment he was at a loss as to how to cope with it.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He knew her well enough to be satisfied that she would not change her mind through sudden caprice.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Otto Schulz’s Secret Cheyne, faced by the disquieting fact that Joan Merrill had failed to reach home in spite of her expressed intention to return there immediately, stood motionless outside her door, aghast and irresolute.
uneasyadjectiveUS /əˈniːzi/
lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading Something had happened to her, and as he considered the possibilities, he grew more and more uneasy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The contingency was one which neither of them had foreseen, and for the moment he was at a loss as to how to cope with it.
(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 He knew her well enough to be satisfied that she would not change her mind through sudden caprice.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading With a growing anxiety he asked himself what could have occurred to delay her.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The contingency was one which neither of them had foreseen, and for the moment he was at a loss as to how to cope with it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a growing anxiety he asked himself what could have occurred to delay her.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He knew her well enough to be satisfied that she would not change her mind through sudden caprice.
