used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In a moment he seemed to have passed from the realm of dreams to that of reality.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Indeed, he courted an interview with the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he had little reason to think it could not.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Indeed, he courted an interview with the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he had little reason to think it could not.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Indeed, he courted an interview with the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he had little reason to think it could not.
courtedverbUS /ˈkɔːrtɪd/
past form of “court” — make amorous advances towards
From this reading Indeed, he courted an interview with the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he had little reason to think it could not.
down-stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he went down-stairs.
plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep
From this reading In a moment he seemed to have passed from the realm of dreams to that of reality.
the organ of sight
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In a moment he seemed to have passed from the realm of dreams to that of reality.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
HALF-PAST
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HALF-PAST ONE IN THE MORNING Nothing now held Mr. Ransom to his room.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In a moment he seemed to have passed from the realm of dreams to that of reality.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading HALF-PAST ONE IN THE MORNING Nothing now held Mr. Ransom to his room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading HALF-PAST ONE IN THE MORNING Nothing now held Mr. Ransom to his room.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Indeed, he courted an interview with the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he had little reason to think it could not.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading HALF-PAST ONE IN THE MORNING Nothing now held Mr. Ransom to his room.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, he courted an interview with the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he had little reason to think it could not.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading Indeed, he courted an interview with the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he had little reason to think it could not.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Indeed, he courted an interview with the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he had little reason to think it could not.
a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
From this reading Indeed, he courted an interview with the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he had little reason to think it could not.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Indeed, he courted an interview with the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he had little reason to think it could not.
a particular point in time
From this reading In a moment he seemed to have passed from the realm of dreams to that of reality.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading HALF-PAST ONE IN THE MORNING Nothing now held Mr. Ransom to his room.
a form of address for a man
From this reading HALF-PAST ONE IN THE MORNING Nothing now held Mr. Ransom to his room.
as might be expected
From this reading Indeed, he courted an interview with the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he had little reason to think it could not.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
not any; not one
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Indeed, he courted an interview with the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he had little reason to think it could not.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading HALF-PAST ONE IN THE MORNING Nothing now held Mr. Ransom to his room.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading HALF-PAST ONE IN THE MORNING Nothing now held Mr. Ransom to his room.
past form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading Indeed, he courted an interview with the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he had little reason to think it could not.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In a moment he seemed to have passed from the realm of dreams to that of reality.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading HALF-PAST ONE IN THE MORNING Nothing now held Mr. Ransom to his room.
and nothing more
From this reading Indeed, he courted an interview with the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he had little reason to think it could not.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading In a moment he seemed to have passed from the realm of dreams to that of reality.
RansomnounUS /ˈrænsəm/
money demanded for the return of a captured person
From this reading HALF-PAST ONE IN THE MORNING Nothing now held Mr. Ransom to his room.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading In a moment he seemed to have passed from the realm of dreams to that of reality.
realmnounUS /relm/
a domain in which something is dominant
From this reading In a moment he seemed to have passed from the realm of dreams to that of reality.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Indeed, he courted an interview with the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he had little reason to think it could not.
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading HALF-PAST ONE IN THE MORNING Nothing now held Mr. Ransom to his room.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading In a moment he seemed to have passed from the realm of dreams to that of reality.
sister-in-lawnounUS /ˈsɪstərɪnlɔː/
the sister of your spouse
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In a moment he seemed to have passed from the realm of dreams to that of reality.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HALF-PAST ONE IN THE MORNING Nothing now held Mr. Ransom to his room.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Indeed, he courted an interview with the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he had little reason to think it could not.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HALF-PAST ONE IN THE MORNING Nothing now held Mr. Ransom to his room.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading So he went down-stairs.
belonging to which person
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Indeed, he courted an interview with the lawyer, if only it could be naturally obtained; and he had little reason to think it could not.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The two women in whose fate he was so nearly concerned, his sister-in-law and his wife, had both retired and there was no other eye he feared.
