used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was--it was a document.
(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 His impulse was to tear up and burn Violet's letter and thus utterly destroy all proof and the record of her shame.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He rose and went to the fireplace mechanically.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was restrained by that strong subconscious sanity which before now had cared for him when he was at his worst.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He was restrained by that strong subconscious sanity which before now had cared for him when he was at his worst.
To consume or be consumed by fire.
From this reading His impulse was to tear up and burn Violet's letter and thus utterly destroy all proof and the record of her shame.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was restrained by that strong subconscious sanity which before now had cared for him when he was at his worst.
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading He was restrained by that strong subconscious sanity which before now had cared for him when he was at his worst.
do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of
From this reading His impulse was to tear up and burn Violet's letter and thus utterly destroy all proof and the record of her shame.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It suggested that he would do well to keep the letter.
documentnounUS /ˈdɑːkjəment/
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading It was--it was a document.
fireplacenounUS /ˈfaɪərpleɪs/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading He rose and went to the fireplace mechanically.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was restrained by that strong subconscious sanity which before now had cared for him when he was at his worst.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was restrained by that strong subconscious sanity which before now had cared for him when he was at his worst.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He rose and went to the fireplace mechanically.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading His impulse was to tear up and burn Violet's letter and thus utterly destroy all proof and the record of her shame.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was restrained by that strong subconscious sanity which before now had cared for him when he was at his worst.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His impulse was to tear up and burn Violet's letter and thus utterly destroy all proof and the record of her shame.
an instinctive motive
From this reading His impulse was to tear up and burn Violet's letter and thus utterly destroy all proof and the record of her shame.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It suggested that he would do well to keep the letter.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading It suggested that he would do well to keep the letter.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading His impulse was to tear up and burn Violet's letter and thus utterly destroy all proof and the record of her shame.
mechanicallyadverbUS /məˈkænɪkli/
in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism
From this reading He rose and went to the fireplace mechanically.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He was restrained by that strong subconscious sanity which before now had cared for him when he was at his worst.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His impulse was to tear up and burn Violet's letter and thus utterly destroy all proof and the record of her shame.
any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something
From this reading His impulse was to tear up and burn Violet's letter and thus utterly destroy all proof and the record of her shame.
anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading His impulse was to tear up and burn Violet's letter and thus utterly destroy all proof and the record of her shame.
restrainedadjectiveUS /riˈstreɪnd/
cool and formal in manner
From this reading He was restrained by that strong subconscious sanity which before now had cared for him when he was at his worst.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading He rose and went to the fireplace mechanically.
sanitynounUS /ˈsænəti/
normal or sound powers of mind
From this reading He was restrained by that strong subconscious sanity which before now had cared for him when he was at his worst.
a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt
From this reading His impulse was to tear up and burn Violet's letter and thus utterly destroy all proof and the record of her shame.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading He was restrained by that strong subconscious sanity which before now had cared for him when he was at his worst.
subconsciousadjectiveUS /səbˈkɑːnʃəs/
just below the level of consciousness
From this reading He was restrained by that strong subconscious sanity which before now had cared for him when he was at his worst.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading It suggested that he would do well to keep the letter.
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading His impulse was to tear up and burn Violet's letter and thus utterly destroy all proof and the record of her shame.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was restrained by that strong subconscious sanity which before now had cared for him when he was at his worst.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He rose and went to the fireplace mechanically.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading His impulse was to tear up and burn Violet's letter and thus utterly destroy all proof and the record of her shame.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He rose and went to the fireplace mechanically.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading His impulse was to tear up and burn Violet's letter and thus utterly destroy all proof and the record of her shame.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading His impulse was to tear up and burn Violet's letter and thus utterly destroy all proof and the record of her shame.
Violet's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was to tear up and burn Violet's letter and thus utterly destroy all proof and the record of her shame.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His impulse was to tear up and burn Violet's letter and thus utterly destroy all proof and the record of her shame.
(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 It suggested that he would do well to keep the letter.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He rose and went to the fireplace mechanically.
at the time that
From this reading He was restrained by that strong subconscious sanity which before now had cared for him when he was at his worst.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was restrained by that strong subconscious sanity which before now had cared for him when he was at his worst.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading He was restrained by that strong subconscious sanity which before now had cared for him when he was at his worst.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It suggested that he would do well to keep the letter.
