used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
achingadjectiveUS /ˈeɪkɪŋ/
causing a dull and steady pain
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading She felt as if, during those interminable weeks, the best of her life had gone from her, and already she had grown old, before she was eighteen.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
associatedverbUS /əˈsoʊsieɪtɪd/
past form of “associate” — make a logical or causal connection
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She felt as if, during those interminable weeks, the best of her life had gone from her, and already she had grown old, before she was eighteen.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading She felt as if, during those interminable weeks, the best of her life had gone from her, and already she had grown old, before she was eighteen.
Billson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
a young person of either sex
From this reading She had not been to England since she was a small child; returning to it was like coming a strange country.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading She had not been to England since she was a small child; returning to it was like coming a strange country.
conventnounUS /ˈkɑːnvənt/
a religious residence especially for nuns
From this reading She would have forgotten her own tongue had not so many of the girls in the convent been English.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading She had not been to England since she was a small child; returning to it was like coming a strange country.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading She felt as if, during those interminable weeks, the best of her life had gone from her, and already she had grown old, before she was eighteen.
eighteenadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːn/
being one more than seventeen
From this reading She felt as if, during those interminable weeks, the best of her life had gone from her, and already she had grown old, before she was eighteen.
Emmett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading She would have forgotten her own tongue had not so many of the girls in the convent been English.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading She felt as if, during those interminable weeks, the best of her life had gone from her, and already she had grown old, before she was eighteen.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She felt as if, during those interminable weeks, the best of her life had gone from her, and already she had grown old, before she was eighteen.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading She would have forgotten her own tongue had not so many of the girls in the convent been English.
destroyed or killed
From this reading She felt as if, during those interminable weeks, the best of her life had gone from her, and already she had grown old, before she was eighteen.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading She felt as if, during those interminable weeks, the best of her life had gone from her, and already she had grown old, before she was eighteen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She would have forgotten her own tongue had not so many of the girls in the convent been English.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
interminableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɜːrmənəbəl/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading She felt as if, during those interminable weeks, the best of her life had gone from her, and already she had grown old, before she was eighteen.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
owning or consisting of land or real estate
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading She felt as if, during those interminable weeks, the best of her life had gone from her, and already she had grown old, before she was eighteen.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading She had not been to England since she was a small child; returning to it was like coming a strange country.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading She would have forgotten her own tongue had not so many of the girls in the convent been English.
a form of address for a man
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
not any; not one
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She felt as if, during those interminable weeks, the best of her life had gone from her, and already she had grown old, before she was eighteen.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She felt as if, during those interminable weeks, the best of her life had gone from her, and already she had grown old, before she was eighteen.
and nothing more
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading She had not been to England since she was a small child; returning to it was like coming a strange country.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading She had not been to England since she was a small child; returning to it was like coming a strange country.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had not been to England since she was a small child; returning to it was like coming a strange country.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She would have forgotten her own tongue had not so many of the girls in the convent been English.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading She had not been to England since she was a small child; returning to it was like coming a strange country.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
tensionnounUS /ˈtenʃən/
(psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading She felt as if, during those interminable weeks, the best of her life had gone from her, and already she had grown old, before she was eighteen.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading She would have forgotten her own tongue had not so many of the girls in the convent been English.
precisely as stated
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
at the time that
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading She had forgotten how to smile; at night she could not sleep; her head was always aching; her nerves were in such a state of tension that she was beginning to be afraid of the sound of her own voice; the world had become to her a prison from which there was no way out.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She would have forgotten her own tongue had not so many of the girls in the convent been English.
a late time of life
From this reading THE CURTAIN When they landed in England it was to her as if she had been for years with Mr Emmett, and Billson, and the car; though, in reality, they had only been associated for a very few weeks.
