used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Even if he were in a state of extreme spiritual depression, starvation wouldn’t improve matters.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Through the heat of that peerless afternoon she waited.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading James had always been like that, and she knew that there was nothing to be gained by disturbing him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
(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 I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
eagerly desirous
From this reading But when the evening came and he had not yet emerged from his chosen solitude, she began to be more anxious.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading But when the evening came and he had not yet emerged from his chosen solitude, she began to be more anxious.
brother'snounUS /ˈbrʌðərz/
possessive form of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when the evening came and he had not yet emerged from his chosen solitude, she began to be more anxious.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading James had always been like that, and she knew that there was nothing to be gained by disturbing him.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But when the evening came and he had not yet emerged from his chosen solitude, she began to be more anxious.
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading But when the evening came and he had not yet emerged from his chosen solitude, she began to be more anxious.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
confessionnounUS /kənˈfeʃən/
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
depressionnounUS /dɪˈpreʃən/
a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity
From this reading Even if he were in a state of extreme spiritual depression, starvation wouldn’t improve matters.
disturbingadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ/
causing distress or worry or anxiety
From this reading James had always been like that, and she knew that there was nothing to be gained by disturbing him.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
emergedverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒd/
past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading But when the evening came and he had not yet emerged from his chosen solitude, she began to be more anxious.
Eva
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
divisible by two
From this reading Even if he were in a state of extreme spiritual depression, starvation wouldn’t improve matters.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading But when the evening came and he had not yet emerged from his chosen solitude, she began to be more anxious.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading Even if he were in a state of extreme spiritual depression, starvation wouldn’t improve matters.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But when the evening came and he had not yet emerged from his chosen solitude, she began to be more anxious.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading James had always been like that, and she knew that there was nothing to be gained by disturbing him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But when the evening came and he had not yet emerged from his chosen solitude, she began to be more anxious.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading Through the heat of that peerless afternoon she waited.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading James had always been like that, and she knew that there was nothing to be gained by disturbing him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Even if he were in a state of extreme spiritual depression, starvation wouldn’t improve matters.
improveverbUS /ˌɪmˈpruːv/
to make better
From this reading Even if he were in a state of extreme spiritual depression, starvation wouldn’t improve matters.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Even if he were in a state of extreme spiritual depression, starvation wouldn’t improve matters.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading James had always been like that, and she knew that there was nothing to be gained by disturbing him.
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 James had always been like that, and she knew that there was nothing to be gained by disturbing him.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading James had always been like that, and she knew that there was nothing to be gained by disturbing him.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Even if he were in a state of extreme spiritual depression, starvation wouldn’t improve matters.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But when the evening came and he had not yet emerged from his chosen solitude, she began to be more anxious.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading James had always been like that, and she knew that there was nothing to be gained by disturbing him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
peerlessadjectiveUS /ˈpɪrlɪs/
eminent beyond or above comparison
From this reading Through the heat of that peerless afternoon she waited.
determined
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
solitudenounUS /ˈsɑːlətuːd/
a state of social isolation
From this reading But when the evening came and he had not yet emerged from his chosen solitude, she began to be more anxious.
spiritualadjectiveUS /ˈspɪrɪtʃuːəl/
concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
From this reading Even if he were in a state of extreme spiritual depression, starvation wouldn’t improve matters.
starvationnounUS /stɑːrˈveɪʃən/
a state of extreme hunger resulting from lack of essential nutrients over a prolonged period
From this reading Even if he were in a state of extreme spiritual depression, starvation wouldn’t improve matters.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Even if he were in a state of extreme spiritual depression, starvation wouldn’t improve matters.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading James had always been like that, and she knew that there was nothing to be gained by disturbing him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
in or at that place or location
From this reading James had always been like that, and she knew that there was nothing to be gained by disturbing him.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the heat of that peerless afternoon she waited.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Through the heat of that peerless afternoon she waited.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading James had always been like that, and she knew that there was nothing to be gained by disturbing him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Even if he were in a state of extreme spiritual depression, starvation wouldn’t improve matters.
at the time that
From this reading I WHEN Eva, resolved on confession, had come to the door of her brother’s room and knocked, she had not been altogether surprised at his anxiety to be left alone.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even if he were in a state of extreme spiritual depression, starvation wouldn’t improve matters.
but in spite of that
From this reading But when the evening came and he had not yet emerged from his chosen solitude, she began to be more anxious.
