used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
Aldershot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At Aldershot, where they lived, there was an unspoken rule that brides should be left alone.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading At Aldershot, where they lived, there was an unspoken rule that brides should be left alone.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At Aldershot, where they lived, there was an unspoken rule that brides should be left alone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Winn, to begin with, had stood very much in the way, and when he had ceased to block the paths of sentiment she had not found a substitute.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At Aldershot, where they lived, there was an unspoken rule that brides should be left alone.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading It was time, Estelle felt, that the real things of life should come back to her.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading At Aldershot, where they lived, there was an unspoken rule that brides should be left alone.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But since her marriage she had been forced into a world of secondary experiences.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Winn, to begin with, had stood very much in the way, and when he had ceased to block the paths of sentiment she had not found a substitute.
blocknounUS /blɑːk/
a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading Winn, to begin with, had stood very much in the way, and when he had ceased to block the paths of sentiment she had not found a substitute.
bridesnounUS /braɪdz/
plural of “bride” — a woman who has recently been married
From this reading At Aldershot, where they lived, there was an unspoken rule that brides should be left alone.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But since her marriage she had been forced into a world of secondary experiences.
(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading Winn, to begin with, had stood very much in the way, and when he had ceased to block the paths of sentiment she had not found a substitute.
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was time, Estelle felt, that the real things of life should come back to her.
contactsnounUS /ˈkɑːntækts/
plural of “contact” — close interaction
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
definitionnounUS /ˌdefəˈnɪʃən/
a concise explanation of the meaning of a word or phrase or symbol
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
Estelle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was time, Estelle felt, that the real things of life should come back to her.
experiencesnounUS /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/
plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities
From this reading But since her marriage she had been forced into a world of secondary experiences.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading It was time, Estelle felt, that the real things of life should come back to her.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading But since her marriage she had been forced into a world of secondary experiences.
set up or found
From this reading Winn, to begin with, had stood very much in the way, and when he had ceased to block the paths of sentiment she had not found a substitute.
friendshipsnounUS /ˈfrendʃɪps/
plural of “friendship” — the state of being friends (or friendly)
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Winn, to begin with, had stood very much in the way, and when he had ceased to block the paths of sentiment she had not found a substitute.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was time, Estelle felt, that the real things of life should come back to her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Winn, to begin with, had stood very much in the way, and when he had ceased to block the paths of sentiment she had not found a substitute.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But since her marriage she had been forced into a world of secondary experiences.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was time, Estelle felt, that the real things of life should come back to her.
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 At Aldershot, where they lived, there was an unspoken rule that brides should be left alone.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
liabilitynounUS /ˌlaɪəˈbɪlɪti/
the state of being legally obliged and responsible
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It was time, Estelle felt, that the real things of life should come back to her.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading At Aldershot, where they lived, there was an unspoken rule that brides should be left alone.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Winn, to begin with, had stood very much in the way, and when he had ceased to block the paths of sentiment she had not found a substitute.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was time, Estelle felt, that the real things of life should come back to her.
pathsnounUS /pæðz/
plural of “path” — a course of conduct
From this reading Winn, to begin with, had stood very much in the way, and when he had ceased to block the paths of sentiment she had not found a substitute.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading It was time, Estelle felt, that the real things of life should come back to her.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading At Aldershot, where they lived, there was an unspoken rule that brides should be left alone.
secondaryadjectiveUS /ˈsekənderi/
being of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate
From this reading But since her marriage she had been forced into a world of secondary experiences.
tender, romantic, or nostalgic feeling or emotion
From this reading Winn, to begin with, had stood very much in the way, and when he had ceased to block the paths of sentiment she had not found a substitute.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was time, Estelle felt, that the real things of life should come back to her.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading But since her marriage she had been forced into a world of secondary experiences.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Winn, to begin with, had stood very much in the way, and when he had ceased to block the paths of sentiment she had not found a substitute.
substituteverbUS /ˈsʌbstətuːt/
put in the place of another; switch seemingly equivalent items
From this reading Winn, to begin with, had stood very much in the way, and when he had ceased to block the paths of sentiment she had not found a substitute.
moving very fast
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was time, Estelle felt, that the real things of life should come back to her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was time, Estelle felt, that the real things of life should come back to her.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
in or at that place or location
From this reading At Aldershot, where they lived, there was an unspoken rule that brides should be left alone.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At Aldershot, where they lived, there was an unspoken rule that brides should be left alone.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading It was time, Estelle felt, that the real things of life should come back to her.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was time, Estelle felt, that the real things of life should come back to her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was time, Estelle felt, that the real things of life should come back to her.
unspokenadjectiveUS /ənˈspoʊkən/
expressed without speech
From this reading At Aldershot, where they lived, there was an unspoken rule that brides should be left alone.
untinged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
precisely as stated
From this reading Winn, to begin with, had stood very much in the way, and when he had ceased to block the paths of sentiment she had not found a substitute.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was time, Estelle felt, that the real things of life should come back to her.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Winn, to begin with, had stood very much in the way, and when he had ceased to block the paths of sentiment she had not found a substitute.
at the time that
From this reading Winn, to begin with, had stood very much in the way, and when he had ceased to block the paths of sentiment she had not found a substitute.
in or at the place that
From this reading At Aldershot, where they lived, there was an unspoken rule that brides should be left alone.
Winn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Winn, to begin with, had stood very much in the way, and when he had ceased to block the paths of sentiment she had not found a substitute.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She had had them before marriage--these real things--light, swift, contacts with chosen spirits; friendships not untinged with a liability to become something less capable of definition.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading But since her marriage she had been forced into a world of secondary experiences.
