used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She knew that she ought to have been a boy, and that if she had been a boy she would have tried to be like General Gordon.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading He had made her no promises, but he had agreed to enter the army.
a cherished desire
From this reading Balked of this ambition by the fact of her sex, she turned her attention to Maurice.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She knew that she ought to have been a boy, and that if she had been a boy she would have tried to be like General Gordon.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading He had made her no promises, but he had agreed to enter the army.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Balked of this ambition by the fact of her sex, she turned her attention to Maurice.
BalkedverbUS /bɔːkt/
past form of “balk” — refuse to comply
From this reading Balked of this ambition by the fact of her sex, she turned her attention to Maurice.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She knew that she ought to have been a boy, and that if she had been a boy she would have tried to be like General Gordon.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She knew that she ought to have been a boy, and that if she had been a boy she would have tried to be like General Gordon.
a youthful male person
From this reading She knew that she ought to have been a boy, and that if she had been a boy she would have tried to be like General Gordon.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Balked of this ambition by the fact of her sex, she turned her attention to Maurice.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
Claire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
concentrationnounUS /ˌkɑːnsənˈtreɪʃən/
the strength of a solution; number of molecules of a substance in a given volume
From this reading It seemed to her essential that he should be like General Gordon in her place, and by dint of persuasion, concentration of purpose, and sheer indomitable will power she infected Maurice with the same idea.
dintnounUS /dɪnt/
interchangeable with “means” in the expression “by means of”
From this reading It seemed to her essential that he should be like General Gordon in her place, and by dint of persuasion, concentration of purpose, and sheer indomitable will power she infected Maurice with the same idea.
to come or go into
From this reading He had made her no promises, but he had agreed to enter the army.
essentialadjectiveUS /eˈsenʃəl/
absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
From this reading It seemed to her essential that he should be like General Gordon in her place, and by dint of persuasion, concentration of purpose, and sheer indomitable will power she infected Maurice with the same idea.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Balked of this ambition by the fact of her sex, she turned her attention to Maurice.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading She knew that she ought to have been a boy, and that if she had been a boy she would have tried to be like General Gordon.
Gordon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She knew that she ought to have been a boy, and that if she had been a boy she would have tried to be like General Gordon.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She knew that she ought to have been a boy, and that if she had been a boy she would have tried to be like General Gordon.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It seemed to her essential that he should be like General Gordon in her place, and by dint of persuasion, concentration of purpose, and sheer indomitable will power she infected Maurice with the same idea.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading It seemed to her essential that he should be like General Gordon in her place, and by dint of persuasion, concentration of purpose, and sheer indomitable will power she infected Maurice with the same idea.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She knew that she ought to have been a boy, and that if she had been a boy she would have tried to be like General Gordon.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
indomitableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdɑːmətəbəl/
impossible to subdue
From this reading It seemed to her essential that he should be like General Gordon in her place, and by dint of persuasion, concentration of purpose, and sheer indomitable will power she infected Maurice with the same idea.
infectedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfektɪd/
containing or resulting from disease-causing organisms
From this reading It seemed to her essential that he should be like General Gordon in her place, and by dint of persuasion, concentration of purpose, and sheer indomitable will power she infected Maurice with the same idea.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
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 She knew that she ought to have been a boy, and that if she had been a boy she would have tried to be like General Gordon.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading She knew that she ought to have been a boy, and that if she had been a boy she would have tried to be like General Gordon.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He had made her no promises, but he had agreed to enter the army.
Maurice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Balked of this ambition by the fact of her sex, she turned her attention to Maurice.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
nineteennounUS /ˈnaɪnˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of eighteen and one
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
not any; not one
From this reading He had made her no promises, but he had agreed to enter the army.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading She knew that she ought to have been a boy, and that if she had been a boy she would have tried to be like General Gordon.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
persuasionnounUS /pərˈsweɪʒən/
the act of persuading (or attempting to persuade); communication intended to induce belief or action
From this reading It seemed to her essential that he should be like General Gordon in her place, and by dint of persuasion, concentration of purpose, and sheer indomitable will power she infected Maurice with the same idea.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It seemed to her essential that he should be like General Gordon in her place, and by dint of persuasion, concentration of purpose, and sheer indomitable will power she infected Maurice with the same idea.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading It seemed to her essential that he should be like General Gordon in her place, and by dint of persuasion, concentration of purpose, and sheer indomitable will power she infected Maurice with the same idea.
promisesnounUS /ˈprɑːməsəz/
plural of “promise” — a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future
From this reading He had made her no promises, but he had agreed to enter the army.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading It seemed to her essential that he should be like General Gordon in her place, and by dint of persuasion, concentration of purpose, and sheer indomitable will power she infected Maurice with the same idea.
Identical; not different.
From this reading It seemed to her essential that he should be like General Gordon in her place, and by dint of persuasion, concentration of purpose, and sheer indomitable will power she infected Maurice with the same idea.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to her essential that he should be like General Gordon in her place, and by dint of persuasion, concentration of purpose, and sheer indomitable will power she infected Maurice with the same idea.
activities associated with sexual intercourse
From this reading Balked of this ambition by the fact of her sex, she turned her attention to Maurice.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading It seemed to her essential that he should be like General Gordon in her place, and by dint of persuasion, concentration of purpose, and sheer indomitable will power she infected Maurice with the same idea.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It seemed to her essential that he should be like General Gordon in her place, and by dint of persuasion, concentration of purpose, and sheer indomitable will power she infected Maurice with the same idea.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
surprisesnounUS /sərˈpraɪzɪz/
plural of “surprise” — the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Balked of this ambition by the fact of her sex, she turned her attention to Maurice.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Balked of this ambition by the fact of her sex, she turned her attention to Maurice.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading She knew that she ought to have been a boy, and that if she had been a boy she would have tried to be like General Gordon.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Balked of this ambition by the fact of her sex, she turned her attention to Maurice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Claire was not perfectly sure of life--it occurred to her at nineteen that it might have in store for her certain surprises--but she was perfectly sure of herself.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading It seemed to her essential that he should be like General Gordon in her place, and by dint of persuasion, concentration of purpose, and sheer indomitable will power she infected Maurice with the same idea.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It seemed to her essential that he should be like General Gordon in her place, and by dint of persuasion, concentration of purpose, and sheer indomitable will power she infected Maurice with the same idea.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She knew that she ought to have been a boy, and that if she had been a boy she would have tried to be like General Gordon.
