used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was as if he knew instinctively that their wills were about to clash.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He shot a glance at Claire as if she were a hostile force and he was taking her measure.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He shot a glance at Claire as if she were a hostile force and he was taking her measure.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
bridge-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
Claire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
clashnounUS /klæʃ/
A violent confrontation or disagreement between opposing forces or factions.
From this reading It was as if he knew instinctively that their wills were about to clash.
danger-signal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes had the hard, shining stare that was the danger-signal of the Staines family.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His eyes had the hard, shining stare that was the danger-signal of the Staines family.
a social unit living together
From this reading His eyes had the hard, shining stare that was the danger-signal of the Staines family.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading He was putting her outside himself in order to fight her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading He shot a glance at Claire as if she were a hostile force and he was taking her measure.
set up or found
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His eyes had the hard, shining stare that was the danger-signal of the Staines family.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading His eyes had the hard, shining stare that was the danger-signal of the Staines family.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He shot a glance at Claire as if she were a hostile force and he was taking her measure.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was putting her outside himself in order to fight her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His eyes had the hard, shining stare that was the danger-signal of the Staines family.
hostileadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːstəl/
characterized by enmity or ill will
From this reading He shot a glance at Claire as if she were a hostile force and he was taking her measure.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He shot a glance at Claire as if she were a hostile force and he was taking her measure.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading It was as if he knew instinctively that their wills were about to clash.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was as if he knew instinctively that their wills were about to clash.
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 It was as if he knew instinctively that their wills were about to clash.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading He shot a glance at Claire as if she were a hostile force and he was taking her measure.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His eyes had the hard, shining stare that was the danger-signal of the Staines family.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading He was putting her outside himself in order to fight her.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading He was putting her outside himself in order to fight her.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading He was putting her outside himself in order to fight her.
renunciations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
cut with a saw
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading His eyes had the hard, shining stare that was the danger-signal of the Staines family.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading He shot a glance at Claire as if she were a hostile force and he was taking her measure.
StainesverbUS /steɪnz/
third-person singular of “stain” — color with a liquid dye or tint
From this reading His eyes had the hard, shining stare that was the danger-signal of the Staines family.
stareverbUS /ster/
look at with fixed eyes
From this reading His eyes had the hard, shining stare that was the danger-signal of the Staines family.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading He shot a glance at Claire as if she were a hostile force and he was taking her measure.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was as if he knew instinctively that their wills were about to clash.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was putting her outside himself in order to fight her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He shot a glance at Claire as if she were a hostile force and he was taking her measure.
at the time that
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
willsnounUS /wɪlz/
plural of “will” — the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention
From this reading It was as if he knew instinctively that their wills were about to clash.
Winn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Claire found Winn at the bridge-table she saw at a glance that he was not in the mood for renunciations.
