used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
alludedverbUS /əˈluːdɪd/
past form of “allude” — make a more or less disguised reference to
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In the conversation with her sister, the name which Hadria had dreaded to hear had not been mentioned.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But suppose he really _had_ meant what his words seemed to imply?
cautiousadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːʃəs/
showing careful forethought
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading "My dear lady, you have completely misunderstood me."
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading In the conversation with her sister, the name which Hadria had dreaded to hear had not been mentioned.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
dearly loved
From this reading "My dear lady, you have completely misunderstood me."
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
dreadedadjectiveUS /ˈdredɪd/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading In the conversation with her sister, the name which Hadria had dreaded to hear had not been mentioned.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
flushnounUS /flʌʃ/
the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
From this reading The thought made her flush painfully.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the conversation with her sister, the name which Hadria had dreaded to hear had not been mentioned.
Hadria
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the conversation with her sister, the name which Hadria had dreaded to hear had not been mentioned.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading In the conversation with her sister, the name which Hadria had dreaded to hear had not been mentioned.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In the conversation with her sister, the name which Hadria had dreaded to hear had not been mentioned.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
implyverbUS /ˌɪmˈplaɪ/
express or state indirectly
From this reading But suppose he really _had_ meant what his words seemed to imply?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the conversation with her sister, the name which Hadria had dreaded to hear had not been mentioned.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading "My dear lady, you have completely misunderstood me."
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The thought made her flush painfully.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "My dear lady, you have completely misunderstood me."
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading But suppose he really _had_ meant what his words seemed to imply?
past form of “mention” — make reference to
From this reading In the conversation with her sister, the name which Hadria had dreaded to hear had not been mentioned.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
mindedadjectiveUS /ˈmaɪndəd/
(used in combination) mentally oriented toward something specified
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
misunderstandverbUS /ˌmɪsəndərˈstænd/
interpret in the wrong way
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
misunderstoodadjectiveUS /ˌmɪsəndərˈstʊd/
wrongly understood
From this reading "My dear lady, you have completely misunderstood me."
a particular point in time
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My dear lady, you have completely misunderstood me."
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading In the conversation with her sister, the name which Hadria had dreaded to hear had not been mentioned.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In the conversation with her sister, the name which Hadria had dreaded to hear had not been mentioned.
offencenoun
the action of attacking an enemy
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
and nothing more
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
painfullyadverbUS /ˈpeɪnfəli/
unpleasantly
From this reading The thought made her flush painfully.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading But suppose he really _had_ meant what his words seemed to imply?
retortnounUS /ˈriːtɔːrt/
a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
only a very short time before
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But suppose he really _had_ meant what his words seemed to imply?
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading In the conversation with her sister, the name which Hadria had dreaded to hear had not been mentioned.
sister'snounUS /ˈsɪstərz/
possessive form of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
express a supposition
From this reading But suppose he really _had_ meant what his words seemed to imply?
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the conversation with her sister, the name which Hadria had dreaded to hear had not been mentioned.
Theobald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The thought made her flush painfully.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the conversation with her sister, the name which Hadria had dreaded to hear had not been mentioned.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But suppose he really _had_ meant what his words seemed to imply?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In the conversation with her sister, the name which Hadria had dreaded to hear had not been mentioned.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the conversation with her sister, the name which Hadria had dreaded to hear had not been mentioned.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
wordingnounUS /ˈwɜːrdɪŋ/
the manner in which something is expressed in words
From this reading She felt as if she could not have met her sister's eyes, at that moment, had she alluded to Professor Theobald; for only five minutes before, in the wood, he had spoken to her in a way that was scarcely possible to misunderstand, though his wording was so cautious that she could not have taken offence, had she been so minded, without drawing upon herself the possible retort.
the words that are spoken
From this reading But suppose he really _had_ meant what his words seemed to imply?
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "My dear lady, you have completely misunderstood me."
