used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Oh, it doesn’t matter a bit.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He assented weakly—and it suddenly struck him that she was wondering why he had asked her instead of Gervase.
apprehensionnounUS /ˌæprɪˈhenʃən/
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading He was flushing too, partly with relief, partly with apprehension at the rejoiced, violent beating of his heart.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Other members of your family have been half-asking—hinting ... so I’d rather you asked outright.
assented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He assented weakly—and it suddenly struck him that she was wondering why he had asked her instead of Gervase.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was flushing too, partly with relief, partly with apprehension at the rejoiced, violent beating of his heart.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading He was flushing too, partly with relief, partly with apprehension at the rejoiced, violent beating of his heart.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Other members of your family have been half-asking—hinting ... so I’d rather you asked outright.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading “Oh, it doesn’t matter a bit.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
doesn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh, it doesn’t matter a bit.
a social unit living together
From this reading Other members of your family have been half-asking—hinting ... so I’d rather you asked outright.
flushingverbUS /ˈflʌʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “flush” — turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame
From this reading He was flushing too, partly with relief, partly with apprehension at the rejoiced, violent beating of his heart.
Gervase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He assented weakly—and it suddenly struck him that she was wondering why he had asked her instead of Gervase.
half-asking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Other members of your family have been half-asking—hinting ... so I’d rather you asked outright.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Other members of your family have been half-asking—hinting ... so I’d rather you asked outright.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was flushing too, partly with relief, partly with apprehension at the rejoiced, violent beating of his heart.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading He was flushing too, partly with relief, partly with apprehension at the rejoiced, violent beating of his heart.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He assented weakly—and it suddenly struck him that she was wondering why he had asked her instead of Gervase.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He assented weakly—and it suddenly struck him that she was wondering why he had asked her instead of Gervase.
hintingverbUS /ˈhɪntɪŋ/
-ing form of “hint” — drop a hint; intimate by a hint
From this reading Other members of your family have been half-asking—hinting ... so I’d rather you asked outright.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was flushing too, partly with relief, partly with apprehension at the rejoiced, violent beating of his heart.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Other members of your family have been half-asking—hinting ... so I’d rather you asked outright.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading He assented weakly—and it suddenly struck him that she was wondering why he had asked her instead of Gervase.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Oh, it doesn’t matter a bit.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading “Oh, it doesn’t matter a bit.
plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading Other members of your family have been half-asking—hinting ... so I’d rather you asked outright.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was flushing too, partly with relief, partly with apprehension at the rejoiced, violent beating of his heart.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh, it doesn’t matter a bit.
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Other members of your family have been half-asking—hinting ... so I’d rather you asked outright.
outrightadverbUS /ˈaʊˈtraɪt/
without restrictions or stipulations or further payments
From this reading Other members of your family have been half-asking—hinting ... so I’d rather you asked outright.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading He was flushing too, partly with relief, partly with apprehension at the rejoiced, violent beating of his heart.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
on the contrary
From this reading Other members of your family have been half-asking—hinting ... so I’d rather you asked outright.
rejoicedverbUS /rɪˈdʒɔɪst/
past form of “rejoice” — feel happiness or joy
From this reading He was flushing too, partly with relief, partly with apprehension at the rejoiced, violent beating of his heart.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading He was flushing too, partly with relief, partly with apprehension at the rejoiced, violent beating of his heart.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He assented weakly—and it suddenly struck him that she was wondering why he had asked her instead of Gervase.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Other members of your family have been half-asking—hinting ... so I’d rather you asked outright.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading He assented weakly—and it suddenly struck him that she was wondering why he had asked her instead of Gervase.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading He assented weakly—and it suddenly struck him that she was wondering why he had asked her instead of Gervase.
express a supposition
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was flushing too, partly with relief, partly with apprehension at the rejoiced, violent beating of his heart.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He was flushing too, partly with relief, partly with apprehension at the rejoiced, violent beating of his heart.
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading He was flushing too, partly with relief, partly with apprehension at the rejoiced, violent beating of his heart.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was flushing too, partly with relief, partly with apprehension at the rejoiced, violent beating of his heart.
weaklyadverbUS /ˈwiːkli/
in a weak or feeble manner or to a minor degree
From this reading He assented weakly—and it suddenly struck him that she was wondering why he had asked her instead of Gervase.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading He assented weakly—and it suddenly struck him that she was wondering why he had asked her instead of Gervase.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was flushing too, partly with relief, partly with apprehension at the rejoiced, violent beating of his heart.
showing curiosity
From this reading He assented weakly—and it suddenly struck him that she was wondering why he had asked her instead of Gervase.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
a late time of life
From this reading Of course, seeing that I’m seven years older than Gervase, one would have thought ... but I suppose people must have something to talk about.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Other members of your family have been half-asking—hinting ... so I’d rather you asked outright.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Other members of your family have been half-asking—hinting ... so I’d rather you asked outright.
