used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
alightverbUS /əˈlaɪt/
to come to rest, settle
From this reading She had not seen David alight; but she knew he must now be in the house.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She moved restlessly to and fro in her own bedroom, from the windows of which she could see far down the avenue.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
a line of approach
From this reading She moved restlessly to and fro in her own bedroom, from the windows of which she could see far down the avenue.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
awaitverbUS /əˈweɪt/
look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading DAVID'S DECISION Diana found it quite impossible to await in the library, the return of the motor.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It ran beneath the portico; paused for one moment; then glided away towards the garage.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She had not seen David alight; but she knew he must now be in the house.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading She moved restlessly to and fro in her own bedroom, from the windows of which she could see far down the avenue.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading It ran beneath the portico; paused for one moment; then glided away towards the garage.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She had not seen David alight; but she knew he must now be in the house.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She moved restlessly to and fro in her own bedroom, from the windows of which she could see far down the avenue.
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading She had not seen David alight; but she knew he must now be in the house.
DAVID'SnounUS /ˈdeɪvɪdz/
possessive form of “david” — patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading DAVID'S DECISION Diana found it quite impossible to await in the library, the return of the motor.
the act of making up your mind about something
From this reading DAVID'S DECISION Diana found it quite impossible to await in the library, the return of the motor.
cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
DiananounUS /daɪˈænə/
English aristocrat who was the first wife of Prince Charles; her death in an automobile accident in Paris produced intense national mourning (1961-1997)
From this reading DAVID'S DECISION Diana found it quite impossible to await in the library, the return of the motor.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She moved restlessly to and fro in her own bedroom, from the windows of which she could see far down the avenue.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading She moved restlessly to and fro in her own bedroom, from the windows of which she could see far down the avenue.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It ran beneath the portico; paused for one moment; then glided away towards the garage.
set up or found
From this reading DAVID'S DECISION Diana found it quite impossible to await in the library, the return of the motor.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She moved restlessly to and fro in her own bedroom, from the windows of which she could see far down the avenue.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She moved restlessly to and fro in her own bedroom, from the windows of which she could see far down the avenue.
garagenounUS /ɡərˈɑːʒ/
an outbuilding (or part of a building) for housing automobiles
From this reading It ran beneath the portico; paused for one moment; then glided away towards the garage.
glidedverbUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪd/
past form of “glide” — move smoothly and effortlessly
From this reading It ran beneath the portico; paused for one moment; then glided away towards the garage.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had not seen David alight; but she knew he must now be in the house.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had not seen David alight; but she knew he must now be in the house.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She moved restlessly to and fro in her own bedroom, from the windows of which she could see far down the avenue.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading She had not seen David alight; but she knew he must now be in the house.
hurryingadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading DAVID'S DECISION Diana found it quite impossible to await in the library, the return of the motor.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading DAVID'S DECISION Diana found it quite impossible to await in the library, the return of the motor.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading DAVID'S DECISION Diana found it quite impossible to await in the library, the return of the motor.
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 had not seen David alight; but she knew he must now be in the house.
immediately past
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
a room where books are kept
From this reading DAVID'S DECISION Diana found it quite impossible to await in the library, the return of the motor.
a particular point in time
From this reading It ran beneath the portico; paused for one moment; then glided away towards the garage.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading DAVID'S DECISION Diana found it quite impossible to await in the library, the return of the motor.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading She moved restlessly to and fro in her own bedroom, from the windows of which she could see far down the avenue.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading She had not seen David alight; but she knew he must now be in the house.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
NemesisnounUS /ˈneməsɪs/
(Greek mythology) the goddess of divine retribution and vengeance
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She had not seen David alight; but she knew he must now be in the house.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She had not seen David alight; but she knew he must now be in the house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading DAVID'S DECISION Diana found it quite impossible to await in the library, the return of the motor.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It ran beneath the portico; paused for one moment; then glided away towards the garage.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading She moved restlessly to and fro in her own bedroom, from the windows of which she could see far down the avenue.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading It ran beneath the portico; paused for one moment; then glided away towards the garage.
porticonounUS /ˈpɔːrtəkoʊ/
a porch or entrance to a building consisting of a covered and often columned area
From this reading It ran beneath the portico; paused for one moment; then glided away towards the garage.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading DAVID'S DECISION Diana found it quite impossible to await in the library, the return of the motor.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading It ran beneath the portico; paused for one moment; then glided away towards the garage.
relentlessadjectiveUS /rɪˈlentlɪs/
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
restlesslyadverbUS /ˈrestləsli/
in a restless manner
From this reading She moved restlessly to and fro in her own bedroom, from the windows of which she could see far down the avenue.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading DAVID'S DECISION Diana found it quite impossible to await in the library, the return of the motor.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She moved restlessly to and fro in her own bedroom, from the windows of which she could see far down the avenue.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She had not seen David alight; but she knew he must now be in the house.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She moved restlessly to and fro in her own bedroom, from the windows of which she could see far down the avenue.
speedingnounUS /ˈspiːdɪŋ/
changing location rapidly
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
in a swift manner
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DAVID'S DECISION Diana found it quite impossible to await in the library, the return of the motor.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It ran beneath the portico; paused for one moment; then glided away towards the garage.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading DAVID'S DECISION Diana found it quite impossible to await in the library, the return of the motor.
in the direction of
From this reading It ran beneath the portico; paused for one moment; then glided away towards the garage.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
at the time that
From this reading When at last her car came speeding through the trees, it seemed to her a swiftly approaching Nemesis, a relentless hurrying Fate, which she could neither delay nor avoid.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She moved restlessly to and fro in her own bedroom, from the windows of which she could see far down the avenue.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading She moved restlessly to and fro in her own bedroom, from the windows of which she could see far down the avenue.
