used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But it is always difficult--extremely difficult, especially for a woman.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading To act was imperative.
alnounUS /æl/
a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite
From this reading IS ASTONISHING We have an ancient proverb in Tuscany which says, "_Rimediare al male fin dal suo principio_."
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading But it is always difficult--extremely difficult, especially for a woman.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading IS ASTONISHING We have an ancient proverb in Tuscany which says, "_Rimediare al male fin dal suo principio_."
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading IS ASTONISHING We have an ancient proverb in Tuscany which says, "_Rimediare al male fin dal suo principio_."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
ASTONISHINGadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃɪŋ/
surprising greatly
From this reading IS ASTONISHING We have an ancient proverb in Tuscany which says, "_Rimediare al male fin dal suo principio_."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
boltedverbUS /ˈboʊltəd/
past form of “bolt” — move or jump suddenly
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it is always difficult--extremely difficult, especially for a woman.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading This very excellent maxim I was endeavouring to carry out.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
dalnounUS /dæl/
a metric unit of volume or capacity equal to 10 liters
From this reading IS ASTONISHING We have an ancient proverb in Tuscany which says, "_Rimediare al male fin dal suo principio_."
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading But it is always difficult--extremely difficult, especially for a woman.
the act of discovering something
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
endeavouring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This very excellent maxim I was endeavouring to carry out.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading But it is always difficult--extremely difficult, especially for a woman.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading This very excellent maxim I was endeavouring to carry out.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading But it is always difficult--extremely difficult, especially for a woman.
fearingverbUS /ˈfɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
finnounUS /fɪn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading IS ASTONISHING We have an ancient proverb in Tuscany which says, "_Rimediare al male fin dal suo principio_."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But it is always difficult--extremely difficult, especially for a woman.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading IS ASTONISHING We have an ancient proverb in Tuscany which says, "_Rimediare al male fin dal suo principio_."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading This very excellent maxim I was endeavouring to carry out.
imperativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈperətɪv/
requiring attention or action
From this reading To act was imperative.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IS ASTONISHING We have an ancient proverb in Tuscany which says, "_Rimediare al male fin dal suo principio_."
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IS ASTONISHING We have an ancient proverb in Tuscany which says, "_Rimediare al male fin dal suo principio_."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it is always difficult--extremely difficult, especially for a woman.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
malenounUS /meɪl/
an animal that produces gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes
From this reading IS ASTONISHING We have an ancient proverb in Tuscany which says, "_Rimediare al male fin dal suo principio_."
maximnounUS /ˈmæksəm/
a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits
From this reading This very excellent maxim I was endeavouring to carry out.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading This very excellent maxim I was endeavouring to carry out.
overheardverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhɜːrd/
inflected form of “overhear” — hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
principio
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IS ASTONISHING We have an ancient proverb in Tuscany which says, "_Rimediare al male fin dal suo principio_."
proverbnounUS /ˈprɑːvərb/
a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people
From this reading IS ASTONISHING We have an ancient proverb in Tuscany which says, "_Rimediare al male fin dal suo principio_."
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
Rimediare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IS ASTONISHING We have an ancient proverb in Tuscany which says, "_Rimediare al male fin dal suo principio_."
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading IS ASTONISHING We have an ancient proverb in Tuscany which says, "_Rimediare al male fin dal suo principio_."
suo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IS ASTONISHING We have an ancient proverb in Tuscany which says, "_Rimediare al male fin dal suo principio_."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This very excellent maxim I was endeavouring to carry out.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This very excellent maxim I was endeavouring to carry out.
TuscanynounUS /ˈtʌskəni/
a region in central Italy
From this reading IS ASTONISHING We have an ancient proverb in Tuscany which says, "_Rimediare al male fin dal suo principio_."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
precisely as stated
From this reading This very excellent maxim I was endeavouring to carry out.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This very excellent maxim I was endeavouring to carry out.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading IS ASTONISHING We have an ancient proverb in Tuscany which says, "_Rimediare al male fin dal suo principio_."
at the time that
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading IS ASTONISHING We have an ancient proverb in Tuscany which says, "_Rimediare al male fin dal suo principio_."
belonging to which person
From this reading When I had at length crept back to my cabin, fearing discovery by one or other of the pair whose interesting conversation I had overheard, I bolted my door and gave myself up to reflection.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading But it is always difficult--extremely difficult, especially for a woman.
