used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His voice took on a plaintive assertiveness which in another he would have derided and have recognised as an admission of defeat.
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
From this reading "It was like some forgotten strain of music!" he blundered on, feeling how hopeless, how distinctly absurd was all his speech.
admissionnounUS /ædˈmɪʃən/
the act of admitting someone to enter
From this reading His voice took on a plaintive assertiveness which in another he would have derided and have recognised as an admission of defeat.
anew
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading "It was like some forgotten strain of music!" he blundered on, feeling how hopeless, how distinctly absurd was all his speech.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His voice took on a plaintive assertiveness which in another he would have derided and have recognised as an admission of defeat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His voice took on a plaintive assertiveness which in another he would have derided and have recognised as an admission of defeat.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
assertivenessnounUS /əˈsɜːrtɪvnəs/
aggressive self-assurance; given to making bold assertions
From this reading His voice took on a plaintive assertiveness which in another he would have derided and have recognised as an admission of defeat.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
blunderedverbUS /ˈblʌndərd/
past form of “blunder” — commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake
From this reading "It was like some forgotten strain of music!" he blundered on, feeling how hopeless, how distinctly absurd was all his speech.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
defeatnounUS /dɪˈfiːt/
an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest
From this reading His voice took on a plaintive assertiveness which in another he would have derided and have recognised as an admission of defeat.
deridedverbUS /dɪˈraɪdɪd/
past form of “deride” — treat or speak of with contempt
From this reading His voice took on a plaintive assertiveness which in another he would have derided and have recognised as an admission of defeat.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading "It was like some forgotten strain of music!" he blundered on, feeling how hopeless, how distinctly absurd was all his speech.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading "It was like some forgotten strain of music!" he blundered on, feeling how hopeless, how distinctly absurd was all his speech.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading "It was like some forgotten strain of music!" he blundered on, feeling how hopeless, how distinctly absurd was all his speech.
FranklinnounUS /ˈfræŋklɪn/
United States historian noted for studies of Black American history (born in 1915)
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
glossyadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɔːsi/
based on pretense; deceptively pleasing
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I surely must always have known you, somewhere!"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "It was like some forgotten strain of music!" he blundered on, feeling how hopeless, how distinctly absurd was all his speech.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "It was like some forgotten strain of music!" he blundered on, feeling how hopeless, how distinctly absurd was all his speech.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading "It was like some forgotten strain of music!" he blundered on, feeling how hopeless, how distinctly absurd was all his speech.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It was like some forgotten strain of music!" he blundered on, feeling how hopeless, how distinctly absurd was all his speech.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "It was like some forgotten strain of music!" he blundered on, feeling how hopeless, how distinctly absurd was all his speech.
a particular point in time
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading "It was like some forgotten strain of music!" he blundered on, feeling how hopeless, how distinctly absurd was all his speech.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "I surely must always have known you, somewhere!"
not one and not the other of two
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "It was like some forgotten strain of music!" he blundered on, feeling how hopeless, how distinctly absurd was all his speech.
plaintiveadjectiveUS /ˈpleɪntɪv/
expressing sorrow
From this reading His voice took on a plaintive assertiveness which in another he would have derided and have recognised as an admission of defeat.
recognisedadjectiveUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/
provided with a secure reputation
From this reading His voice took on a plaintive assertiveness which in another he would have derided and have recognised as an admission of defeat.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "It was like some forgotten strain of music!" he blundered on, feeling how hopeless, how distinctly absurd was all his speech.
in or at or to some place
From this reading "I surely must always have known you, somewhere!"
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading "It was like some forgotten strain of music!" he blundered on, feeling how hopeless, how distinctly absurd was all his speech.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading "It was like some forgotten strain of music!" he blundered on, feeling how hopeless, how distinctly absurd was all his speech.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "I surely must always have known you, somewhere!"
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading His voice took on a plaintive assertiveness which in another he would have derided and have recognised as an admission of defeat.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading His voice took on a plaintive assertiveness which in another he would have derided and have recognised as an admission of defeat.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
waveringnounUS /ˈweɪvərɪŋ/
indecision in speech or action
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His voice took on a plaintive assertiveness which in another he would have derided and have recognised as an admission of defeat.
belonging to which person
From this reading There was no reply to this, neither was there wavering in the attitude of the head whose glossy back was turned to him at that moment.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading His voice took on a plaintive assertiveness which in another he would have derided and have recognised as an admission of defeat.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ANOTHER HOUR "But it seems as though I had always known you," said Franklin, turning again toward the tall figure at the window.
