used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Technical difficulties, which before had seemed impossibilities, smoothed themselves away, and her supple fingers began to acquire a new mastery over her instrument.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
acquireverbUS /əˈkwaɪər/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Technical difficulties, which before had seemed impossibilities, smoothed themselves away, and her supple fingers began to acquire a new mastery over her instrument.
additionnounUS /əˈdɪʃən/
a component that is added to something to improve it
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
(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 That she needed all her best efforts she knew well.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading For the first time in her life she was really working hard, and sometimes she almost astonished herself at the progress she made.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading For the first time in her life she was really working hard, and sometimes she almost astonished herself at the progress she made.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
playing or singing with instrumental or vocal accompaniment
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Technical difficulties, which before had seemed impossibilities, smoothed themselves away, and her supple fingers began to acquire a new mastery over her instrument.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Technical difficulties, which before had seemed impossibilities, smoothed themselves away, and her supple fingers began to acquire a new mastery over her instrument.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Technical difficulties, which before had seemed impossibilities, smoothed themselves away, and her supple fingers began to acquire a new mastery over her instrument.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading That she needed all her best efforts she knew well.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
ConcertnounUS /ˈkɑːnsərt/
a performance of music by players or singers not involving theatrical staging
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
cricketnounUS /ˈkrɪkət/
leaping insect; male makes chirping noises by rubbing the forewings together
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
Cyprian's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading Technical difficulties, which before had seemed impossibilities, smoothed themselves away, and her supple fingers began to acquire a new mastery over her instrument.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading That she needed all her best efforts she knew well.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
exceptionnounUS /ɪkˈsepʃən/
a deliberate act of omission
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Technical difficulties, which before had seemed impossibilities, smoothed themselves away, and her supple fingers began to acquire a new mastery over her instrument.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading For the first time in her life she was really working hard, and sometimes she almost astonished herself at the progress she made.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
Fruehlingslied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
the act of giving
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading For the first time in her life she was really working hard, and sometimes she almost astonished herself at the progress she made.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
HerrnounUS /her/
a German man; used before the name as a title equivalent to Mr in English
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading For the first time in her life she was really working hard, and sometimes she almost astonished herself at the progress she made.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
Hoffmann's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
impossibilities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Technical difficulties, which before had seemed impossibilities, smoothed themselves away, and her supple fingers began to acquire a new mastery over her instrument.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/
a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading Technical difficulties, which before had seemed impossibilities, smoothed themselves away, and her supple fingers began to acquire a new mastery over her instrument.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
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 That she needed all her best efforts she knew well.
lessonsnounUS /ˈlesənz/
plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading For the first time in her life she was really working hard, and sometimes she almost astonished herself at the progress she made.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading For the first time in her life she was really working hard, and sometimes she almost astonished herself at the progress she made.
masterynounUS /ˈmæstəri/
great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity
From this reading Technical difficulties, which before had seemed impossibilities, smoothed themselves away, and her supple fingers began to acquire a new mastery over her instrument.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
Mildred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading That she needed all her best efforts she knew well.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Technical difficulties, which before had seemed impossibilities, smoothed themselves away, and her supple fingers began to acquire a new mastery over her instrument.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
orchestranounUS /ˈɔːrkəstrə/
a musical organization consisting of a group of instrumentalists including string players
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Technical difficulties, which before had seemed impossibilities, smoothed themselves away, and her supple fingers began to acquire a new mastery over her instrument.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
PhilharmonicadjectiveUS /ˌfɪlhɑːrˈmɑːnɪk/
composing or characteristic of an orchestral group
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
practiseverbUS /ˈpræktɪs/
engage in a rehearsal
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading For the first time in her life she was really working hard, and sometimes she almost astonished herself at the progress she made.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading For the first time in her life she was really working hard, and sometimes she almost astonished herself at the progress she made.
regionnounUS /ˈriːdʒən/
the extended spatial location of something
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Technical difficulties, which before had seemed impossibilities, smoothed themselves away, and her supple fingers began to acquire a new mastery over her instrument.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
smoothedadjectiveUS /smuːðd/
made smooth by ironing
From this reading Technical difficulties, which before had seemed impossibilities, smoothed themselves away, and her supple fingers began to acquire a new mastery over her instrument.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading For the first time in her life she was really working hard, and sometimes she almost astonished herself at the progress she made.
in or at or to some place
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
StudentsnounUS /ˈstuːdənts/
plural of “student” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
suppleadjectiveUS /ˈsʌpəl/
gracefully thin and bending and moving with ease
From this reading Technical difficulties, which before had seemed impossibilities, smoothed themselves away, and her supple fingers began to acquire a new mastery over her instrument.
TechnicaladjectiveUS /ˈteknɪkəl/
of or relating to technique or proficiency in a practical skill
From this reading Technical difficulties, which before had seemed impossibilities, smoothed themselves away, and her supple fingers began to acquire a new mastery over her instrument.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That she needed all her best efforts she knew well.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Technical difficulties, which before had seemed impossibilities, smoothed themselves away, and her supple fingers began to acquire a new mastery over her instrument.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
precisely as stated
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading That she needed all her best efforts she knew well.
at any time that; every time that
From this reading The Students' Concert The time was drawing very near now for Herr Hoffmann's Students' Concert, and whenever Mildred thought about it her heart descended somewhere into the region of her boots.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Technical difficulties, which before had seemed impossibilities, smoothed themselves away, and her supple fingers began to acquire a new mastery over her instrument.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Professor had been giving her lessons at his own house in addition to those she took at St. Cyprian's, and with the one exception of the day of the cricket match, she had attended every Saturday afternoon at the Philharmonic Hall to practise the "Fruehlingslied" with the students' orchestra.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading For the first time in her life she was really working hard, and sometimes she almost astonished herself at the progress she made.
