used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
in the past
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Being alone in a dark room with nothing but skeletons for company is not a very pleasant experience for a woman."
a feeling of delight at being entertained
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
aptlyadverbUS /ˈæptli/
with competence; in a competent capable manner
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
Beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Being alone in a dark room with nothing but skeletons for company is not a very pleasant experience for a woman."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
cigarettenounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈet/
finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
From this reading The doctor placidly finished his cigarette.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading Being alone in a dark room with nothing but skeletons for company is not a very pleasant experience for a woman."
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading The cry we just heard seemed to indicate that she was in great distress.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Being alone in a dark room with nothing but skeletons for company is not a very pleasant experience for a woman."
psychological suffering
From this reading The cry we just heard seemed to indicate that she was in great distress.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading The doctor placidly finished his cigarette.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading Being alone in a dark room with nothing but skeletons for company is not a very pleasant experience for a woman."
the organ of sight
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading The doctor placidly finished his cigarette.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
genialadjectiveUS /ˈdʒiːnjəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The cry we just heard seemed to indicate that she was in great distress.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
Hardwick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The cry we just heard seemed to indicate that she was in great distress.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The doctor placidly finished his cigarette.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The cry we just heard seemed to indicate that she was in great distress.
indicateverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪt/
be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading The cry we just heard seemed to indicate that she was in great distress.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
and nothing more
From this reading The cry we just heard seemed to indicate that she was in great distress.
languidadjectiveUS /ˈlæŋɡwəd/
lacking spirit or liveliness
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Being alone in a dark room with nothing but skeletons for company is not a very pleasant experience for a woman."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
placidlyadverbUS /ˈplæsɪdli/
in a quiet and tranquil manner
From this reading The doctor placidly finished his cigarette.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading Being alone in a dark room with nothing but skeletons for company is not a very pleasant experience for a woman."
pluckyadjectiveUS /ˈplʌki/
marked by courage and determination in the face of difficulties or danger; robust and uninhibited
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
established beyond doubt
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Being alone in a dark room with nothing but skeletons for company is not a very pleasant experience for a woman."
Identical; not different.
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The cry we just heard seemed to indicate that she was in great distress.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The cry we just heard seemed to indicate that she was in great distress.
skeletonsnounUS /ˈskelətənz/
plural of “skeleton” — something reduced to its minimal form
From this reading Being alone in a dark room with nothing but skeletons for company is not a very pleasant experience for a woman."
sleekadjectiveUS /sliːk/
well-groomed and neatly tailored; especially too well-groomed
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
spooknounUS /spuːk/
someone unpleasantly strange or eccentric
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
not in physical motion
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
termedverbUS /tɜːrmd/
past form of “term” — name formally or designate with a term
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The cry we just heard seemed to indicate that she was in great distress.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The doctor placidly finished his cigarette.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The cry we just heard seemed to indicate that she was in great distress.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
twinkleverbUS /ˈtwɪŋkəl/
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading The sleek, genial smile had not left his face for an instant, and his eye still held the same twinkle of languid amusement.
precisely as stated
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The cry we just heard seemed to indicate that she was in great distress.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The cry we just heard seemed to indicate that she was in great distress.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Being alone in a dark room with nothing but skeletons for company is not a very pleasant experience for a woman."
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading "Miss Hardwick is a very plucky young woman," he murmured, "but evidently the spook chamber, as you so aptly termed it a little while ago, has proved too much for her nerves.
