used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Up to the moment the great idea had dawned upon him, there had been a little sense of imperfection in his plans.
(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 THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Up to the moment the great idea had dawned upon him, there had been a little sense of imperfection in his plans.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
CLAUSEnounUS /klɔːz/
(grammar) an expression including a subject and predicate functioning as a part of a complex sentence
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
climaxnounUS /ˈklaɪmæks/
the highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
the Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchy
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
dawnedverbUS /dɔːnd/
past form of “dawn” — become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
elaborateadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæbrət/
marked by complexity and richness of detail
From this reading They were elaborate preparations for--nothing.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading But now he had seized the end to which all the preparations led.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They were elaborate preparations for--nothing.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Up to the moment the great idea had dawned upon him, there had been a little sense of imperfection in his plans.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
imperfectionnounUS /ˌɪmpərˈfekʃən/
the state or an instance of being imperfect
From this reading Up to the moment the great idea had dawned upon him, there had been a little sense of imperfection in his plans.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
interminableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɜːrmənəbəl/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
immediately past
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading But now he had seized the end to which all the preparations led.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Up to the moment the great idea had dawned upon him, there had been a little sense of imperfection in his plans.
incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
a particular point in time
From this reading Up to the moment the great idea had dawned upon him, there had been a little sense of imperfection in his plans.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
newlyadverbUS /ˈnuːli/
very recently
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading They were elaborate preparations for--nothing.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But now he had seized the end to which all the preparations led.
held or filled or in use
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading Up to the moment the great idea had dawned upon him, there had been a little sense of imperfection in his plans.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading They were elaborate preparations for--nothing.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading But now he had seized the end to which all the preparations led.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Up to the moment the great idea had dawned upon him, there had been a little sense of imperfection in his plans.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
in the near future
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
required or under orders
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Up to the moment the great idea had dawned upon him, there had been a little sense of imperfection in his plans.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were elaborate preparations for--nothing.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
tête-à-tête
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Up to the moment the great idea had dawned upon him, there had been a little sense of imperfection in his plans.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were elaborate preparations for--nothing.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE LAST CLAUSE It is not to be supposed that in the _tête-à-tête_ dinner that followed Lucy was set free from the interminable subject of that fortune which occupied all her father’s thoughts.
a late time of life
From this reading The idea of perfect freedom in seven years had but newly dawned upon him--though, as soon as he had thought of it, he felt it to be, as he had said, the natural crown of his plan, and climax of his thoughts.
