used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading For the appearance of Bertie, however, she had waited in vain.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading They had made no attempt to retrieve her, nothing to show that they cared whether she lived or died, starved or prospered.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
Bertie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the appearance of Bertie, however, she had waited in vain.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the sore had remained; more, it had eaten its way down into her.
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading They had made no attempt to retrieve her, nothing to show that they cared whether she lived or died, starved or prospered.
rid of obstructions
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading They had made no attempt to retrieve her, nothing to show that they cared whether she lived or died, starved or prospered.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading But the sore had remained; more, it had eaten its way down into her.
inflected form of “eat” — take in solid food
From this reading But the sore had remained; more, it had eaten its way down into her.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
expectationnounUS /ˌekspekˈteɪʃən/
belief about (or mental picture of) the future
From this reading Her expectation had turned to surprise, surprise to indignation.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the appearance of Bertie, however, she had waited in vain.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For the appearance of Bertie, however, she had waited in vain.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading They had made no attempt to retrieve her, nothing to show that they cared whether she lived or died, starved or prospered.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading For the appearance of Bertie, however, she had waited in vain.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For the appearance of Bertie, however, she had waited in vain.
indifferencenounUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfərəns/
unbiased impartial unconcern
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
indifferentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfrənt/
marked by a lack of interest
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
a feeling of righteous anger
From this reading Her expectation had turned to surprise, surprise to indignation.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But the sore had remained; more, it had eaten its way down into her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But the sore had remained; more, it had eaten its way down into her.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading They had made no attempt to retrieve her, nothing to show that they cared whether she lived or died, starved or prospered.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading They had made no attempt to retrieve her, nothing to show that they cared whether she lived or died, starved or prospered.
engage in
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But the sore had remained; more, it had eaten its way down into her.
not any; not one
From this reading They had made no attempt to retrieve her, nothing to show that they cared whether she lived or died, starved or prospered.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading They had made no attempt to retrieve her, nothing to show that they cared whether she lived or died, starved or prospered.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For the appearance of Bertie, however, she had waited in vain.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They had made no attempt to retrieve her, nothing to show that they cared whether she lived or died, starved or prospered.
prosperedverbUS /ˈprɑːspərd/
past form of “prosper” — make steady progress; be at the high point in one's career or reach a high point in historical significance or importance
From this reading They had made no attempt to retrieve her, nothing to show that they cared whether she lived or died, starved or prospered.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading But the sore had remained; more, it had eaten its way down into her.
retrieveverbUS /rɪˈtriːv/
get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading They had made no attempt to retrieve her, nothing to show that they cared whether she lived or died, starved or prospered.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For the appearance of Bertie, however, she had waited in vain.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading They had made no attempt to retrieve her, nothing to show that they cared whether she lived or died, starved or prospered.
shrugnounUS /ʃrʌɡ/
a gesture involving the shoulders
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
hurting
From this reading But the sore had remained; more, it had eaten its way down into her.
starvedadjectiveUS /stɑːrvd/
suffering from lack of food
From this reading They had made no attempt to retrieve her, nothing to show that they cared whether she lived or died, starved or prospered.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading Her expectation had turned to surprise, surprise to indignation.
carry out
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They had made no attempt to retrieve her, nothing to show that they cared whether she lived or died, starved or prospered.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the appearance of Bertie, however, she had waited in vain.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had made no attempt to retrieve her, nothing to show that they cared whether she lived or died, starved or prospered.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They had made no attempt to retrieve her, nothing to show that they cared whether she lived or died, starved or prospered.
in the direction of
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Her expectation had turned to surprise, surprise to indignation.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading For the appearance of Bertie, however, she had waited in vain.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading For the appearance of Bertie, however, she had waited in vain.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But the sore had remained; more, it had eaten its way down into her.
at the time that
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading They had made no attempt to retrieve her, nothing to show that they cared whether she lived or died, starved or prospered.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When it had finally become quite clear that they intended to take no steps towards getting her back, she accepted their indifference with a shrug that she tried to make equally indifferent.
