used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a moment before Lucas answered.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Well," said Mayenne, sharply, "what about your boy?"
affectionsnounUS /əˈfekʃənz/
plural of “affection” — a positive feeling of liking
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When he did he spoke low and hurriedly, so that I could scarce catch the words.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading It was a moment before Lucas answered.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I knew it was no fear of listeners that kept his voice down--they had shouted at each other as if there was no one within a mile.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I knew it was no fear of listeners that kept his voice down--they had shouted at each other as if there was no one within a mile.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was a moment before Lucas answered.
a youthful male person
From this reading "Well," said Mayenne, sharply, "what about your boy?"
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading When he did he spoke low and hurriedly, so that I could scarce catch the words.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading When he did he spoke low and hurriedly, so that I could scarce catch the words.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading I knew it was no fear of listeners that kept his voice down--they had shouted at each other as if there was no one within a mile.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading I knew it was no fear of listeners that kept his voice down--they had shouted at each other as if there was no one within a mile.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading I knew it was no fear of listeners that kept his voice down--they had shouted at each other as if there was no one within a mile.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
gnawingverbUS /ˈnɔːɪŋ/
-ing form of “gnaw” — bite or chew on with the teeth
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
hurriedlyadverbUS /ˈhɜːridli/
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading When he did he spoke low and hurriedly, so that I could scarce catch the words.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I knew it was no fear of listeners that kept his voice down--they had shouted at each other as if there was no one within a mile.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a moment before Lucas answered.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading I knew it was no fear of listeners that kept his voice down--they had shouted at each other as if there was no one within a mile.
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 I knew it was no fear of listeners that kept his voice down--they had shouted at each other as if there was no one within a mile.
lipnounUS /lɪp/
either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
listenersnounUS /ˈlɪsənərz/
plural of “listener” — someone who listens attentively
From this reading I knew it was no fear of listeners that kept his voice down--they had shouted at each other as if there was no one within a mile.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading When he did he spoke low and hurriedly, so that I could scarce catch the words.
LucasnounUS /ˈluːkəs/
United States screenwriter and filmmaker (born in 1944)
From this reading It was a moment before Lucas answered.
mademoiselle's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
Mayennenoun
a department of northwestern France in the Pays de la Loire region
From this reading "Well," said Mayenne, sharply, "what about your boy?"
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading I knew it was no fear of listeners that kept his voice down--they had shouted at each other as if there was no one within a mile.
a particular point in time
From this reading It was a moment before Lucas answered.
not any; not one
From this reading I knew it was no fear of listeners that kept his voice down--they had shouted at each other as if there was no one within a mile.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I knew it was no fear of listeners that kept his voice down--they had shouted at each other as if there was no one within a mile.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading I knew it was no fear of listeners that kept his voice down--they had shouted at each other as if there was no one within a mile.
plotnounUS /plɑːt/
a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Well," said Mayenne, sharply, "what about your boy?"
only a very short time before
From this reading When he did he spoke low and hurriedly, so that I could scarce catch the words.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading "Well," said Mayenne, sharply, "what about your boy?"
in a vehement outcry
From this reading I knew it was no fear of listeners that kept his voice down--they had shouted at each other as if there was no one within a mile.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading When he did he spoke low and hurriedly, so that I could scarce catch the words.
hurting
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading When he did he spoke low and hurriedly, so that I could scarce catch the words.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
in or at that place or location
From this reading I knew it was no fear of listeners that kept his voice down--they had shouted at each other as if there was no one within a mile.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I knew it was no fear of listeners that kept his voice down--they had shouted at each other as if there was no one within a mile.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
travelledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
familiar with many parts of the world
From this reading He fell silent, gnawing his lip; I could see that his thought had travelled away from the plot to the sore subject of mademoiselle's affections.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading I knew it was no fear of listeners that kept his voice down--they had shouted at each other as if there was no one within a mile.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a moment before Lucas answered.
(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 "Well," said Mayenne, sharply, "what about your boy?"
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Well," said Mayenne, sharply, "what about your boy?"
at the time that
From this reading When he did he spoke low and hurriedly, so that I could scarce catch the words.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading I knew it was no fear of listeners that kept his voice down--they had shouted at each other as if there was no one within a mile.
the words that are spoken
From this reading When he did he spoke low and hurriedly, so that I could scarce catch the words.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Well," said Mayenne, sharply, "what about your boy?"
