(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading As the story progressed and the music grew in passion and voluptuousness, they distinctly saw his almost militant protest.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Both the prince and Lady Hilda, in the background, although they occasionally glanced at the performance, devoted most of their attention to watching him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The curtain rang up upon one of the most gorgeous and sensuous of the Russian ballets.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the story progressed and the music grew in passion and voluptuousness, they distinctly saw his almost militant protest.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Both the prince and Lady Hilda, in the background, although they occasionally glanced at the performance, devoted most of their attention to watching him.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Both the prince and Lady Hilda, in the background, although they occasionally glanced at the performance, devoted most of their attention to watching him.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading Both the prince and Lady Hilda, in the background, although they occasionally glanced at the performance, devoted most of their attention to watching him.
balletsnounUS /bæˈleɪz/
plural of “ballet” — a theatrical representation of a story that is performed to music by trained dancers
From this reading The curtain rang up upon one of the most gorgeous and sensuous of the Russian ballets.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both the prince and Lady Hilda, in the background, although they occasionally glanced at the performance, devoted most of their attention to watching him.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
contractionnounUS /kənˈtrækʃən/
(physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)
From this reading They saw the knitting of his firm mouth and the slight contraction of his eyebrows.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The curtain rang up upon one of the most gorgeous and sensuous of the Russian ballets.
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading Both the prince and Lady Hilda, in the background, although they occasionally glanced at the performance, devoted most of their attention to watching him.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading As the story progressed and the music grew in passion and voluptuousness, they distinctly saw his almost militant protest.
eyebrowsnounUS /ˈaɪbraʊz/
plural of “eyebrow” — the arch of hair above each eye
From this reading They saw the knitting of his firm mouth and the slight contraction of his eyebrows.
opinion or judgment
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading They saw the knitting of his firm mouth and the slight contraction of his eyebrows.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Both the prince and Lady Hilda, in the background, although they occasionally glanced at the performance, devoted most of their attention to watching him.
gorgeousadjectiveUS /ˈɡɔːrdʒəs/
dazzlingly beautiful
From this reading The curtain rang up upon one of the most gorgeous and sensuous of the Russian ballets.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading As the story progressed and the music grew in passion and voluptuousness, they distinctly saw his almost militant protest.
Hilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both the prince and Lady Hilda, in the background, although they occasionally glanced at the performance, devoted most of their attention to watching him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Both the prince and Lady Hilda, in the background, although they occasionally glanced at the performance, devoted most of their attention to watching him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
insistencenounUS /ˌɪnˈsɪstəns/
continual and persistent demands
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
jointnounUS /dʒɔɪnt/
(anatomy) the point of connection between two bones or elements of a skeleton (especially if it allows motion)
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
knittingnounUS /ˈnɪtɪŋ/
needlework created by interlacing yarn in a series of connected loops using straight eyeless needles or by machine
From this reading They saw the knitting of his firm mouth and the slight contraction of his eyebrows.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Both the prince and Lady Hilda, in the background, although they occasionally glanced at the performance, devoted most of their attention to watching him.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
militantadjectiveUS /ˈmɪlətənt/
disposed to warfare or hard-line policies
From this reading As the story progressed and the music grew in passion and voluptuousness, they distinctly saw his almost militant protest.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The curtain rang up upon one of the most gorgeous and sensuous of the Russian ballets.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading They saw the knitting of his firm mouth and the slight contraction of his eyebrows.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading As the story progressed and the music grew in passion and voluptuousness, they distinctly saw his almost militant protest.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading Both the prince and Lady Hilda, in the background, although they occasionally glanced at the performance, devoted most of their attention to watching him.
occupyingverbUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “occupy” — keep busy with
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The curtain rang up upon one of the most gorgeous and sensuous of the Russian ballets.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The curtain rang up upon one of the most gorgeous and sensuous of the Russian ballets.
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading As the story progressed and the music grew in passion and voluptuousness, they distinctly saw his almost militant protest.
performancenounUS /pərˈfɔːrməns/
a dramatic or musical entertainment
From this reading Both the prince and Lady Hilda, in the background, although they occasionally glanced at the performance, devoted most of their attention to watching him.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)
From this reading Both the prince and Lady Hilda, in the background, although they occasionally glanced at the performance, devoted most of their attention to watching him.
progressedverbUS /prəˈɡrest/
past form of “progress” — develop in a positive way
From this reading As the story progressed and the music grew in passion and voluptuousness, they distinctly saw his almost militant protest.
protestnounUS /ˈproʊtest/
a formal and solemn declaration of objection
From this reading As the story progressed and the music grew in passion and voluptuousness, they distinctly saw his almost militant protest.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading The curtain rang up upon one of the most gorgeous and sensuous of the Russian ballets.
RussiannounUS /ˈrʌʃən/
a native or inhabitant of Russia
From this reading The curtain rang up upon one of the most gorgeous and sensuous of the Russian ballets.
cut with a saw
From this reading As the story progressed and the music grew in passion and voluptuousness, they distinctly saw his almost militant protest.
sensuousadjectiveUS /ˈsenʃəwəs/
taking delight in beauty
From this reading The curtain rang up upon one of the most gorgeous and sensuous of the Russian ballets.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading They saw the knitting of his firm mouth and the slight contraction of his eyebrows.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
steadfastlyadverbUS /ˈstedfæstli/
with resolute determination
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading As the story progressed and the music grew in passion and voluptuousness, they distinctly saw his almost militant protest.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The curtain rang up upon one of the most gorgeous and sensuous of the Russian ballets.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Both the prince and Lady Hilda, in the background, although they occasionally glanced at the performance, devoted most of their attention to watching him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Both the prince and Lady Hilda, in the background, although they occasionally glanced at the performance, devoted most of their attention to watching him.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The curtain rang up upon one of the most gorgeous and sensuous of the Russian ballets.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The curtain rang up upon one of the most gorgeous and sensuous of the Russian ballets.
voluptuousnessnoun
the quality of being attractive and exciting (especially sexually exciting)
From this reading As the story progressed and the music grew in passion and voluptuousness, they distinctly saw his almost militant protest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Both the prince and Lady Hilda, in the background, although they occasionally glanced at the performance, devoted most of their attention to watching him.
which person or people
From this reading John, who by their joint insistence was occupying the front chair in the box, leaned forward in his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the stage.
