used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had achieved a triumph and it may have been that she was just a little frightened now that it was over.
achievedverbUS /əˈtʃiːvd/
past form of “achieve” — to gain with effort
From this reading She had achieved a triumph and it may have been that she was just a little frightened now that it was over.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading As she held court near the stage, smilingly receiving congratulations, she waved to Shep across the crowd.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had achieved a triumph and it may have been that she was just a little frightened now that it was over.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The dancing had begun when Constance appeared on the floor.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As she held court near the stage, smilingly receiving congratulations, she waved to Shep across the crowd.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Was I so very bad?” she asked Bruce.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading “Was I so very bad?” she asked Bruce.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had achieved a triumph and it may have been that she was just a little frightened now that it was over.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The dancing had begun when Constance appeared on the floor.
BrucenounUS /bruːs/
Australian physician and bacteriologist who described the bacterium that causes undulant fever or brucellosis (1855-1931)
From this reading “Was I so very bad?” she asked Bruce.
congratulationsnounUS /kənˌɡrætʃəˈleɪʃənz/
an expression of approval and commendation
From this reading As she held court near the stage, smilingly receiving congratulations, she waved to Shep across the crowd.
ConstancenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəns/
a lake in southeastern Germany on the northern side of the Swiss Alps; forms part of the Rhine River
From this reading The dancing had begun when Constance appeared on the floor.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading As she held court near the stage, smilingly receiving congratulations, she waved to Shep across the crowd.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading As she held court near the stage, smilingly receiving congratulations, she waved to Shep across the crowd.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading The dancing had begun when Constance appeared on the floor.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading “I was terribly nervous for fear I’d forget my lines.”
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The dancing had begun when Constance appeared on the floor.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I was terribly nervous for fear I’d forget my lines.”
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading “I was terribly nervous for fear I’d forget my lines.”
made afraid
From this reading She had achieved a triumph and it may have been that she was just a little frightened now that it was over.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The dancing had begun when Constance appeared on the floor.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She had achieved a triumph and it may have been that she was just a little frightened now that it was over.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading As she held court near the stage, smilingly receiving congratulations, she waved to Shep across the crowd.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Was I so very bad?” she asked Bruce.
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was terribly nervous for fear I’d forget my lines.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She had achieved a triumph and it may have been that she was just a little frightened now that it was over.
and nothing more
From this reading She had achieved a triumph and it may have been that she was just a little frightened now that it was over.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading “I was terribly nervous for fear I’d forget my lines.”
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had achieved a triumph and it may have been that she was just a little frightened now that it was over.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading She had achieved a triumph and it may have been that she was just a little frightened now that it was over.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “I was terribly nervous for fear I’d forget my lines.”
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading As she held court near the stage, smilingly receiving congratulations, she waved to Shep across the crowd.
easily agitated
From this reading “I was terribly nervous for fear I’d forget my lines.”
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She had achieved a triumph and it may have been that she was just a little frightened now that it was over.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The dancing had begun when Constance appeared on the floor.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She had achieved a triumph and it may have been that she was just a little frightened now that it was over.
receivingverbUS /rəˈsiːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “receive” — get something; come into possession of
From this reading As she held court near the stage, smilingly receiving congratulations, she waved to Shep across the crowd.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had achieved a triumph and it may have been that she was just a little frightened now that it was over.
Shep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she held court near the stage, smilingly receiving congratulations, she waved to Shep across the crowd.
smilinglyadverbUS /ˈsmaɪlɪŋli/
with smiles; in a smiling manner
From this reading As she held court near the stage, smilingly receiving congratulations, she waved to Shep across the crowd.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Was I so very bad?” she asked Bruce.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading As she held court near the stage, smilingly receiving congratulations, she waved to Shep across the crowd.
terriblyadverbUS /ˈterəbli/
used as intensifiers
From this reading “I was terribly nervous for fear I’d forget my lines.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had achieved a triumph and it may have been that she was just a little frightened now that it was over.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The dancing had begun when Constance appeared on the floor.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As she held court near the stage, smilingly receiving congratulations, she waved to Shep across the crowd.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading She had achieved a triumph and it may have been that she was just a little frightened now that it was over.
precisely as stated
From this reading “Was I so very bad?” she asked Bruce.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had achieved a triumph and it may have been that she was just a little frightened now that it was over.
past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading As she held court near the stage, smilingly receiving congratulations, she waved to Shep across the crowd.
at the time that
From this reading The dancing had begun when Constance appeared on the floor.
