used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But to a certain extent I was able to control myself.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading But to a certain extent I was able to control myself.
experiencing a sudden sense of danger
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
(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 Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "If there was only some way in which it might be possible for me to help you."
of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
terminate
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But to a certain extent I was able to control myself.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "What can I say--what can I do?"
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading But to a certain extent I was able to control myself.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
power to direct or determine
From this reading But to a certain extent I was able to control myself.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
at any time
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
the point or degree to which something extends
From this reading But to a certain extent I was able to control myself.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
a state of high honor
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading "If there was only some way in which it might be possible for me to help you."
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If there was only some way in which it might be possible for me to help you."
an instinctive motive
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "If there was only some way in which it might be possible for me to help you."
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "If there was only some way in which it might be possible for me to help you."
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading But to a certain extent I was able to control myself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
and nothing more
From this reading "If there was only some way in which it might be possible for me to help you."
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
having or expressing strong emotions
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
by chance
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading "If there was only some way in which it might be possible for me to help you."
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
elude, especially in a baffling way
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
ripplesnounUS /ˈrɪpəlz/
plural of “ripple” — a small wave on the surface of a liquid
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
express in words
From this reading "What can I say--what can I do?"
shimmeringverbUS /ˈʃɪmərɪŋ/
-ing form of “shimmer” — shine with a weak or fitful light
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "If there was only some way in which it might be possible for me to help you."
stammered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I stammered.
carry out
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "If there was only some way in which it might be possible for me to help you."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
a shaky motion
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "If there was only some way in which it might be possible for me to help you."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What can I say--what can I do?"
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
winningadjectiveUS /ˈwɪnɪŋ/
having won
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Friends It was all I could do to resist the impulse to take the small trembling hands in my own, to touch the bowed head with its glory of shimmering ripples, to break into passionate words which must have alarmed her, and put an end to my chance of winning her, perhaps for ever.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "If there was only some way in which it might be possible for me to help you."
