used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading At any moment Wildred, who had perhaps gone to rectify some vexatious mistake about a table, might return.
(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 If I meant to take the step at all there was no time to be lost in doing so.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading At any moment Wildred, who had perhaps gone to rectify some vexatious mistake about a table, might return.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
backsnounUS /bæks/
plural of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It would be just possible for me to speak to her, without being observed by them, if I were both extraordinarily cautious and lucky.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading It would be just possible for me to speak to her, without being observed by them, if I were both extraordinarily cautious and lucky.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Without giving myself a second for further reflection, and with the blood surging to my temples, I found myself, with a few strides, beside her.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading Without giving myself a second for further reflection, and with the blood surging to my temples, I found myself, with a few strides, beside her.
the two together, not just one
From this reading It would be just possible for me to speak to her, without being observed by them, if I were both extraordinarily cautious and lucky.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It would be just possible for me to speak to her, without being observed by them, if I were both extraordinarily cautious and lucky.
cautiousadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːʃəs/
showing careful forethought
From this reading It would be just possible for me to speak to her, without being observed by them, if I were both extraordinarily cautious and lucky.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading If I meant to take the step at all there was no time to be lost in doing so.
extraordinarilyadverbUS /ekˌstrɔːrdəˈnerəli/
extremely
From this reading It would be just possible for me to speak to her, without being observed by them, if I were both extraordinarily cautious and lucky.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Without giving myself a second for further reflection, and with the blood surging to my temples, I found myself, with a few strides, beside her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It would be just possible for me to speak to her, without being observed by them, if I were both extraordinarily cautious and lucky.
set up or found
From this reading Without giving myself a second for further reflection, and with the blood surging to my temples, I found myself, with a few strides, beside her.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Without giving myself a second for further reflection, and with the blood surging to my temples, I found myself, with a few strides, beside her.
the act of giving
From this reading Without giving myself a second for further reflection, and with the blood surging to my temples, I found myself, with a few strides, beside her.
destroyed or killed
From this reading At any moment Wildred, who had perhaps gone to rectify some vexatious mistake about a table, might return.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If I meant to take the step at all there was no time to be lost in doing so.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would be just possible for me to speak to her, without being observed by them, if I were both extraordinarily cautious and lucky.
and nothing more
From this reading It would be just possible for me to speak to her, without being observed by them, if I were both extraordinarily cautious and lucky.
Karine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading If I meant to take the step at all there was no time to be lost in doing so.
occurring by chance
From this reading It would be just possible for me to speak to her, without being observed by them, if I were both extraordinarily cautious and lucky.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It would be just possible for me to speak to her, without being observed by them, if I were both extraordinarily cautious and lucky.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading If I meant to take the step at all there was no time to be lost in doing so.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading At any moment Wildred, who had perhaps gone to rectify some vexatious mistake about a table, might return.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading At any moment Wildred, who had perhaps gone to rectify some vexatious mistake about a table, might return.
a particular point in time
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Without giving myself a second for further reflection, and with the blood surging to my temples, I found myself, with a few strides, beside her.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Without giving myself a second for further reflection, and with the blood surging to my temples, I found myself, with a few strides, beside her.
not any; not one
From this reading If I meant to take the step at all there was no time to be lost in doing so.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading It would be just possible for me to speak to her, without being observed by them, if I were both extraordinarily cautious and lucky.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
by chance
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading It would be just possible for me to speak to her, without being observed by them, if I were both extraordinarily cautious and lucky.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
rectifyverbUS /ˈrektəfaɪ/
math: determine the length of
From this reading At any moment Wildred, who had perhaps gone to rectify some vexatious mistake about a table, might return.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading Without giving myself a second for further reflection, and with the blood surging to my temples, I found myself, with a few strides, beside her.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading At any moment Wildred, who had perhaps gone to rectify some vexatious mistake about a table, might return.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Without giving myself a second for further reflection, and with the blood surging to my temples, I found myself, with a few strides, beside her.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading If I meant to take the step at all there was no time to be lost in doing so.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading At any moment Wildred, who had perhaps gone to rectify some vexatious mistake about a table, might return.
express in speech
From this reading It would be just possible for me to speak to her, without being observed by them, if I were both extraordinarily cautious and lucky.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading If I meant to take the step at all there was no time to be lost in doing so.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
stridesnounUS /straɪdz/
plural of “stride” — a step in walking or running
From this reading Without giving myself a second for further reflection, and with the blood surging to my temples, I found myself, with a few strides, beside her.
surgingadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrdʒɪŋ/
characterized by great swelling waves or surges
From this reading Without giving myself a second for further reflection, and with the blood surging to my temples, I found myself, with a few strides, beside her.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading At any moment Wildred, who had perhaps gone to rectify some vexatious mistake about a table, might return.
carry out
From this reading If I meant to take the step at all there was no time to be lost in doing so.
templesnounUS /ˈtempəlz/
plural of “temple” — place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
From this reading Without giving myself a second for further reflection, and with the blood surging to my temples, I found myself, with a few strides, beside her.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It would be just possible for me to speak to her, without being observed by them, if I were both extraordinarily cautious and lucky.
in or at that place or location
From this reading If I meant to take the step at all there was no time to be lost in doing so.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading If I meant to take the step at all there was no time to be lost in doing so.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
vexatiousadjectiveUS /vekˈseɪʃəs/
causing irritation or annoyance
From this reading At any moment Wildred, who had perhaps gone to rectify some vexatious mistake about a table, might return.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If I meant to take the step at all there was no time to be lost in doing so.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
which person or people
From this reading At any moment Wildred, who had perhaps gone to rectify some vexatious mistake about a table, might return.
Wildred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At any moment Wildred, who had perhaps gone to rectify some vexatious mistake about a table, might return.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Without giving myself a second for further reflection, and with the blood surging to my temples, I found myself, with a few strides, beside her.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It would be just possible for me to speak to her, without being observed by them, if I were both extraordinarily cautious and lucky.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would be just possible for me to speak to her, without being observed by them, if I were both extraordinarily cautious and lucky.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading "If He Had Committed a Crime" Karine stood, as I said, perhaps a couple of yards distant from her friends, and their backs, at the present moment, were more than half turned to her.
