used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "Free, am I?" he asked.
amazedadjectiveUS /əˈmeɪzd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.
announcementnounUS /əˈnaʊnsmənt/
a formal public statement
From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Free, am I?" he asked.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.
comprehendedadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːmprɪˈhendɪd/
fully understood or grasped
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading "Free, am I?" he asked.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
Gautran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Free, am I?" he asked.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
purportverbUS /ˈpɜːrpɔːrt/
have the often specious appearance of being, intending, or claiming
From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.
recurring again and again
From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.
restoredverbUS /rɪˈstɔːrd/
past form of “restore” — return to its original or usable and functioning condition
From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.
only a very short time before
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.
spasmnounUS /ˈspæzəm/
a painful and involuntary muscular contraction
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
stupefiedadjective
as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise
From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
two times
From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He had so completely given himself up as lost that he was stupefied by the announcement that his liberty was restored to him.
vacantlyadverb
in a vacant manner
From this reading He gazed vacantly before him, and the announcement had to be twice repeated before he arrived at an understanding of its purport; then his attitude changed.
VANBRUGHnoun
English architect (1664-1726)
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
wanderverbUS /ˈwɑːndər/
move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading A LETTER FROM JOHN VANBRUGH For a little while Gautran scarcely comprehended that he was at liberty to wander forth.
which person or people
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A spasm of joy passed into his face, followed immediately by a spasm of fear; those who observed him would indeed have been amazed had they known what was passing through his mind.
