used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading 'Not at all,' said he, with a half smile; 'my thoughts were of quite another kind.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading 'Is it possible that what I said about your going could have turned your thoughts in the same direction?'
absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
(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 'Not at all,' said he, with a half smile; 'my thoughts were of quite another kind.
Alston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading 'Has my melancholy been infectious?' said she, bending tenderly over him, and bringing her face close to his.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading 'Not at all,' said he, with a half smile; 'my thoughts were of quite another kind.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading 'Not at all,' said he, with a half smile; 'my thoughts were of quite another kind.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading 'Has my melancholy been infectious?' said she, bending tenderly over him, and bringing her face close to his.
bendingnounUS /ˈbendɪŋ/
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading 'Has my melancholy been infectious?' said she, bending tenderly over him, and bringing her face close to his.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading 'Has my melancholy been infectious?' said she, bending tenderly over him, and bringing her face close to his.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading 'Has my melancholy been infectious?' said she, bending tenderly over him, and bringing her face close to his.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading 'Is it possible that what I said about your going could have turned your thoughts in the same direction?'
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading 'Is it possible that what I said about your going could have turned your thoughts in the same direction?'
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading 'Has my melancholy been infectious?' said she, bending tenderly over him, and bringing her face close to his.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
the act of departing
From this reading 'Is it possible that what I said about your going could have turned your thoughts in the same direction?'
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading 'Not at all,' said he, with a half smile; 'my thoughts were of quite another kind.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading I was thinking--' 'Hush!' she said, laying her little hand softly on his lips.
Hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'Has my melancholy been infectious?' said she, bending tenderly over him, and bringing her face close to his.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading 'Is it possible that what I said about your going could have turned your thoughts in the same direction?'
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
Helen'snounUS /ˈhelɪnz/
possessive form of “helen” — (Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading 'Has my melancholy been infectious?' said she, bending tenderly over him, and bringing her face close to his.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
become quiet or still; fall silent
From this reading I was thinking--' 'Hush!' she said, laying her little hand softly on his lips.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading 'Is it possible that what I said about your going could have turned your thoughts in the same direction?'
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
infectiousadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfekʃəs/
caused by infection or capable of causing infection
From this reading 'Has my melancholy been infectious?' said she, bending tenderly over him, and bringing her face close to his.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'Is it possible that what I said about your going could have turned your thoughts in the same direction?'
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading 'Not at all,' said he, with a half smile; 'my thoughts were of quite another kind.
the production of eggs (especially in birds)
From this reading I was thinking--' 'Hush!' she said, laying her little hand softly on his lips.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading I was thinking--' 'Hush!' she said, laying her little hand softly on his lips.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I was thinking--' 'Hush!' she said, laying her little hand softly on his lips.
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading 'Has my melancholy been infectious?' said she, bending tenderly over him, and bringing her face close to his.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading 'Has my melancholy been infectious?' said she, bending tenderly over him, and bringing her face close to his.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I was thinking--' 'Hush!' she said, laying her little hand softly on his lips.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading 'Has my melancholy been infectious?' said she, bending tenderly over him, and bringing her face close to his.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading 'Is it possible that what I said about your going could have turned your thoughts in the same direction?'
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading 'Not at all,' said he, with a half smile; 'my thoughts were of quite another kind.
ruminationnounUS /ˌruːmɪˈneɪʃən/
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading 'Has my melancholy been infectious?' said she, bending tenderly over him, and bringing her face close to his.
Identical; not different.
From this reading 'Is it possible that what I said about your going could have turned your thoughts in the same direction?'
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading 'Has my melancholy been infectious?' said she, bending tenderly over him, and bringing her face close to his.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading 'Not at all,' said he, with a half smile; 'my thoughts were of quite another kind.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
with low volume
From this reading I was thinking--' 'Hush!' she said, laying her little hand softly on his lips.
tenderlyadverbUS /ˈtendərli/
with tenderness; in a tender manner
From this reading 'Has my melancholy been infectious?' said she, bending tenderly over him, and bringing her face close to his.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading 'Is it possible that what I said about your going could have turned your thoughts in the same direction?'
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading I was thinking--' 'Hush!' she said, laying her little hand softly on his lips.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading 'Is it possible that what I said about your going could have turned your thoughts in the same direction?'
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading 'Has my melancholy been infectious?' said she, bending tenderly over him, and bringing her face close to his.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading 'Is it possible that what I said about your going could have turned your thoughts in the same direction?'
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So absorbed was Alston in his rumination, that it was not until he felt Helen's gentle touch upon his shoulder that he was aware of her presence.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading 'Not at all,' said he, with a half smile; 'my thoughts were of quite another kind.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading 'Is it possible that what I said about your going could have turned your thoughts in the same direction?'
in the company of; together with
From this reading 'Not at all,' said he, with a half smile; 'my thoughts were of quite another kind.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 'Is it possible that what I said about your going could have turned your thoughts in the same direction?'
