used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a few minutes he contemplated in silence his studious retreat, the witness of the meditations of his riper years.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Once alone in his cabinet with Jocelyn, Marcel sank into profound pensiveness.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Finally, leaning over a large table that was strewn with parchments, he emitted a sigh and said to Jocelyn:
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
cabinetnounUS /ˈkæbənət/
a piece of furniture resembling a cupboard with doors and shelves and drawers; for storage or display
From this reading Once alone in his cabinet with Jocelyn, Marcel sank into profound pensiveness.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
contemplatedverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪd/
past form of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
From this reading For a few minutes he contemplated in silence his studious retreat, the witness of the meditations of his riper years.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
DARKENINGadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənɪŋ/
becoming dark or darker as from waning light or clouding over
From this reading DARKENING SHADOWS.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
emittedverbUS /ɪˈmɪtəd/
inflected form of “emit” — expel (gases or odors)
From this reading Finally, leaning over a large table that was strewn with parchments, he emitted a sigh and said to Jocelyn:
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading For a few minutes he contemplated in silence his studious retreat, the witness of the meditations of his riper years.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Finally, leaning over a large table that was strewn with parchments, he emitted a sigh and said to Jocelyn:
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a few minutes he contemplated in silence his studious retreat, the witness of the meditations of his riper years.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For a few minutes he contemplated in silence his studious retreat, the witness of the meditations of his riper years.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Once alone in his cabinet with Jocelyn, Marcel sank into profound pensiveness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Once alone in his cabinet with Jocelyn, Marcel sank into profound pensiveness.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Once alone in his cabinet with Jocelyn, Marcel sank into profound pensiveness.
Jocelyn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once alone in his cabinet with Jocelyn, Marcel sank into profound pensiveness.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Finally, leaning over a large table that was strewn with parchments, he emitted a sigh and said to Jocelyn:
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading Finally, leaning over a large table that was strewn with parchments, he emitted a sigh and said to Jocelyn:
MarcelnounUS /mɑːrˈsel/
a hairdo characterized by deep regular waves that are made by a heated curling iron
From this reading Once alone in his cabinet with Jocelyn, Marcel sank into profound pensiveness.
meditationsnounUS /ˌmedɪˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “meditation” — continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature
From this reading For a few minutes he contemplated in silence his studious retreat, the witness of the meditations of his riper years.
melancholicnounUS /ˌmelənˈkɑːlɪk/
someone subject to melancholia
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading For a few minutes he contemplated in silence his studious retreat, the witness of the meditations of his riper years.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
on one occasion
From this reading Once alone in his cabinet with Jocelyn, Marcel sank into profound pensiveness.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Finally, leaning over a large table that was strewn with parchments, he emitted a sigh and said to Jocelyn:
parchments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Finally, leaning over a large table that was strewn with parchments, he emitted a sigh and said to Jocelyn:
pensivenessnounUS /ˈpensɪvnes/
persistent morbid meditation on a problem
From this reading Once alone in his cabinet with Jocelyn, Marcel sank into profound pensiveness.
pervadedverbUS /pərˈveɪdɪd/
past form of “pervade” — spread or diffuse through
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
From this reading Once alone in his cabinet with Jocelyn, Marcel sank into profound pensiveness.
replacedverbUS /ˌriːˈpleɪst/
past form of “replace” — substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading For a few minutes he contemplated in silence his studious retreat, the witness of the meditations of his riper years.
riper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few minutes he contemplated in silence his studious retreat, the witness of the meditations of his riper years.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Finally, leaning over a large table that was strewn with parchments, he emitted a sigh and said to Jocelyn:
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading Once alone in his cabinet with Jocelyn, Marcel sank into profound pensiveness.
serenitynounUS /səˈren.ə.t̬i/
The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled by external storms.
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
seriousnessnounUS /ˈsɪriəsnəs/
an earnest and sincere feeling
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading DARKENING SHADOWS.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading Finally, leaning over a large table that was strewn with parchments, he emitted a sigh and said to Jocelyn:
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading For a few minutes he contemplated in silence his studious retreat, the witness of the meditations of his riper years.
strewnverbUS /struːn/
inflected form of “strew” — spread by scattering ("straw" is archaic)
From this reading Finally, leaning over a large table that was strewn with parchments, he emitted a sigh and said to Jocelyn:
studiousadjectiveUS /ˈstuːdiəs/
marked by care and effort
From this reading For a few minutes he contemplated in silence his studious retreat, the witness of the meditations of his riper years.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Finally, leaning over a large table that was strewn with parchments, he emitted a sigh and said to Jocelyn:
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Finally, leaning over a large table that was strewn with parchments, he emitted a sigh and said to Jocelyn:
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading The cheerful serenity that had pervaded his bearing during the conversation with his wife was now replaced by an expression of melancholic seriousness.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Once alone in his cabinet with Jocelyn, Marcel sank into profound pensiveness.
someone who sees an event and reports what happened
From this reading For a few minutes he contemplated in silence his studious retreat, the witness of the meditations of his riper years.
a late time of life
From this reading For a few minutes he contemplated in silence his studious retreat, the witness of the meditations of his riper years.
