used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
(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 He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lazare, who had turned his face to the wall, was sobbing, and burst out into tears.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading But Pauline bent over Louise and kissed her on the forehead.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading He came and stooped down over his wife; but he shuddered when his lips touched her brow, which was moist with icy perspiration.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading Lazare, who had turned his face to the wall, was sobbing, and burst out into tears.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Pauline bent over Louise and kissed her on the forehead.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He came and stooped down over his wife; but he shuddered when his lips touched her brow, which was moist with icy perspiration.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading 'Come and kiss her!' she said to her cousin.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading 'Come and kiss her!' she said to her cousin.
despairinglyadverb
with desperation
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He came and stooped down over his wife; but he shuddered when his lips touched her brow, which was moist with icy perspiration.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Lazare, who had turned his face to the wall, was sobbing, and burst out into tears.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading But Pauline bent over Louise and kissed her on the forehead.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Lazare, who had turned his face to the wall, was sobbing, and burst out into tears.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But Pauline bent over Louise and kissed her on the forehead.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Lazare, who had turned his face to the wall, was sobbing, and burst out into tears.
icyadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsi/
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
From this reading He came and stooped down over his wife; but he shuddered when his lips touched her brow, which was moist with icy perspiration.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Lazare, who had turned his face to the wall, was sobbing, and burst out into tears.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
keenestadjectiveUS /ˈkiːnəst/
superlative of “keen” — having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
the act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof)
From this reading 'Come and kiss her!' she said to her cousin.
past form of “kiss” — touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.
From this reading But Pauline bent over Louise and kissed her on the forehead.
Lazare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lazare, who had turned his face to the wall, was sobbing, and burst out into tears.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading He came and stooped down over his wife; but he shuddered when his lips touched her brow, which was moist with icy perspiration.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
Louise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Pauline bent over Louise and kissed her on the forehead.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
moistadjectiveUS /mɔɪst/
slightly wet
From this reading He came and stooped down over his wife; but he shuddered when his lips touched her brow, which was moist with icy perspiration.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But Pauline bent over Louise and kissed her on the forehead.
operationsnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz/
financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Lazare, who had turned his face to the wall, was sobbing, and burst out into tears.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But Pauline bent over Louise and kissed her on the forehead.
PaulineadjectiveUS /pɔːˈliːn/
relating to Paul the Apostle or his doctrines
From this reading But Pauline bent over Louise and kissed her on the forehead.
perspirationnounUS /ˌpɜːrspərˈeɪʃən/
salty fluid secreted by sweat glands
From this reading He came and stooped down over his wife; but he shuddered when his lips touched her brow, which was moist with icy perspiration.
preferableadjectiveUS /ˈprefərəbəl/
more desirable than another
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
on the contrary
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading 'Come and kiss her!' she said to her cousin.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading 'Come and kiss her!' she said to her cousin.
shudderedverbUS /ˈʃʌdərd/
past form of “shudder” — shake, as from cold
From this reading He came and stooped down over his wife; but he shuddered when his lips touched her brow, which was moist with icy perspiration.
sobbingnounUS /ˈsɑːbɪŋ/
convulsive gasp made while weeping
From this reading Lazare, who had turned his face to the wall, was sobbing, and burst out into tears.
stoopedadjectiveUS /stuːpt/
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading He came and stooped down over his wife; but he shuddered when his lips touched her brow, which was moist with icy perspiration.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading Lazare, who had turned his face to the wall, was sobbing, and burst out into tears.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Lazare, who had turned his face to the wall, was sobbing, and burst out into tears.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lazare, who had turned his face to the wall, was sobbing, and burst out into tears.
tortureverbUS /ˈtɔːrtʃər/
torment emotionally or mentally
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
having come into contact
From this reading He came and stooped down over his wife; but he shuddered when his lips touched her brow, which was moist with icy perspiration.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Lazare, who had turned his face to the wall, was sobbing, and burst out into tears.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Lazare, who had turned his face to the wall, was sobbing, and burst out into tears.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lazare, who had turned his face to the wall, was sobbing, and burst out into tears.
at the time that
From this reading He came and stooped down over his wife; but he shuddered when his lips touched her brow, which was moist with icy perspiration.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He came and stooped down over his wife; but he shuddered when his lips touched her brow, which was moist with icy perspiration.
which person or people
From this reading Lazare, who had turned his face to the wall, was sobbing, and burst out into tears.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He came and stooped down over his wife; but he shuddered when his lips touched her brow, which was moist with icy perspiration.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had been a prey to the keenest mental torture during the progress of the operations, and he thought despairingly that it would be preferable for them all to die rather than to continue living if such intense agony was to be mingled with life.