used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
agitationnounUS /ˌædʒəˈteɪʃən/
a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance
From this reading She met the dear old friend with heightened colour indeed, but with no other sign of agitation.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Max's hand gently pushed her forward, and in an instant she had mastered her astonishment.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading Max's hand gently pushed her forward, and in an instant she had mastered her astonishment.
astoundedadjectiveUS /əˈstaʊndɪd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading "Hullo!" murmured Max's voice behind her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She met the dear old friend with heightened colour indeed, but with no other sign of agitation.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading She met the dear old friend with heightened colour indeed, but with no other sign of agitation.
dearly loved
From this reading "Here's a dear old friend!"
dinner-party
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Max's hand gently pushed her forward, and in an instant she had mastered her astonishment.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading "Here's a dear old friend!"
in a gradual manner
From this reading Max's hand gently pushed her forward, and in an instant she had mastered her astonishment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Max's hand gently pushed her forward, and in an instant she had mastered her astonishment.
haltverbUS /hɔːlt/
cause to stop
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Max's hand gently pushed her forward, and in an instant she had mastered her astonishment.
heightenedverbUS /ˈhaɪtənd/
past form of “heighten” — become more extreme
From this reading She met the dear old friend with heightened colour indeed, but with no other sign of agitation.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Hullo!" murmured Max's voice behind her.
Here's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Here's a dear old friend!"
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
Hullonoun
an expression of greeting
From this reading "Hullo!" murmured Max's voice behind her.
Hunt-Goring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Max's hand gently pushed her forward, and in an instant she had mastered her astonishment.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading She met the dear old friend with heightened colour indeed, but with no other sign of agitation.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Max's hand gently pushed her forward, and in an instant she had mastered her astonishment.
immediately past
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
MajoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
masteredadjectiveUS /ˈmæstərd/
understood perfectly
From this reading Max's hand gently pushed her forward, and in an instant she had mastered her astonishment.
Max'snounUS /ˈmæksɪz/
possessive form of “max” — street names for gamma hydroxybutyrate
From this reading "Hullo!" murmured Max's voice behind her.
come together
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading She met the dear old friend with heightened colour indeed, but with no other sign of agitation.
a particular point in time
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading "Hullo!" murmured Max's voice behind her.
Musgraves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
not any; not one
From this reading She met the dear old friend with heightened colour indeed, but with no other sign of agitation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "Here's a dear old friend!"
Olga
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading She met the dear old friend with heightened colour indeed, but with no other sign of agitation.
a human being
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading Max's hand gently pushed her forward, and in an instant she had mastered her astonishment.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading She met the dear old friend with heightened colour indeed, but with no other sign of agitation.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
SPREADINGnounUS /ˈspredɪŋ/
process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "Hullo!" murmured Max's voice behind her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SPREADING OF THE FLAME Certainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the threshold of the drawing-room.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She met the dear old friend with heightened colour indeed, but with no other sign of agitation.
