used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading FATHER AND SON None of the three spoke for a moment.
anew
From this reading His father saw it too, for the hand that he had lifted entreatingly sank again, and his voice was tremulous as he spoke.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FATHER AND SON None of the three spoke for a moment.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His eyelids drooped, and little lines showed themselves suddenly at either side of his thin mouth.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
droopedverbUS /druːpt/
past form of “droop” — droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness
From this reading His eyelids drooped, and little lines showed themselves suddenly at either side of his thin mouth.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
one or the other of two
From this reading His eyelids drooped, and little lines showed themselves suddenly at either side of his thin mouth.
entreatinglyadverb
in a beseeching manner
From this reading His father saw it too, for the hand that he had lifted entreatingly sank again, and his voice was tremulous as he spoke.
eyelidsnounUS /ˈaɪlɪdz/
plural of “eyelid” — either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading His eyelids drooped, and little lines showed themselves suddenly at either side of his thin mouth.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading FATHER AND SON None of the three spoke for a moment.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading FATHER AND SON None of the three spoke for a moment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading His father saw it too, for the hand that he had lifted entreatingly sank again, and his voice was tremulous as he spoke.
hardenedadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdənd/
used of persons; emotionally hardened
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he stood there he seemed to stiffen into resistance.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His eyelids drooped, and little lines showed themselves suddenly at either side of his thin mouth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
held up in the air
From this reading His father saw it too, for the hand that he had lifted entreatingly sank again, and his voice was tremulous as he spoke.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading His eyelids drooped, and little lines showed themselves suddenly at either side of his thin mouth.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His eyelids drooped, and little lines showed themselves suddenly at either side of his thin mouth.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
a particular point in time
From this reading FATHER AND SON None of the three spoke for a moment.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading His eyelids drooped, and little lines showed themselves suddenly at either side of his thin mouth.
not one, and not any
From this reading FATHER AND SON None of the three spoke for a moment.
obstinacynounUS /ˈɑːbstənəsi/
the trait of being difficult to handle or overcome
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading FATHER AND SON None of the three spoke for a moment.
on one occasion
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
and nothing more
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
Ralph's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
resistancenounUS /rɪˈzɪstəns/
the action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with
From this reading As he stood there he seemed to stiffen into resistance.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading His father saw it too, for the hand that he had lifted entreatingly sank again, and his voice was tremulous as he spoke.
cut with a saw
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading As he stood there he seemed to stiffen into resistance.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading His eyelids drooped, and little lines showed themselves suddenly at either side of his thin mouth.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading His eyelids drooped, and little lines showed themselves suddenly at either side of his thin mouth.
a male human offspring
From this reading FATHER AND SON None of the three spoke for a moment.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading FATHER AND SON None of the three spoke for a moment.
stiffenverbUS /ˈstɪfən/
become stiff or stiffer
From this reading As he stood there he seemed to stiffen into resistance.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading As he stood there he seemed to stiffen into resistance.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading His eyelids drooped, and little lines showed themselves suddenly at either side of his thin mouth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FATHER AND SON None of the three spoke for a moment.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading His eyelids drooped, and little lines showed themselves suddenly at either side of his thin mouth.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
in or at that place or location
From this reading As he stood there he seemed to stiffen into resistance.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading His eyelids drooped, and little lines showed themselves suddenly at either side of his thin mouth.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading FATHER AND SON None of the three spoke for a moment.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As he stood there he seemed to stiffen into resistance.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading His father saw it too, for the hand that he had lifted entreatingly sank again, and his voice was tremulous as he spoke.
tremulousadjectiveUS /ˈtremjələs/
(of the voice) quivering as from weakness or fear
From this reading His father saw it too, for the hand that he had lifted entreatingly sank again, and his voice was tremulous as he spoke.
two times
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading His father saw it too, for the hand that he had lifted entreatingly sank again, and his voice was tremulous as he spoke.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His father saw it too, for the hand that he had lifted entreatingly sank again, and his voice was tremulous as he spoke.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then Mary drew her breath sharply as she saw Ralph’s face, for it had hardened during that moment into a kind of blind obstinacy which she had only seen once or twice in her life before.
