Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading AT THE MERCY OF A DEMON Some time later Anne seated herself at her writing-table.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)

From this reading AT THE MERCY OF A DEMON Some time later Anne seated herself at her writing-table.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading AT THE MERCY OF A DEMON Some time later Anne seated herself at her writing-table.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

for the reason that

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

the two together, not just one

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

rid of obstructions

From this reading Her mind was very clear upon the matter in hand.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

the act of making up your mind about something

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

an evil supernatural being

From this reading AT THE MERCY OF A DEMON Some time later Anne seated herself at her writing-table.

wanted intensely

From this reading She knew exactly what she desired to say.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading She did not find it hard to put her thoughts into words.

comparative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading She knew exactly what she desired to say.

occurring at or forming an end or termination

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading She did not find it hard to put her thoughts into words.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Her mind was very clear upon the matter in hand.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading She did not find it hard to put her thoughts into words.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading AT THE MERCY OF A DEMON Some time later Anne seated herself at her writing-table.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading AT THE MERCY OF A DEMON Some time later Anne seated herself at her writing-table.

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Her mind was very clear upon the matter in hand.

incapable of being avoided or prevented

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading She did not find it hard to put her thoughts into words.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading She did not find it hard to put her thoughts into words.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading AT THE MERCY OF A DEMON Some time later Anne seated herself at her writing-table.

engage in

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading Her mind was very clear upon the matter in hand.

leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice

From this reading AT THE MERCY OF A DEMON Some time later Anne seated herself at her writing-table.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Her mind was very clear upon the matter in hand.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AT THE MERCY OF A DEMON Some time later Anne seated herself at her writing-table.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading She did not find it hard to put her thoughts into words.

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

express in words

From this reading She knew exactly what she desired to say.

(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks

From this reading AT THE MERCY OF A DEMON Some time later Anne seated herself at her writing-table.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

past form of “shirk” — avoid (one's assigned duties)

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading AT THE MERCY OF A DEMON Some time later Anne seated herself at her writing-table.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading AT THE MERCY OF A DEMON Some time later Anne seated herself at her writing-table.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading She did not find it hard to put her thoughts into words.

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading AT THE MERCY OF A DEMON Some time later Anne seated herself at her writing-table.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Her mind was very clear upon the matter in hand.

precisely as stated

From this reading Her mind was very clear upon the matter in hand.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Her mind was very clear upon the matter in hand.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading She knew exactly what she desired to say.

the words that are spoken

From this reading She did not find it hard to put her thoughts into words.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

the act of creating written works

From this reading The idea of writing to her husband had come to her as an inspiration; not because she shirked an interview--she knew that to be inevitable--but because she realised that the first step taken thus would make the final decision easier for them both.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AT THE MERCY OF A DEMON Some time later Anne seated herself at her writing-table.