used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He walked back from the Mess that night with Tommy and asked to see her for a few minutes alone.
the state of being absent
From this reading He was always kinder to her in his wife's absence.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading He walked back from the Mess that night with Tommy and asked to see her for a few minutes alone.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He was always kinder to her in his wife's absence.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He walked back from the Mess that night with Tommy and asked to see her for a few minutes alone.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading He walked back from the Mess that night with Tommy and asked to see her for a few minutes alone.
ayahnoun
(in India) a native nursemaid who looks after children
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He walked back from the Mess that night with Tommy and asked to see her for a few minutes alone.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading THE FIRST GLIMMER It was from the Colonel himself that Stella heard of Everard's retirement.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
disfigurementnounUS /dɪˈsfɪɡjərment/
an appearance that has been spoiled or is misshapen
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
Everard's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST GLIMMER It was from the Colonel himself that Stella heard of Everard's retirement.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He walked back from the Mess that night with Tommy and asked to see her for a few minutes alone.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST GLIMMER It was from the Colonel himself that Stella heard of Everard's retirement.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He walked back from the Mess that night with Tommy and asked to see her for a few minutes alone.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE FIRST GLIMMER It was from the Colonel himself that Stella heard of Everard's retirement.
ghastlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡæstli/
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
GLIMMERnounUS /ˈɡlɪmər/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading THE FIRST GLIMMER It was from the Colonel himself that Stella heard of Everard's retirement.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He walked back from the Mess that night with Tommy and asked to see her for a few minutes alone.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading THE FIRST GLIMMER It was from the Colonel himself that Stella heard of Everard's retirement.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He walked back from the Mess that night with Tommy and asked to see her for a few minutes alone.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading THE FIRST GLIMMER It was from the Colonel himself that Stella heard of Everard's retirement.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was always kinder to her in his wife's absence.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was always kinder to her in his wife's absence.
being of such surpassing excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
installingnounUS /ˌɪnˈstɔːlɪŋ/
the act of installing something (as equipment)
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
instinctiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪv/
unthinking; prompted by (or as if by) instinct
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE FIRST GLIMMER It was from the Colonel himself that Stella heard of Everard's retirement.
kinderadjectiveUS /ˈkaɪndər/
comparative of “kind” — having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading He was always kinder to her in his wife's absence.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
magiciannounUS /məˈdʒɪʃ.ən/
A practitioner of magic and ancient arcane arts, often wielding deception and powerful spells.
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
MessnounUS /mes/
a state of confusion and disorderliness
From this reading He walked back from the Mess that night with Tommy and asked to see her for a few minutes alone.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading He walked back from the Mess that night with Tommy and asked to see her for a few minutes alone.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He walked back from the Mess that night with Tommy and asked to see her for a few minutes alone.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FIRST GLIMMER It was from the Colonel himself that Stella heard of Everard's retirement.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
retirementnounUS /riˈtaɪərmənt/
the state of being retired from one's business or occupation
From this reading THE FIRST GLIMMER It was from the Colonel himself that Stella heard of Everard's retirement.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He walked back from the Mess that night with Tommy and asked to see her for a few minutes alone.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
StellanounUS /ˈstelə/
United States minimalist painter (born in 1936)
From this reading THE FIRST GLIMMER It was from the Colonel himself that Stella heard of Everard's retirement.
with strength or in a strong manner
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
believed likely
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE FIRST GLIMMER It was from the Colonel himself that Stella heard of Everard's retirement.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST GLIMMER It was from the Colonel himself that Stella heard of Everard's retirement.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He walked back from the Mess that night with Tommy and asked to see her for a few minutes alone.
Tommy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He walked back from the Mess that night with Tommy and asked to see her for a few minutes alone.
veiledadjectiveUS /veɪld/
having or as if having a veil or concealing cover
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
precisely as stated
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading He walked back from the Mess that night with Tommy and asked to see her for a few minutes alone.
wandnounUS /wɑːnd/
a rod used by a magician or water diviner
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE FIRST GLIMMER It was from the Colonel himself that Stella heard of Everard's retirement.
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
which person or people
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She was busy installing the new _ayah_ whom Peter with the air of a magician who has but to wave his wand had presented to her half an hour before.
wife'snounUS /waɪfs/
possessive form of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He was always kinder to her in his wife's absence.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He walked back from the Mess that night with Tommy and asked to see her for a few minutes alone.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The woman was old and bent and closely veiled--so closely that Stella strongly suspected her disfigurement to be of a very ghastly nature, but her low voice and capable manner inspired her with instinctive confidence.
