used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mrs. Plant Proves Disappointing For a moment Mrs. Plant sat perfectly rigid.
experiencing a sudden sense of danger
From this reading “Please don’t be alarmed,” said Roger gently, touching her hand reassuringly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then she put out her hand and mechanically took the handkerchief that Roger was still holding out to her.
any thing at all
From this reading “I don’t want to frighten you, or anything like that; but don’t you think it would be better if you told me the truth?
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Please don’t be alarmed,” said Roger gently, touching her hand reassuringly.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading “I don’t want to frighten you, or anything like that; but don’t you think it would be better if you told me the truth?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I don’t want to frighten you, or anything like that; but don’t you think it would be better if you told me the truth?
DisappointingadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪŋ/
not up to expectations
From this reading Mrs. Plant Proves Disappointing For a moment Mrs. Plant sat perfectly rigid.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Please don’t be alarmed,” said Roger gently, touching her hand reassuringly.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Her face had gone quite white and her eyes were wide with terror.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Her face had gone quite white and her eyes were wide with terror.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mrs. Plant Proves Disappointing For a moment Mrs. Plant sat perfectly rigid.
frightenverbUS /ˈfraɪtən/
cause fear in
From this reading “I don’t want to frighten you, or anything like that; but don’t you think it would be better if you told me the truth?
in a gradual manner
From this reading “Please don’t be alarmed,” said Roger gently, touching her hand reassuringly.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Her face had gone quite white and her eyes were wide with terror.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Her face had gone quite white and her eyes were wide with terror.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Then she put out her hand and mechanically took the handkerchief that Roger was still holding out to her.
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
From this reading Then she put out her hand and mechanically took the handkerchief that Roger was still holding out to her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Then she put out her hand and mechanically took the handkerchief that Roger was still holding out to her.
the act of retaining something
From this reading Then she put out her hand and mechanically took the handkerchief that Roger was still holding out to her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I don’t want to frighten you, or anything like that; but don’t you think it would be better if you told me the truth?
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I don’t want to frighten you, or anything like that; but don’t you think it would be better if you told me the truth?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I don’t want to frighten you, or anything like that; but don’t you think it would be better if you told me the truth?
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “I don’t want to frighten you, or anything like that; but don’t you think it would be better if you told me the truth?
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I don’t want to frighten you, or anything like that; but don’t you think it would be better if you told me the truth?
mechanicallyadverbUS /məˈkænɪkli/
in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism
From this reading Then she put out her hand and mechanically took the handkerchief that Roger was still holding out to her.
a particular point in time
From this reading Mrs. Plant Proves Disappointing For a moment Mrs. Plant sat perfectly rigid.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Plant Proves Disappointing For a moment Mrs. Plant sat perfectly rigid.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “I don’t want to frighten you, or anything like that; but don’t you think it would be better if you told me the truth?
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Then she put out her hand and mechanically took the handkerchief that Roger was still holding out to her.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Mrs. Plant Proves Disappointing For a moment Mrs. Plant sat perfectly rigid.
PlantverbUS /plænt/
put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground
From this reading Mrs. Plant Proves Disappointing For a moment Mrs. Plant sat perfectly rigid.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading “Please don’t be alarmed,” said Roger gently, touching her hand reassuringly.
ProvesverbUS /pruːvz/
third-person singular of “prove” — be shown or be found to be
From this reading Mrs. Plant Proves Disappointing For a moment Mrs. Plant sat perfectly rigid.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Then she put out her hand and mechanically took the handkerchief that Roger was still holding out to her.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Her face had gone quite white and her eyes were wide with terror.
reassuringlyadverbUS /riəˈʃɜːrɪŋli/
in a reassuring manner
From this reading “Please don’t be alarmed,” said Roger gently, touching her hand reassuringly.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading Mrs. Plant Proves Disappointing For a moment Mrs. Plant sat perfectly rigid.
Roger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then she put out her hand and mechanically took the handkerchief that Roger was still holding out to her.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Please don’t be alarmed,” said Roger gently, touching her hand reassuringly.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Mrs. Plant Proves Disappointing For a moment Mrs. Plant sat perfectly rigid.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then she put out her hand and mechanically took the handkerchief that Roger was still holding out to her.
not in physical motion
From this reading Then she put out her hand and mechanically took the handkerchief that Roger was still holding out to her.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading Her face had gone quite white and her eyes were wide with terror.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then she put out her hand and mechanically took the handkerchief that Roger was still holding out to her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then she put out her hand and mechanically took the handkerchief that Roger was still holding out to her.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then she put out her hand and mechanically took the handkerchief that Roger was still holding out to her.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “I don’t want to frighten you, or anything like that; but don’t you think it would be better if you told me the truth?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then she put out her hand and mechanically took the handkerchief that Roger was still holding out to her.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading “I don’t want to frighten you, or anything like that; but don’t you think it would be better if you told me the truth?
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Then she put out her hand and mechanically took the handkerchief that Roger was still holding out to her.
arousing affect
From this reading “Please don’t be alarmed,” said Roger gently, touching her hand reassuringly.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading “I don’t want to frighten you, or anything like that; but don’t you think it would be better if you told me the truth?
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading “I don’t want to frighten you, or anything like that; but don’t you think it would be better if you told me the truth?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then she put out her hand and mechanically took the handkerchief that Roger was still holding out to her.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her face had gone quite white and her eyes were wide with terror.
a Caucasian
From this reading Her face had gone quite white and her eyes were wide with terror.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Her face had gone quite white and her eyes were wide with terror.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her face had gone quite white and her eyes were wide with terror.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “I don’t want to frighten you, or anything like that; but don’t you think it would be better if you told me the truth?
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I don’t want to frighten you, or anything like that; but don’t you think it would be better if you told me the truth?
