used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading And if she had talked about it so little that must merely have been, he reflected, because she cared about it so much.
Alix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “_C’est la France_,” said Alix.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading That was really what had been at the bottom of her heart during all her time with them; France.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading That was really what had been at the bottom of her heart during all her time with them; France.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
for the reason that
From this reading And if she had talked about it so little that must merely have been, he reflected, because she cared about it so much.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading That was really what had been at the bottom of her heart during all her time with them; France.
next to; at the side of
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
the lower side of anything
From this reading That was really what had been at the bottom of her heart during all her time with them; France.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
C'est
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “_C’est la France_,” said Alix.
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading And if she had talked about it so little that must merely have been, he reflected, because she cared about it so much.
ChannelnounUS /ˈtʃænəl/
a path over which electrical signals can pass
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading That was really what had been at the bottom of her heart during all her time with them; France.
echoesnounUS /ˈekoʊz/
plural of “echo” — the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
any strong feeling
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading “_C’est la France_,” said Alix.
yet to be or coming
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
Giles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
grey-whiteadjective
of white tinged with grey
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That was really what had been at the bottom of her heart during all her time with them; France.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading And if she had talked about it so little that must merely have been, he reflected, because she cared about it so much.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And if she had talked about it so little that must merely have been, he reflected, because she cared about it so much.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading That was really what had been at the bottom of her heart during all her time with them; France.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading And if she had talked about it so little that must merely have been, he reflected, because she cared about it so much.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And if she had talked about it so little that must merely have been, he reflected, because she cared about it so much.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
the month following June and preceding August
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
From this reading “_C’est la France_,” said Alix.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading And if she had talked about it so little that must merely have been, he reflected, because she cared about it so much.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
and nothing more
From this reading And if she had talked about it so little that must merely have been, he reflected, because she cared about it so much.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading And if she had talked about it so little that must merely have been, he reflected, because she cared about it so much.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading And if she had talked about it so little that must merely have been, he reflected, because she cared about it so much.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
phrasenounUS /freɪz/
an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
railingnounUS /ˈreɪlɪŋ/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading That was really what had been at the bottom of her heart during all her time with them; France.
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading And if she had talked about it so little that must merely have been, he reflected, because she cared about it so much.
revealingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “_C’est la France_,” said Alix.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
shapedadjectiveUS /ʃeɪpt/
shaped to fit by or as if by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort)
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
shellsnounUS /ʃelz/
plural of “shell” — ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And if she had talked about it so little that must merely have been, he reflected, because she cared about it so much.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/
act of expanding by lengthening or widening
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading And if she had talked about it so little that must merely have been, he reflected, because she cared about it so much.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That was really what had been at the bottom of her heart during all her time with them; France.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading That was really what had been at the bottom of her heart during all her time with them; France.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
thinlyadverbUS /ˈθɪnli/
without force or sincere effort
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading That was really what had been at the bottom of her heart during all her time with them; France.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
in the direction of
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
unstressedadjectiveUS /ənˈstrest/
not bearing a stress or accent
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading That was really what had been at the bottom of her heart during all her time with them; France.
in or at the place that
From this reading She leaned beside him on the railing of the Channel steamer and looked through the blue of the July day to where the town thinly shaped itself, like a line of grey-white shells floating between sea and sky.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
in the company of; together with
From this reading That was really what had been at the bottom of her heart during all her time with them; France.
but in spite of that
From this reading Her phrase was spoken in a tone of quiet statement, unstressed by any emotion, yet Giles, while they watched the shore together, felt its echoes stretching back revealingly into the past and out towards the future.
