used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A vein of piercing intuition underlay Toppie’s blunder.
aghastadjectiveUS /əˈɡæst/
struck with fear, dread, or consternation
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
(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 How could Toppie find it in her heart to speak like this; to him—to him of all people?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Yet, in another moment, while he stared at her, memory had answered him.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading Yet, in another moment, while he stared at her, memory had answered him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
blunderverbUS /ˈblʌndər/
commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake
From this reading A vein of piercing intuition underlay Toppie’s blunder.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading How could Toppie find it in her heart to speak like this; to him—to him of all people?
opinion or judgment
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading How could Toppie find it in her heart to speak like this; to him—to him of all people?
the trait of acting stupidly or rashly
From this reading What folly, what madness was this?
Giles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Yet, in another moment, while he stared at her, memory had answered him.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading How could Toppie find it in her heart to speak like this; to him—to him of all people?
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading How could Toppie find it in her heart to speak like this; to him—to him of all people?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could Toppie find it in her heart to speak like this; to him—to him of all people?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading How could Toppie find it in her heart to speak like this; to him—to him of all people?
intuitionnounUS /ˌɪntuːˈɪʃən/
instinctive knowing (without the use of rational processes)
From this reading A vein of piercing intuition underlay Toppie’s blunder.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading How could Toppie find it in her heart to speak like this; to him—to him of all people?
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading How could Toppie find it in her heart to speak like this; to him—to him of all people?
madnessnounUS /ˈmædnəs/
obsolete terms for legal insanity
From this reading What folly, what madness was this?
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading Yet, in another moment, while he stared at her, memory had answered him.
a particular point in time
From this reading Yet, in another moment, while he stared at her, memory had answered him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading How could Toppie find it in her heart to speak like this; to him—to him of all people?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading How could Toppie find it in her heart to speak like this; to him—to him of all people?
piercingadjectiveUS /ˈpɪrsɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading A vein of piercing intuition underlay Toppie’s blunder.
-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
express in speech
From this reading How could Toppie find it in her heart to speak like this; to him—to him of all people?
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Yet, in another moment, while he stared at her, memory had answered him.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
stupefiedadjective
as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading What folly, what madness was this?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading How could Toppie find it in her heart to speak like this; to him—to him of all people?
Toppie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
Toppie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A vein of piercing intuition underlay Toppie’s blunder.
underlayverb
raise or support (the level of printing) by inserting a piece of paper or cardboard under the type
From this reading A vein of piercing intuition underlay Toppie’s blunder.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
veinnounUS /veɪn/
a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart
From this reading A vein of piercing intuition underlay Toppie’s blunder.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What folly, what madness was this?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What folly, what madness was this?
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Giles, while Toppie spoke, had started up, resting on his hand and staring at her with eyes aghast and stupefied.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet, in another moment, while he stared at her, memory had answered him.
