used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then, with a sudden motion, he brushed his kerchief across his temples, as though to wipe the clouds from his forehead.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Then, with a sudden motion, he brushed his kerchief across his temples, as though to wipe the clouds from his forehead.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The gesture and the air of contrition were rather racial than personal characteristics.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The gesture and the air of contrition were rather racial than personal characteristics.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then, with a sudden motion, he brushed his kerchief across his temples, as though to wipe the clouds from his forehead.
Barbara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
have
From this reading “If madame will but bear with my brutality a little longer”--he smiled--“a little longer--then she will have done with me forever.”
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
brushedadjectiveUS /brʌʃt/
touched lightly in passing; grazed against
From this reading Then, with a sudden motion, he brushed his kerchief across his temples, as though to wipe the clouds from his forehead.
brutaladjectiveUS /ˈbruːtəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
brutalitynounUS /bruːˈtæləti/
the trait of extreme cruelty
From this reading “If madame will but bear with my brutality a little longer”--he smiled--“a little longer--then she will have done with me forever.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “If madame will but bear with my brutality a little longer”--he smiled--“a little longer--then she will have done with me forever.”
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
characteristicsnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪks/
plural of “characteristic” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading The gesture and the air of contrition were rather racial than personal characteristics.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Then, with a sudden motion, he brushed his kerchief across his temples, as though to wipe the clouds from his forehead.
compareverbUS /kəmˈper/
examine and note the similarities or differences of
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
contritionnounUS /kənˈtrɪʃən/
sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation
From this reading The gesture and the air of contrition were rather racial than personal characteristics.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading “If madame will but bear with my brutality a little longer”--he smiled--“a little longer--then she will have done with me forever.”
move gently or carefully
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
EnglishmannounUS /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃmən/
a man who is a native or inhabitant of England
From this reading INDECISION Mornay waited while the Englishman smothered his rage.
Ferrers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading Then, with a sudden motion, he brushed his kerchief across his temples, as though to wipe the clouds from his forehead.
for a limitless time
From this reading “If madame will but bear with my brutality a little longer”--he smiled--“a little longer--then she will have done with me forever.”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then, with a sudden motion, he brushed his kerchief across his temples, as though to wipe the clouds from his forehead.
motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
From this reading The gesture and the air of contrition were rather racial than personal characteristics.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “If madame will but bear with my brutality a little longer”--he smiled--“a little longer--then she will have done with me forever.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then, with a sudden motion, he brushed his kerchief across his temples, as though to wipe the clouds from his forehead.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading INDECISION Mornay waited while the Englishman smothered his rage.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “If madame will but bear with my brutality a little longer”--he smiled--“a little longer--then she will have done with me forever.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
INDECISIONnounUS /ˌɪndɪˈsɪʒən/
doubt concerning two or more possible alternatives or courses of action
From this reading INDECISION Mornay waited while the Englishman smothered his rage.
kerchiefnounUS /ˈkɜːrtʃəf/
a square scarf that is folded into a triangle and worn over the head or about the neck
From this reading Then, with a sudden motion, he brushed his kerchief across his temples, as though to wipe the clouds from his forehead.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “If madame will but bear with my brutality a little longer”--he smiled--“a little longer--then she will have done with me forever.”
for more time
From this reading “If madame will but bear with my brutality a little longer”--he smiled--“a little longer--then she will have done with me forever.”
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading “If madame will but bear with my brutality a little longer”--he smiled--“a little longer--then she will have done with me forever.”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “If madame will but bear with my brutality a little longer”--he smiled--“a little longer--then she will have done with me forever.”
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
Mornay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading INDECISION Mornay waited while the Englishman smothered his rage.
Mornay's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading Then, with a sudden motion, he brushed his kerchief across his temples, as though to wipe the clouds from his forehead.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “If madame will but bear with my brutality a little longer”--he smiled--“a little longer--then she will have done with me forever.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The gesture and the air of contrition were rather racial than personal characteristics.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading The gesture and the air of contrition were rather racial than personal characteristics.
racialadjectiveUS /ˈreɪʃəl/
of or related to genetically distinguished groups of people
From this reading The gesture and the air of contrition were rather racial than personal characteristics.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading INDECISION Mornay waited while the Englishman smothered his rage.
on the contrary
From this reading The gesture and the air of contrition were rather racial than personal characteristics.
sang-froidnoun
great coolness and composure under strain
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “If madame will but bear with my brutality a little longer”--he smiled--“a little longer--then she will have done with me forever.”
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading “If madame will but bear with my brutality a little longer”--he smiled--“a little longer--then she will have done with me forever.”
smotheredadjectiveUS /ˈsmʌðərd/
held in check with difficulty
From this reading INDECISION Mornay waited while the Englishman smothered his rage.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
stressnounUS /stres/
the relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch)
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Then, with a sudden motion, he brushed his kerchief across his temples, as though to wipe the clouds from his forehead.
templesnounUS /ˈtempəlz/
plural of “temple” — place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
From this reading Then, with a sudden motion, he brushed his kerchief across his temples, as though to wipe the clouds from his forehead.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The gesture and the air of contrition were rather racial than personal characteristics.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading INDECISION Mornay waited while the Englishman smothered his rage.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, with a sudden motion, he brushed his kerchief across his temples, as though to wipe the clouds from his forehead.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Then, with a sudden motion, he brushed his kerchief across his temples, as though to wipe the clouds from his forehead.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading But, as one sometimes will in times of great stress, Mistress Barbara could not but compare Mornay’s ease and sang-froid with the heavy and somewhat brutal bearing of Captain Ferrers.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then, with a sudden motion, he brushed his kerchief across his temples, as though to wipe the clouds from his forehead.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading INDECISION Mornay waited while the Englishman smothered his rage.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The gesture and the air of contrition were rather racial than personal characteristics.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading INDECISION Mornay waited while the Englishman smothered his rage.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “If madame will but bear with my brutality a little longer”--he smiled--“a little longer--then she will have done with me forever.”
wipeverbUS /waɪp/
rub with a circular motion
From this reading Then, with a sudden motion, he brushed his kerchief across his temples, as though to wipe the clouds from his forehead.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then, with a sudden motion, he brushed his kerchief across his temples, as though to wipe the clouds from his forehead.
