used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading "Well," determinedly, "I've never thought myself a coward and I won't act like one now.
using the voice; not silently
From this reading She said aloud to her flushed reflection in the glass:
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But there must be no more tears, she told herself at last.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But there must be no more tears, she told herself at last.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There's been many a thousand before me gone through this experience without whining and I guess I can do the same.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there must be no more tears, she told herself at last.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading There's been many a thousand before me gone through this experience without whining and I guess I can do the same.
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
cowardnounUS /ˈkaʊərd/
a person who shows fear or timidity
From this reading "Well," determinedly, "I've never thought myself a coward and I won't act like one now.
determinedlyadverbUS /dəˈtɜːrmənədli/
with determination; in a determined manner
From this reading "Well," determinedly, "I've never thought myself a coward and I won't act like one now.
dissipatedadjectiveUS /ˈdɪsəpeɪtɪd/
unrestrained by convention or morality
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading There's been many a thousand before me gone through this experience without whining and I guess I can do the same.
driedadjectiveUS /draɪd/
not still wet
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading There's been many a thousand before me gone through this experience without whining and I guess I can do the same.
having the pinkish flush of health
From this reading She said aloud to her flushed reflection in the glass:
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading She said aloud to her flushed reflection in the glass:
destroyed or killed
From this reading There's been many a thousand before me gone through this experience without whining and I guess I can do the same.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading There's been many a thousand before me gone through this experience without whining and I guess I can do the same.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading But there must be no more tears, she told herself at last.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Well," determinedly, "I've never thought myself a coward and I won't act like one now.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well," determinedly, "I've never thought myself a coward and I won't act like one now.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
immediately past
From this reading But there must be no more tears, she told herself at last.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "Well," determinedly, "I've never thought myself a coward and I won't act like one now.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading There's been many a thousand before me gone through this experience without whining and I guess I can do the same.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There's been many a thousand before me gone through this experience without whining and I guess I can do the same.
moistadjectiveUS /mɔɪst/
slightly wet
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But there must be no more tears, she told herself at last.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading But there must be no more tears, she told herself at last.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading "Well," determinedly, "I've never thought myself a coward and I won't act like one now.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "Well," determinedly, "I've never thought myself a coward and I won't act like one now.
not any; not one
From this reading But there must be no more tears, she told herself at last.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Well," determinedly, "I've never thought myself a coward and I won't act like one now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Well," determinedly, "I've never thought myself a coward and I won't act like one now.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading She said aloud to her flushed reflection in the glass:
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading She said aloud to her flushed reflection in the glass:
Identical; not different.
From this reading There's been many a thousand before me gone through this experience without whining and I guess I can do the same.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But there must be no more tears, she told herself at last.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading But there must be no more tears, she told herself at last.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But there must be no more tears, she told herself at last.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There's been many a thousand before me gone through this experience without whining and I guess I can do the same.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There's been many a thousand before me gone through this experience without whining and I guess I can do the same.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "Well," determinedly, "I've never thought myself a coward and I won't act like one now.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading There's been many a thousand before me gone through this experience without whining and I guess I can do the same.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading There's been many a thousand before me gone through this experience without whining and I guess I can do the same.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She said aloud to her flushed reflection in the glass:
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading But there must be no more tears, she told herself at last.
a flaw or weak point
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well," determinedly, "I've never thought myself a coward and I won't act like one now.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They were a confession of weakness, they dissipated courage; and the handkerchief which had been a moist ball dried in her hot hand.
whiningverbUS /ˈwaɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “whine” — move with a whining sound
From this reading There's been many a thousand before me gone through this experience without whining and I guess I can do the same.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading There's been many a thousand before me gone through this experience without whining and I guess I can do the same.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well," determinedly, "I've never thought myself a coward and I won't act like one now.
