used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the beginning it had been merely a vague discomfort.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading There were three distinct stages in the evolution of Annette Brougham's attitude towards the knocking in the room above.
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading Absorbed in the composition of her waltz, she had heard it almost subconsciously.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Absorbed in the composition of her waltz, she had heard it almost subconsciously.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Finally, with a thrill in indignation, she knew it for what it was--an insult.
Annette
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were three distinct stages in the evolution of Annette Brougham's attitude towards the knocking in the room above.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading There were three distinct stages in the evolution of Annette Brougham's attitude towards the knocking in the room above.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The second stage set in when it became a physical pain like red-hot pincers wrenching her mind from her music.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In the beginning it had been merely a vague discomfort.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading In the beginning it had been merely a vague discomfort.
Brougham's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were three distinct stages in the evolution of Annette Brougham's attitude towards the knocking in the room above.
compositionnounUS /ˌkɑːmpəˈzɪʃən/
the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole
From this reading Absorbed in the composition of her waltz, she had heard it almost subconsciously.
discomfortnounUS /dɪˈskʌmfərt/
the state of being tense and feeling pain
From this reading In the beginning it had been merely a vague discomfort.
distinctadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality
From this reading There were three distinct stages in the evolution of Annette Brougham's attitude towards the knocking in the room above.
evolutionnounUS /ˌevəˈluːʃən/
a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage)
From this reading There were three distinct stages in the evolution of Annette Brougham's attitude towards the knocking in the room above.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Finally, with a thrill in indignation, she knew it for what it was--an insult.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Finally, with a thrill in indignation, she knew it for what it was--an insult.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The second stage set in when it became a physical pain like red-hot pincers wrenching her mind from her music.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the beginning it had been merely a vague discomfort.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Absorbed in the composition of her waltz, she had heard it almost subconsciously.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Absorbed in the composition of her waltz, she had heard it almost subconsciously.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There were three distinct stages in the evolution of Annette Brougham's attitude towards the knocking in the room above.
a feeling of righteous anger
From this reading Finally, with a thrill in indignation, she knew it for what it was--an insult.
insultnounUS /ˌɪnˈsʌlt/
a rude expression intended to offend or hurt
From this reading Finally, with a thrill in indignation, she knew it for what it was--an insult.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In the beginning it had been merely a vague discomfort.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Finally, with a thrill in indignation, she knew it for what it was--an insult.
knockingnounUS /ˈnɑːkɪŋ/
the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
From this reading There were three distinct stages in the evolution of Annette Brougham's attitude towards the knocking in the room above.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The second stage set in when it became a physical pain like red-hot pincers wrenching her mind from her music.
and nothing more
From this reading In the beginning it had been merely a vague discomfort.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The second stage set in when it became a physical pain like red-hot pincers wrenching her mind from her music.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading The second stage set in when it became a physical pain like red-hot pincers wrenching her mind from her music.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were three distinct stages in the evolution of Annette Brougham's attitude towards the knocking in the room above.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading The second stage set in when it became a physical pain like red-hot pincers wrenching her mind from her music.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading The second stage set in when it became a physical pain like red-hot pincers wrenching her mind from her music.
pincersnounUS /ˈpɪnsərz/
plural of “pincer” — a hand tool for holding consisting of a compound lever for grasping
From this reading The second stage set in when it became a physical pain like red-hot pincers wrenching her mind from her music.
red-hotadjective
having strong sexual appeal
From this reading The second stage set in when it became a physical pain like red-hot pincers wrenching her mind from her music.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading There were three distinct stages in the evolution of Annette Brougham's attitude towards the knocking in the room above.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading The second stage set in when it became a physical pain like red-hot pincers wrenching her mind from her music.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The second stage set in when it became a physical pain like red-hot pincers wrenching her mind from her music.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Absorbed in the composition of her waltz, she had heard it almost subconsciously.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading The second stage set in when it became a physical pain like red-hot pincers wrenching her mind from her music.
stagesnounUS /ˈsteɪdʒəz/
plural of “stage” — any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading There were three distinct stages in the evolution of Annette Brougham's attitude towards the knocking in the room above.
subconsciouslyadverbUS /səbˈkɑːnʃəsli/
from the subconscious mind
From this reading Absorbed in the composition of her waltz, she had heard it almost subconsciously.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There were three distinct stages in the evolution of Annette Brougham's attitude towards the knocking in the room above.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were three distinct stages in the evolution of Annette Brougham's attitude towards the knocking in the room above.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading There were three distinct stages in the evolution of Annette Brougham's attitude towards the knocking in the room above.
thrillnounUS /θrɪl/
the swift release of a store of affective force
From this reading Finally, with a thrill in indignation, she knew it for what it was--an insult.
in the direction of
From this reading There were three distinct stages in the evolution of Annette Brougham's attitude towards the knocking in the room above.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading In the beginning it had been merely a vague discomfort.
waltznounUS /wɔːlts/
an assured victory (especially in an election)
From this reading Absorbed in the composition of her waltz, she had heard it almost subconsciously.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Finally, with a thrill in indignation, she knew it for what it was--an insult.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were three distinct stages in the evolution of Annette Brougham's attitude towards the knocking in the room above.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Finally, with a thrill in indignation, she knew it for what it was--an insult.
at the time that
From this reading The second stage set in when it became a physical pain like red-hot pincers wrenching her mind from her music.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Finally, with a thrill in indignation, she knew it for what it was--an insult.
wrenchingadjectiveUS /ˈrentʃɪŋ/
causing great physical or mental suffering
From this reading The second stage set in when it became a physical pain like red-hot pincers wrenching her mind from her music.
