used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Several days, perhaps a week, passed in much the same outward manner.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
(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 She began to fear that despite all her caution she had given him too much to think about, too many questions to grapple with.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But Sylviana, with her now practiced eye, began to observe a subtle change in him, and this troubled her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading But Sylviana, with her now practiced eye, began to observe a subtle change in him, and this troubled her.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading And she wondered what hidden Pandora's box she had opened inside him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Sylviana, with her now practiced eye, began to observe a subtle change in him, and this troubled her.
cautionnounUS /ˈkɑːʃən/
the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger
From this reading She began to fear that despite all her caution she had given him too much to think about, too many questions to grapple with.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading But Sylviana, with her now practiced eye, began to observe a subtle change in him, and this troubled her.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Several days, perhaps a week, passed in much the same outward manner.
despiteprepositionUS /dɪˈspaɪt/
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading She began to fear that despite all her caution she had given him too much to think about, too many questions to grapple with.
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
the organ of sight
From this reading But Sylviana, with her now practiced eye, began to observe a subtle change in him, and this troubled her.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading She began to fear that despite all her caution she had given him too much to think about, too many questions to grapple with.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading She began to fear that despite all her caution she had given him too much to think about, too many questions to grapple with.
grappleverbUS /ˈɡræpəl/
succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available
From this reading She began to fear that despite all her caution she had given him too much to think about, too many questions to grapple with.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She began to fear that despite all her caution she had given him too much to think about, too many questions to grapple with.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But Sylviana, with her now practiced eye, began to observe a subtle change in him, and this troubled her.
not accessible to view
From this reading And she wondered what hidden Pandora's box she had opened inside him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But Sylviana, with her now practiced eye, began to observe a subtle change in him, and this troubled her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Several days, perhaps a week, passed in much the same outward manner.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading And she wondered what hidden Pandora's box she had opened inside him.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Several days, perhaps a week, passed in much the same outward manner.
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 She began to fear that despite all her caution she had given him too much to think about, too many questions to grapple with.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Several days, perhaps a week, passed in much the same outward manner.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But Sylviana, with her now practiced eye, began to observe a subtle change in him, and this troubled her.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading But Sylviana, with her now practiced eye, began to observe a subtle change in him, and this troubled her.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading And she wondered what hidden Pandora's box she had opened inside him.
outwardadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtwərd/
relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind
From this reading Several days, perhaps a week, passed in much the same outward manner.
Pandora'snounUS /pænˈdɔːrəz/
possessive form of “pandora” — (Greek mythology) the first woman; created by Hephaestus on orders from Zeus who presented her to Epimetheus along with a box filled with evils
From this reading And she wondered what hidden Pandora's box she had opened inside him.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Several days, perhaps a week, passed in much the same outward manner.
by chance
From this reading Several days, perhaps a week, passed in much the same outward manner.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
practicedadjectiveUS /ˈpræktəst/
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading But Sylviana, with her now practiced eye, began to observe a subtle change in him, and this troubled her.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading She began to fear that despite all her caution she had given him too much to think about, too many questions to grapple with.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
roveverbUS /roʊv/
move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Several days, perhaps a week, passed in much the same outward manner.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Several days, perhaps a week, passed in much the same outward manner.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She began to fear that despite all her caution she had given him too much to think about, too many questions to grapple with.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
subtleadjectiveUS /ˈsʌtəl/
difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
From this reading But Sylviana, with her now practiced eye, began to observe a subtle change in him, and this troubled her.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
Sylviana
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Sylviana, with her now practiced eye, began to observe a subtle change in him, and this troubled her.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She began to fear that despite all her caution she had given him too much to think about, too many questions to grapple with.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Several days, perhaps a week, passed in much the same outward manner.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading She began to fear that despite all her caution she had given him too much to think about, too many questions to grapple with.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But Sylviana, with her now practiced eye, began to observe a subtle change in him, and this troubled her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But Sylviana, with her now practiced eye, began to observe a subtle change in him, and this troubled her.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading She began to fear that despite all her caution she had given him too much to think about, too many questions to grapple with.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading But Sylviana, with her now practiced eye, began to observe a subtle change in him, and this troubled her.
undoverbUS /ənˈduː/
cancel, annul, or reverse an action or its effect
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Several days, perhaps a week, passed in much the same outward manner.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And she wondered what hidden Pandora's box she had opened inside him.
at the time that
From this reading Always now when his attention was not required for some physical task, his eyes and mind seemed to rove about him, as if expecting the walls to come suddenly to life and undo him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But Sylviana, with her now practiced eye, began to observe a subtle change in him, and this troubled her.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading And she wondered what hidden Pandora's box she had opened inside him.
