used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Ailie sat passive in her seat while her name was read out, not a passing flicker of colour, not an indication of embarrassment being visible about her.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Ailie sat passive in her seat while her name was read out, not a passing flicker of colour, not an indication of embarrassment being visible about her.
Ailie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ailie sat passive in her seat while her name was read out, not a passing flicker of colour, not an indication of embarrassment being visible about her.
(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 The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading And, to the amazement of the parish, no attempt at interference was made.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an event of which the country-side remained incredulous, until the very last moment.
ancestraladjectiveUS /ænˈsestrəl/
inherited or inheritable by established rules (usually legal rules) of descent
From this reading Miss Catherine sat still within her ancestral palace, the homely mansion-house of Lochhead, like an offended queen.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And, to the amazement of the parish, no attempt at interference was made.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And, to the amazement of the parish, no attempt at interference was made.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading And, to the amazement of the parish, no attempt at interference was made.
bannsnoun
a public announcement of a proposed marriage
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
CatherinenounUS /ˈkæθərən/
first wife of Henry VIII; Henry VIII's divorce from her was the initial step of the Reformation in England (1485-1536)
From this reading Miss Catherine sat still within her ancestral palace, the homely mansion-house of Lochhead, like an offended queen.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading Ailie sat passive in her seat while her name was read out, not a passing flicker of colour, not an indication of embarrassment being visible about her.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
country-side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an event of which the country-side remained incredulous, until the very last moment.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
defiancenounUS /dɪˈfaɪəns/
intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
embarrassmentnounUS /ɪmˈberəsmənt/
the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public
From this reading Ailie sat passive in her seat while her name was read out, not a passing flicker of colour, not an indication of embarrassment being visible about her.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading It was an event of which the country-side remained incredulous, until the very last moment.
flickerverbUS /ˈflɪkər/
move back and forth very rapidly
From this reading Ailie sat passive in her seat while her name was read out, not a passing flicker of colour, not an indication of embarrassment being visible about her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Ailie sat passive in her seat while her name was read out, not a passing flicker of colour, not an indication of embarrassment being visible about her.
homelyadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊmli/
lacking in physical beauty or proportion
From this reading Miss Catherine sat still within her ancestral palace, the homely mansion-house of Lochhead, like an offended queen.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
incredulousadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkredʒələs/
not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
From this reading It was an event of which the country-side remained incredulous, until the very last moment.
indicationnounUS /ˌɪndəˈkeɪʃən/
something that serves to indicate or suggest
From this reading Ailie sat passive in her seat while her name was read out, not a passing flicker of colour, not an indication of embarrassment being visible about her.
interferencenounUS /ˌɪntərˈfɪrəns/
a policy of intervening in the affairs of other countries
From this reading And, to the amazement of the parish, no attempt at interference was made.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an event of which the country-side remained incredulous, until the very last moment.
immediately past
From this reading It was an event of which the country-side remained incredulous, until the very last moment.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Miss Catherine sat still within her ancestral palace, the homely mansion-house of Lochhead, like an offended queen.
Lochhead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Catherine sat still within her ancestral palace, the homely mansion-house of Lochhead, like an offended queen.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading And, to the amazement of the parish, no attempt at interference was made.
mansion-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Catherine sat still within her ancestral palace, the homely mansion-house of Lochhead, like an offended queen.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Catherine sat still within her ancestral palace, the homely mansion-house of Lochhead, like an offended queen.
a particular point in time
From this reading It was an event of which the country-side remained incredulous, until the very last moment.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Ailie sat passive in her seat while her name was read out, not a passing flicker of colour, not an indication of embarrassment being visible about her.
not any; not one
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Ailie sat passive in her seat while her name was read out, not a passing flicker of colour, not an indication of embarrassment being visible about her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was an event of which the country-side remained incredulous, until the very last moment.
offendedadjectiveUS /əˈfendəd/
emotionally hurt or upset or annoyed
From this reading Miss Catherine sat still within her ancestral palace, the homely mansion-house of Lochhead, like an offended queen.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Ailie sat passive in her seat while her name was read out, not a passing flicker of colour, not an indication of embarrassment being visible about her.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading Miss Catherine sat still within her ancestral palace, the homely mansion-house of Lochhead, like an offended queen.
parishnounUS /ˈpærɪʃ/
a local church community
From this reading And, to the amazement of the parish, no attempt at interference was made.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading Ailie sat passive in her seat while her name was read out, not a passing flicker of colour, not an indication of embarrassment being visible about her.
passiveadjectiveUS /ˈpæsɪv/
lacking in energy or will
From this reading Ailie sat passive in her seat while her name was read out, not a passing flicker of colour, not an indication of embarrassment being visible about her.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
proclaimedadjectiveUS /proʊˈkleɪmd/
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading Miss Catherine sat still within her ancestral palace, the homely mansion-house of Lochhead, like an offended queen.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Ailie sat passive in her seat while her name was read out, not a passing flicker of colour, not an indication of embarrassment being visible about her.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading It was an event of which the country-side remained incredulous, until the very last moment.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Ailie sat passive in her seat while her name was read out, not a passing flicker of colour, not an indication of embarrassment being visible about her.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading Ailie sat passive in her seat while her name was read out, not a passing flicker of colour, not an indication of embarrassment being visible about her.
not in physical motion
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
superstitionnounUS /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃən/
an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was an event of which the country-side remained incredulous, until the very last moment.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And, to the amazement of the parish, no attempt at interference was made.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading It was an event of which the country-side remained incredulous, until the very last moment.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was an event of which the country-side remained incredulous, until the very last moment.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading Ailie sat passive in her seat while her name was read out, not a passing flicker of colour, not an indication of embarrassment being visible about her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was an event of which the country-side remained incredulous, until the very last moment.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
at the time that
From this reading The strange pair were ‘cried’ in church, both being present when the banns were proclaimed, in defiance of all superstition: but still no one believed it could be.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was an event of which the country-side remained incredulous, until the very last moment.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Ailie sat passive in her seat while her name was read out, not a passing flicker of colour, not an indication of embarrassment being visible about her.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Miss Catherine sat still within her ancestral palace, the homely mansion-house of Lochhead, like an offended queen.
