used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
anew
From this reading He coughed again.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
avertedverbUS /əˈvɜːrtɪd/
past form of “avert” — prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
coughedverbUS /kɔːft/
past form of “cough” — exhale abruptly, as when one has a chest cold or congestion
From this reading The turn of her head, too--he coughed despairingly.
deepestadjectiveUS /ˈdiːpəst/
superlative of “deep” — relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
dejectionnoun
a state of melancholy depression
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
despairinglyadverb
with desperation
From this reading The turn of her head, too--he coughed despairingly.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The turn of her head, too--he coughed despairingly.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The turn of her head, too--he coughed despairingly.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Interest was quickening in him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The lady took no notice.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
not any; not one
From this reading The lady took no notice.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading The lady took no notice.
oddlyadverbUS /ˈɑːdli/
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
quickeningnounUS /ˈkwɪkənɪŋ/
the process of showing signs of life
From this reading Interest was quickening in him.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
precisely, exactly
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The turn of her head, too--he coughed despairingly.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The lady took no notice.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading The turn of her head, too--he coughed despairingly.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
but in spite of that
From this reading She was a few steps from him, leaning upon the rail in an attitude of the deepest dejection, with her face averted; yet it struck him that her right shoulder was oddly familiar, as her back had surely been.
