used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
in actual fact
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
adventnounUS /ˈædvent/
arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous)
From this reading She may have been, once, but that was before her advent in moving pictures.
ailmentnounUS /ˈeɪlmənt/
an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
Alice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alice DeVere was not an ordinary sort of girl.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Alice DeVere was not an ordinary sort of girl.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading But Alice, who was the nearest to the scene of what had just happened, neither fainted, nor became unduly excited.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She may have been, once, but that was before her advent in moving pictures.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She may have been, once, but that was before her advent in moving pictures.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She may have been, once, but that was before her advent in moving pictures.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
DeVere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alice DeVere was not an ordinary sort of girl.
emergencynounUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/
a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading But Alice, who was the nearest to the scene of what had just happened, neither fainted, nor became unduly excited.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
faintedverbUS /ˈfeɪntɪd/
past form of “faint” — pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain
From this reading But Alice, who was the nearest to the scene of what had just happened, neither fainted, nor became unduly excited.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
a young female
From this reading Alice DeVere was not an ordinary sort of girl.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading But Alice, who was the nearest to the scene of what had just happened, neither fainted, nor became unduly excited.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She may have been, once, but that was before her advent in moving pictures.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She may have been, once, but that was before her advent in moving pictures.
HOnounUS /hoʊ/
a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs together with yttrium; forms highly magnetic compounds
From this reading "SAIL HO!"
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She may have been, once, but that was before her advent in moving pictures.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
and nothing more
From this reading But Alice, who was the nearest to the scene of what had just happened, neither fainted, nor became unduly excited.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading She may have been, once, but that was before her advent in moving pictures.
in motion
From this reading She may have been, once, but that was before her advent in moving pictures.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading But Alice, who was the nearest to the scene of what had just happened, neither fainted, nor became unduly excited.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading But Alice, who was the nearest to the scene of what had just happened, neither fainted, nor became unduly excited.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading But Alice, who was the nearest to the scene of what had just happened, neither fainted, nor became unduly excited.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Alice DeVere was not an ordinary sort of girl.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Alice DeVere was not an ordinary sort of girl.
on one occasion
From this reading She may have been, once, but that was before her advent in moving pictures.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading Alice DeVere was not an ordinary sort of girl.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading She may have been, once, but that was before her advent in moving pictures.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading "SAIL HO!"
the place where some action occurs
From this reading But Alice, who was the nearest to the scene of what had just happened, neither fainted, nor became unduly excited.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She may have been, once, but that was before her advent in moving pictures.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Alice DeVere was not an ordinary sort of girl.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
succumbverbUS /səˈkʌm/
consent reluctantly
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She may have been, once, but that was before her advent in moving pictures.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But Alice, who was the nearest to the scene of what had just happened, neither fainted, nor became unduly excited.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
undulyadverbUS /ənˈduːli/
to an undue degree
From this reading But Alice, who was the nearest to the scene of what had just happened, neither fainted, nor became unduly excited.
being of use or service
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Alice DeVere was not an ordinary sort of girl.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But Alice, who was the nearest to the scene of what had just happened, neither fainted, nor became unduly excited.
at the time that
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
which person or people
From this reading But Alice, who was the nearest to the scene of what had just happened, neither fainted, nor became unduly excited.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There had been times when a sudden emergency would cause her to feel faint, if not actually to succumb to that interesting ailment, which is so useful, especially in stories and books.
