used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a pause during which Helene wondered why she had not noticed before how pale and ill her father looked, and how his hands trembled.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading He looked at her, barely able to speak; he seemed to have received an awful shock and he was gasping for breath.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He looked at her, barely able to speak; he seemed to have received an awful shock and he was gasping for breath.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He looked at her, barely able to speak; he seemed to have received an awful shock and he was gasping for breath.
ashenadjectiveUS /ˈæʃən/
anemic looking from illness or emotion
From this reading Was it imagination or had her father turned ashen pale?
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What did you say was his name?" asked Mr. Stanton, barely able to repress the emotion in his voice.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He looked at her, barely able to speak; he seemed to have received an awful shock and he was gasping for breath.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading He looked at her, barely able to speak; he seemed to have received an awful shock and he was gasping for breath.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading He looked at her, barely able to speak; he seemed to have received an awful shock and he was gasping for breath.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There was a pause during which Helene wondered why she had not noticed before how pale and ill her father looked, and how his hands trembled.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading He looked at her, barely able to speak; he seemed to have received an awful shock and he was gasping for breath.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "What did you say was his name?" asked Mr. Stanton, barely able to repress the emotion in his voice.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading There was a pause during which Helene wondered why she had not noticed before how pale and ill her father looked, and how his hands trembled.
any strong feeling
From this reading "What did you say was his name?" asked Mr. Stanton, barely able to repress the emotion in his voice.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Was it imagination or had her father turned ashen pale?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He looked at her, barely able to speak; he seemed to have received an awful shock and he was gasping for breath.
gaspingverbUS /ˈɡæspɪŋ/
-ing form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading He looked at her, barely able to speak; he seemed to have received an awful shock and he was gasping for breath.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Was it imagination or had her father turned ashen pale?
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading There was a pause during which Helene wondered why she had not noticed before how pale and ill her father looked, and how his hands trembled.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading What had happened?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He looked at her, barely able to speak; he seemed to have received an awful shock and he was gasping for breath.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He looked at her, barely able to speak; he seemed to have received an awful shock and he was gasping for breath.
Helene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a pause during which Helene wondered why she had not noticed before how pale and ill her father looked, and how his hands trembled.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Was it imagination or had her father turned ashen pale?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was a pause during which Helene wondered why she had not noticed before how pale and ill her father looked, and how his hands trembled.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a pause during which Helene wondered why she had not noticed before how pale and ill her father looked, and how his hands trembled.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading There was a pause during which Helene wondered why she had not noticed before how pale and ill her father looked, and how his hands trembled.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading Was it imagination or had her father turned ashen pale?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "What did you say was his name?" asked Mr. Stanton, barely able to repress the emotion in his voice.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Was it imagination or had her father turned ashen pale?
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked at her, barely able to speak; he seemed to have received an awful shock and he was gasping for breath.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "What did you say was his name?" asked Mr. Stanton, barely able to repress the emotion in his voice.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "What did you say was his name?" asked Mr. Stanton, barely able to repress the emotion in his voice.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was a pause during which Helene wondered why she had not noticed before how pale and ill her father looked, and how his hands trembled.
being perceived or observed
From this reading There was a pause during which Helene wondered why she had not noticed before how pale and ill her father looked, and how his hands trembled.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Was it imagination or had her father turned ashen pale?
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading Was it imagination or had her father turned ashen pale?
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading There was a pause during which Helene wondered why she had not noticed before how pale and ill her father looked, and how his hands trembled.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading He looked at her, barely able to speak; he seemed to have received an awful shock and he was gasping for breath.
repressverbUS /riˈpres/
put down by force or intimidation
From this reading "What did you say was his name?" asked Mr. Stanton, barely able to repress the emotion in his voice.
express in words
From this reading "What did you say was his name?" asked Mr. Stanton, barely able to repress the emotion in his voice.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He looked at her, barely able to speak; he seemed to have received an awful shock and he was gasping for breath.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was a pause during which Helene wondered why she had not noticed before how pale and ill her father looked, and how his hands trembled.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading He looked at her, barely able to speak; he seemed to have received an awful shock and he was gasping for breath.
express in speech
From this reading He looked at her, barely able to speak; he seemed to have received an awful shock and he was gasping for breath.
StantonnounUS /ˈstæntən/
United States suffragist and feminist; called for reform of the practices that perpetuated sexual inequality (1815-1902)
From this reading "What did you say was his name?" asked Mr. Stanton, barely able to repress the emotion in his voice.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "What did you say was his name?" asked Mr. Stanton, barely able to repress the emotion in his voice.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a pause during which Helene wondered why she had not noticed before how pale and ill her father looked, and how his hands trembled.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He looked at her, barely able to speak; he seemed to have received an awful shock and he was gasping for breath.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading There was a pause during which Helene wondered why she had not noticed before how pale and ill her father looked, and how his hands trembled.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Was it imagination or had her father turned ashen pale?
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "What did you say was his name?" asked Mr. Stanton, barely able to repress the emotion in his voice.
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Was it imagination or had her father turned ashen pale?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What had happened?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a pause during which Helene wondered why she had not noticed before how pale and ill her father looked, and how his hands trembled.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading There was a pause during which Helene wondered why she had not noticed before how pale and ill her father looked, and how his hands trembled.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading There was a pause during which Helene wondered why she had not noticed before how pale and ill her father looked, and how his hands trembled.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What did you say was his name?" asked Mr. Stanton, barely able to repress the emotion in his voice.
