used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
a senior member of the Christian clergy having spiritual and administrative authority; appointed in Christian churches to oversee priests or ministers; considered in some churches to be successors of the twelve Apostles of Christ
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
lacking funds
From this reading The day was closing, and a soft melody from the piano, at which the young daughter sat, was the only sound which broke the stillness of the twilight hour.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading The day was closing, and a soft melody from the piano, at which the young daughter sat, was the only sound which broke the stillness of the twilight hour.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Frequently at this hour the little family found themselves indulging in thoughts of the sad experience which had come to them.
a female human offspring
From this reading The day was closing, and a soft melody from the piano, at which the young daughter sat, was the only sound which broke the stillness of the twilight hour.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The day was closing, and a soft melody from the piano, at which the young daughter sat, was the only sound which broke the stillness of the twilight hour.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
DurhamnounUS /ˈdɜːrəm/
a city of north central North Carolina; site of Duke University
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
embroiderynounUS /emˈbrɔɪdəri/
elaboration of an interpretation by the use of decorative (sometimes fictitious) detail
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
enactedverbUS /eˈnæktəd/
past form of “enact” — order by virtue of superior authority; decree
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
divisible by two
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading Frequently at this hour the little family found themselves indulging in thoughts of the sad experience which had come to them.
a social unit living together
From this reading Frequently at this hour the little family found themselves indulging in thoughts of the sad experience which had come to them.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
set up or found
From this reading Frequently at this hour the little family found themselves indulging in thoughts of the sad experience which had come to them.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Frequently at this hour the little family found themselves indulging in thoughts of the sad experience which had come to them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The day was closing, and a soft melody from the piano, at which the young daughter sat, was the only sound which broke the stillness of the twilight hour.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
only a very short time before
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The day was closing, and a soft melody from the piano, at which the young daughter sat, was the only sound which broke the stillness of the twilight hour.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Frequently at this hour the little family found themselves indulging in thoughts of the sad experience which had come to them.
indulgingnounUS /ˌɪnˈdʌldʒɪŋ/
the act of indulging or gratifying a desire
From this reading Frequently at this hour the little family found themselves indulging in thoughts of the sad experience which had come to them.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
LeonidasnounUS /liˈɔːnɪdəz/
king of Sparta and hero of the battle of Thermopylae where he was killed by the Persians (died in 480 BC)
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
lingeringnounUS /ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋ/
the act of tarrying
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Frequently at this hour the little family found themselves indulging in thoughts of the sad experience which had come to them.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
McLaren
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
melodynounUS /ˈmelədi/
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading The day was closing, and a soft melody from the piano, at which the young daughter sat, was the only sound which broke the stillness of the twilight hour.
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
easily agitated
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
and nothing more
From this reading The day was closing, and a soft melody from the piano, at which the young daughter sat, was the only sound which broke the stillness of the twilight hour.
pacedverbUS /peɪst/
past form of “pace” — walk with slow or fast paces
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
perfectedadjectiveUS /pərˈfektɪd/
(of plans, ideas, etc.) perfectly formed
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/
a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
From this reading The day was closing, and a soft melody from the piano, at which the young daughter sat, was the only sound which broke the stillness of the twilight hour.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
PRODIGAL'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
resignationnounUS /ˌrezəɡˈneɪʃən/
acceptance of despair
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
ReverendnounUS /ˈrevərənd/
a member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of the Christian Church
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
precisely, exactly
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading Frequently at this hour the little family found themselves indulging in thoughts of the sad experience which had come to them.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The day was closing, and a soft melody from the piano, at which the young daughter sat, was the only sound which broke the stillness of the twilight hour.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The day was closing, and a soft melody from the piano, at which the young daughter sat, was the only sound which broke the stillness of the twilight hour.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The day was closing, and a soft melody from the piano, at which the young daughter sat, was the only sound which broke the stillness of the twilight hour.
not in physical motion
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading The day was closing, and a soft melody from the piano, at which the young daughter sat, was the only sound which broke the stillness of the twilight hour.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Frequently at this hour the little family found themselves indulging in thoughts of the sad experience which had come to them.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Frequently at this hour the little family found themselves indulging in thoughts of the sad experience which had come to them.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Frequently at this hour the little family found themselves indulging in thoughts of the sad experience which had come to them.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Frequently at this hour the little family found themselves indulging in thoughts of the sad experience which had come to them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
tragedynounUS /ˈtrædʒədi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
treadverbUS /tred/
put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
a source of difficulty
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading The day was closing, and a soft melody from the piano, at which the young daughter sat, was the only sound which broke the stillness of the twilight hour.
uncommonadjectiveUS /ənˈkɑːmən/
not common or ordinarily encountered; unusually great in amount or remarkable in character or kind
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The day was closing, and a soft melody from the piano, at which the young daughter sat, was the only sound which broke the stillness of the twilight hour.
which person or people
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He was _thinking_, and every few moments he turned to look at his wife, who had been engaged with a piece of embroidery upon her lap.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN The Right Reverend Leonidas McLaren, Bishop of Durham, paced his room with nervous tread that was uncommon with him.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
but in spite of that
From this reading More than a year and a half had passed since had been enacted the tragedy which brought to them their great trouble, and yet resignation had hardly been perfected--a sad lingering hope still clung to them even in the midst of their apparent despair.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The day was closing, and a soft melody from the piano, at which the young daughter sat, was the only sound which broke the stillness of the twilight hour.
