used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE VERDICT A few moments later Cunningham returned alone, and presently I heard Ruth's step upon the stair.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading THE VERDICT A few moments later Cunningham returned alone, and presently I heard Ruth's step upon the stair.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE VERDICT A few moments later Cunningham returned alone, and presently I heard Ruth's step upon the stair.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading I arose and as she entered the room I hastened to her and led her to a chair, giving her a reassuring smile as I did so.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I arose and as she entered the room I hastened to her and led her to a chair, giving her a reassuring smile as I did so.
believingnounUS /bɪˈliːvɪŋ/
the cognitive process that leads to convictions
From this reading As for believing her guilty of murder, that was too preposterous!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But then the coroner was not in love with her, and he had his duty to perform.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading I arose and as she entered the room I hastened to her and led her to a chair, giving her a reassuring smile as I did so.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading She looked so little, and so tired, so in need of comfort that it seemed a sacrilege to question her.
coronernounUS /ˈkɔːrənər/
a public official who investigates by inquest any death not due to natural causes
From this reading But then the coroner was not in love with her, and he had his duty to perform.
CunninghamnounUS /ˈkʌnɪŋhæm/
United States dancer and choreographer (born in 1922)
From this reading THE VERDICT A few moments later Cunningham returned alone, and presently I heard Ruth's step upon the stair.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I arose and as she entered the room I hastened to her and led her to a chair, giving her a reassuring smile as I did so.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading But then the coroner was not in love with her, and he had his duty to perform.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading I arose and as she entered the room I hastened to her and led her to a chair, giving her a reassuring smile as I did so.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading THE VERDICT A few moments later Cunningham returned alone, and presently I heard Ruth's step upon the stair.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As for believing her guilty of murder, that was too preposterous!
the act of giving
From this reading I arose and as she entered the room I hastened to her and led her to a chair, giving her a reassuring smile as I did so.
responsible for or chargeable with a reprehensible act
From this reading As for believing her guilty of murder, that was too preposterous!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But then the coroner was not in love with her, and he had his duty to perform.
past form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading I arose and as she entered the room I hastened to her and led her to a chair, giving her a reassuring smile as I did so.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But then the coroner was not in love with her, and he had his duty to perform.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading THE VERDICT A few moments later Cunningham returned alone, and presently I heard Ruth's step upon the stair.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I arose and as she entered the room I hastened to her and led her to a chair, giving her a reassuring smile as I did so.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But then the coroner was not in love with her, and he had his duty to perform.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE VERDICT A few moments later Cunningham returned alone, and presently I heard Ruth's step upon the stair.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She looked so little, and so tired, so in need of comfort that it seemed a sacrilege to question her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She looked so little, and so tired, so in need of comfort that it seemed a sacrilege to question her.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading THE VERDICT A few moments later Cunningham returned alone, and presently I heard Ruth's step upon the stair.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading I arose and as she entered the room I hastened to her and led her to a chair, giving her a reassuring smile as I did so.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She looked so little, and so tired, so in need of comfort that it seemed a sacrilege to question her.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She looked so little, and so tired, so in need of comfort that it seemed a sacrilege to question her.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading But then the coroner was not in love with her, and he had his duty to perform.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading THE VERDICT A few moments later Cunningham returned alone, and presently I heard Ruth's step upon the stair.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading As for believing her guilty of murder, that was too preposterous!
a condition requiring relief
From this reading She looked so little, and so tired, so in need of comfort that it seemed a sacrilege to question her.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But then the coroner was not in love with her, and he had his duty to perform.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She looked so little, and so tired, so in need of comfort that it seemed a sacrilege to question her.
performverbUS /pərˈfɔːrm/
carry out or perform an action
From this reading But then the coroner was not in love with her, and he had his duty to perform.
preposterousadjectiveUS /prɪˈpɑːstərəs/
so unreasonable as to invite derision
From this reading As for believing her guilty of murder, that was too preposterous!
in the near future
From this reading THE VERDICT A few moments later Cunningham returned alone, and presently I heard Ruth's step upon the stair.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading She looked so little, and so tired, so in need of comfort that it seemed a sacrilege to question her.
reassuringadjectiveUS /ˌriːəˈʃʊrɪŋ/
restoring confidence and relieving anxiety
From this reading I arose and as she entered the room I hastened to her and led her to a chair, giving her a reassuring smile as I did so.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading THE VERDICT A few moments later Cunningham returned alone, and presently I heard Ruth's step upon the stair.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading I arose and as she entered the room I hastened to her and led her to a chair, giving her a reassuring smile as I did so.
Ruth'snounUS /ruːθs/
possessive form of “ruth” — United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading THE VERDICT A few moments later Cunningham returned alone, and presently I heard Ruth's step upon the stair.
sacrilegenounUS /ˈsækrələdʒ/
blasphemous behavior; the act of depriving something of its sacred character
From this reading She looked so little, and so tired, so in need of comfort that it seemed a sacrilege to question her.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She looked so little, and so tired, so in need of comfort that it seemed a sacrilege to question her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I arose and as she entered the room I hastened to her and led her to a chair, giving her a reassuring smile as I did so.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading I arose and as she entered the room I hastened to her and led her to a chair, giving her a reassuring smile as I did so.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I arose and as she entered the room I hastened to her and led her to a chair, giving her a reassuring smile as I did so.
stairnounUS /ster/
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
From this reading THE VERDICT A few moments later Cunningham returned alone, and presently I heard Ruth's step upon the stair.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading THE VERDICT A few moments later Cunningham returned alone, and presently I heard Ruth's step upon the stair.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She looked so little, and so tired, so in need of comfort that it seemed a sacrilege to question her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE VERDICT A few moments later Cunningham returned alone, and presently I heard Ruth's step upon the stair.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading But then the coroner was not in love with her, and he had his duty to perform.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading She looked so little, and so tired, so in need of comfort that it seemed a sacrilege to question her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I arose and as she entered the room I hastened to her and led her to a chair, giving her a reassuring smile as I did so.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading As for believing her guilty of murder, that was too preposterous!
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE VERDICT A few moments later Cunningham returned alone, and presently I heard Ruth's step upon the stair.
VERDICTnounUS /ˈvɜːrdɪkt/
(law) the findings of a jury on issues of fact submitted to it for decision; can be used in formulating a judgment
From this reading THE VERDICT A few moments later Cunningham returned alone, and presently I heard Ruth's step upon the stair.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As for believing her guilty of murder, that was too preposterous!
in the company of; together with
From this reading But then the coroner was not in love with her, and he had his duty to perform.
