used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading And all this because it had seemed to the doomed race that Vera was marked down for destruction, and that the tragedy, the pitiful tragedy, had been averted.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
analyzeverbUS /ˈænəlaɪz/
consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And all this because it had seemed to the doomed race that Vera was marked down for destruction, and that the tragedy, the pitiful tragedy, had been averted.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
avertedverbUS /əˈvɜːrtɪd/
past form of “avert” — prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
From this reading And all this because it had seemed to the doomed race that Vera was marked down for destruction, and that the tragedy, the pitiful tragedy, had been averted.
for the reason that
From this reading And all this because it had seemed to the doomed race that Vera was marked down for destruction, and that the tragedy, the pitiful tragedy, had been averted.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading And all this because it had seemed to the doomed race that Vera was marked down for destruction, and that the tragedy, the pitiful tragedy, had been averted.
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
cheerfulnessnounUS /ˈtʃɪrfəlnəs/
the quality of being cheerful and dispelling gloom
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
From this reading And all this because it had seemed to the doomed race that Vera was marked down for destruction, and that the tragedy, the pitiful tragedy, had been averted.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
divined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Vera half divined the reason for this gentle gaiety.
doomedadjectiveUS /duːmd/
marked for certain death
From this reading And all this because it had seemed to the doomed race that Vera was marked down for destruction, and that the tragedy, the pitiful tragedy, had been averted.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading And all this because it had seemed to the doomed race that Vera was marked down for destruction, and that the tragedy, the pitiful tragedy, had been averted.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
divisible by two
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And all this because it had seemed to the doomed race that Vera was marked down for destruction, and that the tragedy, the pitiful tragedy, had been averted.
gaietynoun
a gay feeling
From this reading And Vera half divined the reason for this gentle gaiety.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading And Vera half divined the reason for this gentle gaiety.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And all this because it had seemed to the doomed race that Vera was marked down for destruction, and that the tragedy, the pitiful tragedy, had been averted.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading And Vera half divined the reason for this gentle gaiety.
only a very short time before
From this reading It is hardly possible to imagine a state of mind like this.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading It is hardly possible to imagine a state of mind like this.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is hardly possible to imagine a state of mind like this.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And all this because it had seemed to the doomed race that Vera was marked down for destruction, and that the tragedy, the pitiful tragedy, had been averted.
held up in the air
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It is hardly possible to imagine a state of mind like this.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading It is hardly possible to imagine a state of mind like this.
no person; not anyone
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It is hardly possible to imagine a state of mind like this.
pitifuladjectiveUS /ˈpɪtəfəl/
inspiring mixed contempt and pity
From this reading And all this because it had seemed to the doomed race that Vera was marked down for destruction, and that the tragedy, the pitiful tragedy, had been averted.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading It is hardly possible to imagine a state of mind like this.
any competition
From this reading And all this because it had seemed to the doomed race that Vera was marked down for destruction, and that the tragedy, the pitiful tragedy, had been averted.
Ravenspur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading And Vera half divined the reason for this gentle gaiety.
Identical; not different.
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
express in words
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading It is hardly possible to imagine a state of mind like this.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And all this because it had seemed to the doomed race that Vera was marked down for destruction, and that the tragedy, the pitiful tragedy, had been averted.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
in or at that place or location
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And all this because it had seemed to the doomed race that Vera was marked down for destruction, and that the tragedy, the pitiful tragedy, had been averted.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading And all this because it had seemed to the doomed race that Vera was marked down for destruction, and that the tragedy, the pitiful tragedy, had been averted.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
Vera
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And all this because it had seemed to the doomed race that Vera was marked down for destruction, and that the tragedy, the pitiful tragedy, had been averted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ANOTHER STROKE IN THE DARKNESS Contrary to the usual custom, there was almost a marked cheerfulness at Ravenspur the same evening.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading The dread seemed to have lifted slightly, though nobody could say why, even if they cared to analyze, which they certainly did not.
