used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
anguishnounUS /ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/
extreme mental distress
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
betrayverbUS /bɪˈtreɪ/
reveal unintentionally
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
a person who is in charge
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
cool-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
the act of discovering something
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
embarrassmentnounUS /ɪmˈberəsmənt/
the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Naturally the rector was the first to speak.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
set up or found
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
brought together in one place
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
an instinctive motive
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
likenessnounUS /ˈlaɪknəs/
similarity in appearance or character or nature between persons or things
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
come together
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
a particular point in time
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
as might be expected
From this reading Naturally the rector was the first to speak.
an old word for “no”
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
overturnverbUS /ˈoʊvərtɜːrn/
turn from an upright or normal position
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
by chance
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
rectornounUS /ˈrektər/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading Naturally the rector was the first to speak.
rector's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
repressverbUS /riˈpres/
put down by force or intimidation
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
repressedadjectiveUS /riˈprest/
characterized by or showing the suppression of impulses or emotions
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
shiftsnounUS /ʃɪfts/
plural of “shift” — an event in which something is displaced without rotation
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
express in speech
From this reading Naturally the rector was the first to speak.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
torturedadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrtʃərd/
experiencing intense pain especially mental pain
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
at the time that
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
