used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading Something indeed of the same process which had caused that appearance of indifference in Drake was now repeating itself in Clarice.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In the first instance gentleness had been the dominant characteristic, in the second indifference; and that very indifference, while it repelled her, magnetised her thoughts.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading Something indeed of the same process which had caused that appearance of indifference in Drake was now repeating itself in Clarice.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading In the first instance gentleness had been the dominant characteristic, in the second indifference; and that very indifference, while it repelled her, magnetised her thoughts.
Clarice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something indeed of the same process which had caused that appearance of indifference in Drake was now repeating itself in Clarice.
-ing form of “consider” — deem to be
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
contrastingadjectiveUS /kənˈtræstɪŋ/
strikingly different; tending to contrast
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
dominantadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːmənənt/
exercising influence or control
From this reading In the first instance gentleness had been the dominant characteristic, in the second indifference; and that very indifference, while it repelled her, magnetised her thoughts.
DrakenounUS /dreɪk/
English explorer and admiral who was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe and who helped to defeat the Spanish Armada (1540-1596)
From this reading Something indeed of the same process which had caused that appearance of indifference in Drake was now repeating itself in Clarice.
Drake's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
dwellverbUS /dwel/
think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
expressionsnounUS /ɪkˈspreʃənz/
plural of “expression” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In the first instance gentleness had been the dominant characteristic, in the second indifference; and that very indifference, while it repelled her, magnetised her thoughts.
set up or found
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
gentlenessnounUS /ˈdʒentəlnəs/
the property possessed by a slope that is very gradual
From this reading In the first instance gentleness had been the dominant characteristic, in the second indifference; and that very indifference, while it repelled her, magnetised her thoughts.
Gorley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
in a gradual manner
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the first instance gentleness had been the dominant characteristic, in the second indifference; and that very indifference, while it repelled her, magnetised her thoughts.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
humiliationnounUS /hjuːˌmɪliˈeɪʃən/
state of disgrace or loss of self-respect
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
a single distinct event
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Something indeed of the same process which had caused that appearance of indifference in Drake was now repeating itself in Clarice.
unbiased impartial unconcern
From this reading In the first instance gentleness had been the dominant characteristic, in the second indifference; and that very indifference, while it repelled her, magnetised her thoughts.
an occurrence of something
From this reading In the first instance gentleness had been the dominant characteristic, in the second indifference; and that very indifference, while it repelled her, magnetised her thoughts.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Something indeed of the same process which had caused that appearance of indifference in Drake was now repeating itself in Clarice.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
magnetisedadjective
having the properties of a magnet; i.e. of attracting iron or steel
From this reading In the first instance gentleness had been the dominant characteristic, in the second indifference; and that very indifference, while it repelled her, magnetised her thoughts.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
and nothing more
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
narratedverbUS /ˈnereɪtɪd/
past form of “narrate” — provide commentary for a film, for example
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Something indeed of the same process which had caused that appearance of indifference in Drake was now repeating itself in Clarice.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
piecingverbUS /ˈpiːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “piece” — to join or unite the pieces of
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition
From this reading Something indeed of the same process which had caused that appearance of indifference in Drake was now repeating itself in Clarice.
on the contrary
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
recollectionsnounUS /ˌrekəˈlekʃənz/
plural of “recollection” — the ability to recall past occurrences
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
reconstructverbUS /ˌriːkənˈstrʌkt/
reassemble mentally
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
reconstructedadjectiveUS /ˌriːkənˈstrʌktɪd/
adapted to social or economic change
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
repeatingnounUS /rɪˈpiːtɪŋ/
the act of doing or performing again
From this reading Something indeed of the same process which had caused that appearance of indifference in Drake was now repeating itself in Clarice.
repelledverbUS /rəˈpeld/
inflected form of “repel” — cause to move back by force or influence
From this reading In the first instance gentleness had been the dominant characteristic, in the second indifference; and that very indifference, while it repelled her, magnetised her thoughts.
repulsionnoun
the force by which bodies repel one another
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Something indeed of the same process which had caused that appearance of indifference in Drake was now repeating itself in Clarice.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading In the first instance gentleness had been the dominant characteristic, in the second indifference; and that very indifference, while it repelled her, magnetised her thoughts.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
shrinkverbUS /ʃrɪŋk/
wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Something indeed of the same process which had caused that appearance of indifference in Drake was now repeating itself in Clarice.
that is looked for
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading In the first instance gentleness had been the dominant characteristic, in the second indifference; and that very indifference, while it repelled her, magnetised her thoughts.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
precisely as stated
From this reading In the first instance gentleness had been the dominant characteristic, in the second indifference; and that very indifference, while it repelled her, magnetised her thoughts.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Something indeed of the same process which had caused that appearance of indifference in Drake was now repeating itself in Clarice.
at the time that
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading In the first instance gentleness had been the dominant characteristic, in the second indifference; and that very indifference, while it repelled her, magnetised her thoughts.
which person or people
From this reading She gradually found herself considering Drake's words as a light thrown upon the man who spoke them, rather than as the description of an actual incident.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The humiliation which she experienced made her shrink with a certain repulsion from her recollections of Gorley and dwell instead upon the contrasting tones in Drake's voice, the contrasting expressions upon his face when he spoke to her and when he merely narrated his story.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Bit by bit she sought to reconstruct the scene, piecing it together out of Drake's words; but somehow that scene would not be reconstructed.
