used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "But what am I thinking of!" he suddenly said to himself; "am I not a most absurd novice?
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
From this reading "But what am I thinking of!" he suddenly said to himself; "am I not a most absurd novice?
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "But what am I thinking of!" he suddenly said to himself; "am I not a most absurd novice?
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Did she not stop here in order to invite me to prolong an ardent tête-à-tête?
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading He eagerly approached the princess, feeling emboldened by the shadow of the arbor.
arbornounUS /ˈɑːrbər/
tree (as opposed to shrub)
From this reading He eagerly approached the princess, feeling emboldened by the shadow of the arbor.
ardentadjectiveUS /ˈɑːrdənt/
characterized by intense emotion
From this reading Did she not stop here in order to invite me to prolong an ardent tête-à-tête?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading The bench was so small that, unless he asked her to make room for him, he could not sit beside her.
a long seat for more than one person
From this reading The bench was so small that, unless he asked her to make room for him, he could not sit beside her.
next to; at the side of
From this reading The bench was so small that, unless he asked her to make room for him, he could not sit beside her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But what am I thinking of!" he suddenly said to himself; "am I not a most absurd novice?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He eagerly approached the princess, feeling emboldened by the shadow of the arbor.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The bench was so small that, unless he asked her to make room for him, he could not sit beside her.
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Did she not stop here in order to invite me to prolong an ardent tête-à-tête?
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading He eagerly approached the princess, feeling emboldened by the shadow of the arbor.
emboldenedadjectiveUS /emˈboʊldənd/
made bold or courageous
From this reading He eagerly approached the princess, feeling emboldened by the shadow of the arbor.
encouragementnounUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒmənt/
the expression of approval and support
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
something many people believe that is false
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
fatiguenounUS /fəˈtiːɡ/
temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading He eagerly approached the princess, feeling emboldened by the shadow of the arbor.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "But what am I thinking of!" he suddenly said to himself; "am I not a most absurd novice?
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The bench was so small that, unless he asked her to make room for him, he could not sit beside her.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Did she not stop here in order to invite me to prolong an ardent tête-à-tête?
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The bench was so small that, unless he asked her to make room for him, he could not sit beside her.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "But what am I thinking of!" he suddenly said to himself; "am I not a most absurd novice?
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "But what am I thinking of!" he suddenly said to himself; "am I not a most absurd novice?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Did she not stop here in order to invite me to prolong an ardent tête-à-tête?
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
inviteverbUS /ˌɪnˈvaɪt/
increase the likelihood of
From this reading Did she not stop here in order to invite me to prolong an ardent tête-à-tête?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
engage in
From this reading The bench was so small that, unless he asked her to make room for him, he could not sit beside her.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Did she not stop here in order to invite me to prolong an ardent tête-à-tête?
used to form the superlative
From this reading "But what am I thinking of!" he suddenly said to himself; "am I not a most absurd novice?
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "But what am I thinking of!" he suddenly said to himself; "am I not a most absurd novice?
novicenounUS /ˈnɑːvəs/
someone who has entered a religious order but has not taken final vows
From this reading "But what am I thinking of!" he suddenly said to himself; "am I not a most absurd novice?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "But what am I thinking of!" he suddenly said to himself; "am I not a most absurd novice?
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Did she not stop here in order to invite me to prolong an ardent tête-à-tête?
The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.
From this reading He eagerly approached the princess, feeling emboldened by the shadow of the arbor.
prolongverbUS /prəˈlɔːŋ/
lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer
From this reading Did she not stop here in order to invite me to prolong an ardent tête-à-tête?
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The bench was so small that, unless he asked her to make room for him, he could not sit beside her.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "But what am I thinking of!" he suddenly said to himself; "am I not a most absurd novice?
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading He eagerly approached the princess, feeling emboldened by the shadow of the arbor.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Did she not stop here in order to invite me to prolong an ardent tête-à-tête?
be seated
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The bench was so small that, unless he asked her to make room for him, he could not sit beside her.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The bench was so small that, unless he asked her to make room for him, he could not sit beside her.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading Did she not stop here in order to invite me to prolong an ardent tête-à-tête?
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
happening unexpectedly
From this reading "But what am I thinking of!" he suddenly said to himself; "am I not a most absurd novice?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading "But what am I thinking of!" he suddenly said to himself; "am I not a most absurd novice?
timiditynounUS /təˈmɪdəti/
fear of the unknown or unfamiliar or fear of making decisions
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "But what am I thinking of!" he suddenly said to himself; "am I not a most absurd novice?
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
tête-à-tête
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did she not stop here in order to invite me to prolong an ardent tête-à-tête?
uncouthadjectiveUS /ˈʌnˈkuːθ/
lacking refinement or cultivation or taste
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
except if; if not
From this reading The bench was so small that, unless he asked her to make room for him, he could not sit beside her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I took that sudden fatigue, that fancy to sit in the first garden that we came to, for an honest explanation of the confusion she felt--was it not intended as an encouragement to my uncouth timidity?"
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "But what am I thinking of!" he suddenly said to himself; "am I not a most absurd novice?
