used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Some one stood behind her on a lower step of the winding stair.
adventnounUS /ˈædvent/
arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous)
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
conforming to your own liking or feelings or nature
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
(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 They filled up that narrow ascent altogether with their youth and the importance of their presence, and of all they had to say and do.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading They filled up that narrow ascent altogether with their youth and the importance of their presence, and of all they had to say and do.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Papa,” cried Margaret, rushing in, her face bright with excitement and pleasure.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
ascentnounUS /əˈsent/
an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
From this reading They filled up that narrow ascent altogether with their youth and the importance of their presence, and of all they had to say and do.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Some one stood behind her on a lower step of the winding stair.
terminate
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading “Papa,” cried Margaret, rushing in, her face bright with excitement and pleasure.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Papa,” cried Margaret, rushing in, her face bright with excitement and pleasure.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading She went in lightly, her eyes dancing, her light figure full of eagerness, a large portfolio in her hands.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading They filled up that narrow ascent altogether with their youth and the importance of their presence, and of all they had to say and do.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
eagernessnounUS /ˈiːɡərnəs/
a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something
From this reading She went in lightly, her eyes dancing, her light figure full of eagerness, a large portfolio in her hands.
one or the other of two
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading “Papa,” cried Margaret, rushing in, her face bright with excitement and pleasure.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She went in lightly, her eyes dancing, her light figure full of eagerness, a large portfolio in her hands.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading “Papa,” cried Margaret, rushing in, her face bright with excitement and pleasure.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading She went in lightly, her eyes dancing, her light figure full of eagerness, a large portfolio in her hands.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading They filled up that narrow ascent altogether with their youth and the importance of their presence, and of all they had to say and do.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading She went in lightly, her eyes dancing, her light figure full of eagerness, a large portfolio in her hands.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They filled up that narrow ascent altogether with their youth and the importance of their presence, and of all they had to say and do.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading She went in lightly, her eyes dancing, her light figure full of eagerness, a large portfolio in her hands.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
heavinessnoun
the property of being comparatively great in weight
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Papa,” cried Margaret, rushing in, her face bright with excitement and pleasure.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading They filled up that narrow ascent altogether with their youth and the importance of their presence, and of all they had to say and do.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Papa,” cried Margaret, rushing in, her face bright with excitement and pleasure.
a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She went in lightly, her eyes dancing, her light figure full of eagerness, a large portfolio in her hands.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading She went in lightly, her eyes dancing, her light figure full of eagerness, a large portfolio in her hands.
without good reason
From this reading She went in lightly, her eyes dancing, her light figure full of eagerness, a large portfolio in her hands.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading Some one stood behind her on a lower step of the winding stair.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Papa,” cried Margaret, rushing in, her face bright with excitement and pleasure.
monotonousadjectiveUS /məˈnɑːtənəs/
tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading They filled up that narrow ascent altogether with their youth and the importance of their presence, and of all they had to say and do.
not any; not one
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Some one stood behind her on a lower step of the winding stair.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Some one stood behind her on a lower step of the winding stair.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Some one stood behind her on a lower step of the winding stair.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading “Papa,” cried Margaret, rushing in, her face bright with excitement and pleasure.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading “Papa,” cried Margaret, rushing in, her face bright with excitement and pleasure.
portfolionounUS /pɔːrtˈfoʊlioʊ/
a large, flat, thin case for carrying loose papers or drawings or maps; usually leather
From this reading She went in lightly, her eyes dancing, her light figure full of eagerness, a large portfolio in her hands.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading They filled up that narrow ascent altogether with their youth and the importance of their presence, and of all they had to say and do.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line
From this reading “Papa,” cried Margaret, rushing in, her face bright with excitement and pleasure.
express in words
From this reading They filled up that narrow ascent altogether with their youth and the importance of their presence, and of all they had to say and do.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She went in lightly, her eyes dancing, her light figure full of eagerness, a large portfolio in her hands.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some one stood behind her on a lower step of the winding stair.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
stairnounUS /ster/
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
From this reading Some one stood behind her on a lower step of the winding stair.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Some one stood behind her on a lower step of the winding stair.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Some one stood behind her on a lower step of the winding stair.
tediumnounUS /ˈtiːdiəm/
the feeling of being bored by something tedious
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They filled up that narrow ascent altogether with their youth and the importance of their presence, and of all they had to say and do.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Some one stood behind her on a lower step of the winding stair.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They filled up that narrow ascent altogether with their youth and the importance of their presence, and of all they had to say and do.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They filled up that narrow ascent altogether with their youth and the importance of their presence, and of all they had to say and do.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They filled up that narrow ascent altogether with their youth and the importance of their presence, and of all they had to say and do.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They filled up that narrow ascent altogether with their youth and the importance of their presence, and of all they had to say and do.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She went in lightly, her eyes dancing, her light figure full of eagerness, a large portfolio in her hands.
windingadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪndɪŋ/
marked by repeated turns and bends
From this reading Some one stood behind her on a lower step of the winding stair.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Papa,” cried Margaret, rushing in, her face bright with excitement and pleasure.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She had no doubt either that this advent of something to break the tedium would be agreeable to her father too, or that he must feel, as she did, the influence of the falling rain and heaviness of the monotonous sky.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading They filled up that narrow ascent altogether with their youth and the importance of their presence, and of all they had to say and do.
