used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
a feeling of delighted approval and liking
From this reading MIRACLES It was not always in admiration that the finger was pointed at me.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading MIRACLES It was not always in admiration that the finger was pointed at me.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading How had I come, from praying and fasting and Psalm-singing, to extreme impiety?
react verbally
From this reading For I had coolly told them, in answer to a question, that I did not believe in God.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading How had I arrived at such a conviction?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading MIRACLES It was not always in admiration that the finger was pointed at me.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading For I had coolly told them, in answer to a question, that I did not believe in God.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading How had I come, from praying and fasting and Psalm-singing, to extreme impiety?
an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
From this reading How had I arrived at such a conviction?
coollyadverbUS /ˈkuːli/
in a composed and unconcerned manner
From this reading For I had coolly told them, in answer to a question, that I did not believe in God.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading For I had coolly told them, in answer to a question, that I did not believe in God.
disapprovalnounUS /dɪsəˈpruːvəl/
a feeling of disliking something or what someone is doing
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
give expression to
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading How had I come, from praying and fasting and Psalm-singing, to extreme impiety?
fastingnounUS /ˈfæstɪŋ/
abstaining from food
From this reading How had I come, from praying and fasting and Psalm-singing, to extreme impiety?
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading MIRACLES It was not always in admiration that the finger was pointed at me.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For I had coolly told them, in answer to a question, that I did not believe in God.
set up or found
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading How had I come, from praying and fasting and Psalm-singing, to extreme impiety?
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading For I had coolly told them, in answer to a question, that I did not believe in God.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For I had coolly told them, in answer to a question, that I did not believe in God.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How had I arrived at such a conviction?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
impietynoun
unrighteousness by virtue of lacking respect for a god
From this reading How had I come, from praying and fasting and Psalm-singing, to extreme impiety?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MIRACLES It was not always in admiration that the finger was pointed at me.
interruptingverbUS /ˌɪntərˈʌptɪŋ/
-ing form of “interrupt” — make a break in
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading MIRACLES It was not always in admiration that the finger was pointed at me.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading MIRACLES It was not always in admiration that the finger was pointed at me.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
MIRACLESnounUS /ˈmɪrəkəlz/
plural of “miracle” — any amazing or wonderful occurrence
From this reading MIRACLES It was not always in admiration that the finger was pointed at me.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading MIRACLES It was not always in admiration that the finger was pointed at me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
having a point
From this reading MIRACLES It was not always in admiration that the finger was pointed at me.
prayingverbUS /ˈpreɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “pray” — address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading How had I come, from praying and fasting and Psalm-singing, to extreme impiety?
Psalm-singing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How had I come, from praying and fasting and Psalm-singing, to extreme impiety?
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading For I had coolly told them, in answer to a question, that I did not believe in God.
schoolyardnounUS /ˈskuːljɑːrd/
the yard associated with a school
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading How had I arrived at such a conviction?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading MIRACLES It was not always in admiration that the finger was pointed at me.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MIRACLES It was not always in admiration that the finger was pointed at me.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For I had coolly told them, in answer to a question, that I did not believe in God.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading For I had coolly told them, in answer to a question, that I did not believe in God.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MIRACLES It was not always in admiration that the finger was pointed at me.
in the company of; together with
From this reading One day I found myself the centre of an excited group in the middle of the schoolyard, with a dozen girls interrupting each other to express their disapproval of me.
