used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To be near someone, even someone who made a pretense of friendliness, to hear voices, her own intermingling, would serve as a rehabilitating tonic.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She was not afraid exactly, but there was that about her loneliness to-night she distrusted.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading At dinner the spinsters invited Ruth to sit at their table, an invitation she accepted gratefully.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading She was not afraid exactly, but there was that about her loneliness to-night she distrusted.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At dinner the spinsters invited Ruth to sit at their table, an invitation she accepted gratefully.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The world had grown dark and wide, and she was very small.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading To be near someone, even someone who made a pretense of friendliness, to hear voices, her own intermingling, would serve as a rehabilitating tonic.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At dinner the spinsters invited Ruth to sit at their table, an invitation she accepted gratefully.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Detached, it was not impossible that she would be forced to leave the dining room because of invading tears.
for the reason that
From this reading Detached, it was not impossible that she would be forced to leave the dining room because of invading tears.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She was not afraid exactly, but there was that about her loneliness to-night she distrusted.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The world had grown dark and wide, and she was very small.
DetachedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtætʃt/
showing lack of emotional involvement
From this reading Detached, it was not impossible that she would be forced to leave the dining room because of invading tears.
diningnounUS /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/
the act of eating dinner
From this reading Detached, it was not impossible that she would be forced to leave the dining room because of invading tears.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading At dinner the spinsters invited Ruth to sit at their table, an invitation she accepted gratefully.
distrustedverbUS /dɪˈstrʌstəd/
past form of “distrust” — regard as untrustworthy; regard with suspicion; have no faith or confidence in
From this reading She was not afraid exactly, but there was that about her loneliness to-night she distrusted.
divisible by two
From this reading To be near someone, even someone who made a pretense of friendliness, to hear voices, her own intermingling, would serve as a rehabilitating tonic.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading She was not afraid exactly, but there was that about her loneliness to-night she distrusted.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading Detached, it was not impossible that she would be forced to leave the dining room because of invading tears.
friendlinessnounUS /ˈfrendlinɪs/
a feeling of liking for another person; enjoyment in their company
From this reading To be near someone, even someone who made a pretense of friendliness, to hear voices, her own intermingling, would serve as a rehabilitating tonic.
gratefullyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪtfəli/
with appreciation; in a grateful manner
From this reading At dinner the spinsters invited Ruth to sit at their table, an invitation she accepted gratefully.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading The world had grown dark and wide, and she was very small.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The world had grown dark and wide, and she was very small.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading To be near someone, even someone who made a pretense of friendliness, to hear voices, her own intermingling, would serve as a rehabilitating tonic.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was not afraid exactly, but there was that about her loneliness to-night she distrusted.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading Detached, it was not impossible that she would be forced to leave the dining room because of invading tears.
interminglingverbUS /ˌɪntərˈmɪŋɡəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “intermingle” — combine into one
From this reading To be near someone, even someone who made a pretense of friendliness, to hear voices, her own intermingling, would serve as a rehabilitating tonic.
invadingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈveɪdɪŋ/
involving invasion or aggressive attack
From this reading Detached, it was not impossible that she would be forced to leave the dining room because of invading tears.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading At dinner the spinsters invited Ruth to sit at their table, an invitation she accepted gratefully.
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading At dinner the spinsters invited Ruth to sit at their table, an invitation she accepted gratefully.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Detached, it was not impossible that she would be forced to leave the dining room because of invading tears.
go away from a place
From this reading Detached, it was not impossible that she would be forced to leave the dining room because of invading tears.
lonelinessnounUS /ˈloʊnlinəs/
the state of being alone in solitary isolation
From this reading She was not afraid exactly, but there was that about her loneliness to-night she distrusted.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading To be near someone, even someone who made a pretense of friendliness, to hear voices, her own intermingling, would serve as a rehabilitating tonic.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading To be near someone, even someone who made a pretense of friendliness, to hear voices, her own intermingling, would serve as a rehabilitating tonic.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was not afraid exactly, but there was that about her loneliness to-night she distrusted.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Detached, it was not impossible that she would be forced to leave the dining room because of invading tears.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading To be near someone, even someone who made a pretense of friendliness, to hear voices, her own intermingling, would serve as a rehabilitating tonic.
pretensenounUS /priˈtens/
the act of giving a false appearance
From this reading To be near someone, even someone who made a pretense of friendliness, to hear voices, her own intermingling, would serve as a rehabilitating tonic.
rehabilitatingverbUS /ˌriːhəˈbɪləteɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “rehabilitate” — help to readapt, as to a former state of health or good repute
From this reading To be near someone, even someone who made a pretense of friendliness, to hear voices, her own intermingling, would serve as a rehabilitating tonic.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Detached, it was not impossible that she would be forced to leave the dining room because of invading tears.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading At dinner the spinsters invited Ruth to sit at their table, an invitation she accepted gratefully.
serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading To be near someone, even someone who made a pretense of friendliness, to hear voices, her own intermingling, would serve as a rehabilitating tonic.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At dinner the spinsters invited Ruth to sit at their table, an invitation she accepted gratefully.
be seated
From this reading At dinner the spinsters invited Ruth to sit at their table, an invitation she accepted gratefully.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The world had grown dark and wide, and she was very small.
a person, without saying who
From this reading To be near someone, even someone who made a pretense of friendliness, to hear voices, her own intermingling, would serve as a rehabilitating tonic.
spinsters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At dinner the spinsters invited Ruth to sit at their table, an invitation she accepted gratefully.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading At dinner the spinsters invited Ruth to sit at their table, an invitation she accepted gratefully.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading Detached, it was not impossible that she would be forced to leave the dining room because of invading tears.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was not afraid exactly, but there was that about her loneliness to-night she distrusted.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At dinner the spinsters invited Ruth to sit at their table, an invitation she accepted gratefully.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading At dinner the spinsters invited Ruth to sit at their table, an invitation she accepted gratefully.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She was not afraid exactly, but there was that about her loneliness to-night she distrusted.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At dinner the spinsters invited Ruth to sit at their table, an invitation she accepted gratefully.
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not afraid exactly, but there was that about her loneliness to-night she distrusted.
tonicadjectiveUS /ˈtɑːnɪk/
of or relating to or producing normal tone or tonus in muscles or tissue
From this reading To be near someone, even someone who made a pretense of friendliness, to hear voices, her own intermingling, would serve as a rehabilitating tonic.
precisely as stated
From this reading The world had grown dark and wide, and she was very small.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading To be near someone, even someone who made a pretense of friendliness, to hear voices, her own intermingling, would serve as a rehabilitating tonic.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was not afraid exactly, but there was that about her loneliness to-night she distrusted.
which person or people
From this reading To be near someone, even someone who made a pretense of friendliness, to hear voices, her own intermingling, would serve as a rehabilitating tonic.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The world had grown dark and wide, and she was very small.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The world had grown dark and wide, and she was very small.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Detached, it was not impossible that she would be forced to leave the dining room because of invading tears.
