used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Evelyn left the little sitting-room and went downstairs with a quickly beating heart.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Evelyn left the little sitting-room and went downstairs with a quickly beating heart.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had no thought but to get as quickly as possible to the nearest telegraph office; the only thing that restrained her was the thought that she was not quite sure where her husband was.
authoritativeadjectiveUS /əˈθɔːrəteɪtɪv/
having authority or ascendancy or influence
From this reading It was like the formula of a doctor’s prescription, obscure yet authoritative, and to be obeyed without doubt or delay.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was like the formula of a doctor’s prescription, obscure yet authoritative, and to be obeyed without doubt or delay.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading Evelyn left the little sitting-room and went downstairs with a quickly beating heart.
biddenverbUS /ˈbɪdɪn/
inflected form of “bid” — propose a payment
From this reading She did not quite see the meaning of what she was bidden to do.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading Her heart was beating high, and her brain throbbing in sympathy.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She had no thought but to get as quickly as possible to the nearest telegraph office; the only thing that restrained her was the thought that she was not quite sure where her husband was.
cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading It was like the formula of a doctor’s prescription, obscure yet authoritative, and to be obeyed without doubt or delay.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She did not quite see the meaning of what she was bidden to do.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading She did not quite see the meaning of what she was bidden to do.
doctor'snounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/
possessive form of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading It was like the formula of a doctor’s prescription, obscure yet authoritative, and to be obeyed without doubt or delay.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading It was like the formula of a doctor’s prescription, obscure yet authoritative, and to be obeyed without doubt or delay.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading Evelyn left the little sitting-room and went downstairs with a quickly beating heart.
Evelyn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Evelyn left the little sitting-room and went downstairs with a quickly beating heart.
formulanounUS /ˈfɔːrmjələ/
a group of symbols that make a mathematical statement
From this reading It was like the formula of a doctor’s prescription, obscure yet authoritative, and to be obeyed without doubt or delay.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading She had no thought but to get as quickly as possible to the nearest telegraph office; the only thing that restrained her was the thought that she was not quite sure where her husband was.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had no thought but to get as quickly as possible to the nearest telegraph office; the only thing that restrained her was the thought that she was not quite sure where her husband was.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Evelyn left the little sitting-room and went downstairs with a quickly beating heart.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her heart was beating high, and her brain throbbing in sympathy.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Her heart was beating high, and her brain throbbing in sympathy.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading She had no thought but to get as quickly as possible to the nearest telegraph office; the only thing that restrained her was the thought that she was not quite sure where her husband was.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Her heart was beating high, and her brain throbbing in sympathy.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was like the formula of a doctor’s prescription, obscure yet authoritative, and to be obeyed without doubt or delay.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Evelyn left the little sitting-room and went downstairs with a quickly beating heart.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It was like the formula of a doctor’s prescription, obscure yet authoritative, and to be obeyed without doubt or delay.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Evelyn left the little sitting-room and went downstairs with a quickly beating heart.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading She did not quite see the meaning of what she was bidden to do.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading She had no thought but to get as quickly as possible to the nearest telegraph office; the only thing that restrained her was the thought that she was not quite sure where her husband was.
not any; not one
From this reading She had no thought but to get as quickly as possible to the nearest telegraph office; the only thing that restrained her was the thought that she was not quite sure where her husband was.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She did not quite see the meaning of what she was bidden to do.
past form of “obey” — be obedient to
From this reading It was like the formula of a doctor’s prescription, obscure yet authoritative, and to be obeyed without doubt or delay.
obscureverbUS /əbsˈkjʊr/
make less visible or unclear
From this reading It was like the formula of a doctor’s prescription, obscure yet authoritative, and to be obeyed without doubt or delay.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She did not quite see the meaning of what she was bidden to do.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading She had no thought but to get as quickly as possible to the nearest telegraph office; the only thing that restrained her was the thought that she was not quite sure where her husband was.
and nothing more
From this reading She had no thought but to get as quickly as possible to the nearest telegraph office; the only thing that restrained her was the thought that she was not quite sure where her husband was.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was like the formula of a doctor’s prescription, obscure yet authoritative, and to be obeyed without doubt or delay.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading She had no thought but to get as quickly as possible to the nearest telegraph office; the only thing that restrained her was the thought that she was not quite sure where her husband was.
prescriptionnounUS /prəˈskrɪpʃən/
directions prescribed beforehand; the action of prescribing authoritative rules or directions
From this reading It was like the formula of a doctor’s prescription, obscure yet authoritative, and to be obeyed without doubt or delay.
with speed
From this reading Evelyn left the little sitting-room and went downstairs with a quickly beating heart.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading She did not quite see the meaning of what she was bidden to do.
restrainedadjectiveUS /riˈstreɪnd/
cool and formal in manner
From this reading She had no thought but to get as quickly as possible to the nearest telegraph office; the only thing that restrained her was the thought that she was not quite sure where her husband was.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She did not quite see the meaning of what she was bidden to do.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She did not quite see the meaning of what she was bidden to do.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Evelyn left the little sitting-room and went downstairs with a quickly beating heart.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading She had no thought but to get as quickly as possible to the nearest telegraph office; the only thing that restrained her was the thought that she was not quite sure where her husband was.
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading Her heart was beating high, and her brain throbbing in sympathy.
telegraphnounUS /ˈteləɡræf/
apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
From this reading She had no thought but to get as quickly as possible to the nearest telegraph office; the only thing that restrained her was the thought that she was not quite sure where her husband was.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had no thought but to get as quickly as possible to the nearest telegraph office; the only thing that restrained her was the thought that she was not quite sure where her husband was.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Evelyn left the little sitting-room and went downstairs with a quickly beating heart.
a special situation
From this reading She had no thought but to get as quickly as possible to the nearest telegraph office; the only thing that restrained her was the thought that she was not quite sure where her husband was.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She had no thought but to get as quickly as possible to the nearest telegraph office; the only thing that restrained her was the thought that she was not quite sure where her husband was.
throbbingnounUS /ˈθrɑːbɪŋ/
an instance of rapid strong pulsation (of the heart)
From this reading Her heart was beating high, and her brain throbbing in sympathy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She did not quite see the meaning of what she was bidden to do.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She did not quite see the meaning of what she was bidden to do.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Evelyn left the little sitting-room and went downstairs with a quickly beating heart.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She did not quite see the meaning of what she was bidden to do.
in or at the place that
From this reading She had no thought but to get as quickly as possible to the nearest telegraph office; the only thing that restrained her was the thought that she was not quite sure where her husband was.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Evelyn left the little sitting-room and went downstairs with a quickly beating heart.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It was like the formula of a doctor’s prescription, obscure yet authoritative, and to be obeyed without doubt or delay.
but in spite of that
From this reading It was like the formula of a doctor’s prescription, obscure yet authoritative, and to be obeyed without doubt or delay.
