used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MEETING IN THE ROAD.
abackadverbUS /əˈbæk/
having the wind against the forward side of the sails
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
assurancenounUS /əˈʃʊrəns/
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The King's peace must be maintained."
blacksmith's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
CommitteenounUS /kəˈmɪti/
a special group delegated to consider some matter
From this reading "You see now, M. le Vicomte," he said complacently, "the necessity for such a Committee.
complacentlyadverbUS /kəmˈpleɪsəntli/
in a self-satisfied manner
From this reading "You see now, M. le Vicomte," he said complacently, "the necessity for such a Committee.
creditingverbUS /ˈkredətɪŋ/
-ing form of “credit” — give someone credit for something
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
disclosurenounUS /dɪˈskloʊʒər/
the speech act of making something evident
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
Doury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doury seized the occasion, and struck in.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
eloquencenounUS /ˈel.ə.kwəns/
Fluent, persuasive, and graceful speaking or writing. (Sự hùng biện, tài ăn nói lưu loát.)
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "You see now, M. le Vicomte," he said complacently, "the necessity for such a Committee.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A MEETING IN THE ROAD.
King'snounUS /kɪŋz/
possessive form of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading The King's peace must be maintained."
a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)
From this reading "You see now, M. le Vicomte," he said complacently, "the necessity for such a Committee.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading "You see now, M. le Vicomte," he said complacently, "the necessity for such a Committee.
maintainedadjectiveUS /meɪnˈteɪnd/
kept in good condition
From this reading The King's peace must be maintained."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading A MEETING IN THE ROAD.
a particular point in time
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The King's peace must be maintained."
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading "You see now, M. le Vicomte," he said complacently, "the necessity for such a Committee.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
not any; not one
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "You see now, M. le Vicomte," he said complacently, "the necessity for such a Committee.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading Doury seized the occasion, and struck in.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading The King's peace must be maintained."
peasantnounUS /ˈpezənt/
a country person
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading A MEETING IN THE ROAD.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "You see now, M. le Vicomte," he said complacently, "the necessity for such a Committee.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "You see now, M. le Vicomte," he said complacently, "the necessity for such a Committee.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Doury seized the occasion, and struck in.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Doury seized the occasion, and struck in.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "You see now, M. le Vicomte," he said complacently, "the necessity for such a Committee.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A MEETING IN THE ROAD.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
unlooked-foradjective
not anticipated
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
Vicomte
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You see now, M. le Vicomte," he said complacently, "the necessity for such a Committee.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The unlooked-for eloquence which rang in the blacksmith's words, and the assurance of his tone, no less than this startling disclosure of thoughts with which I had never dreamed of crediting him, or any peasant, took me so aback for a moment that I stood silent.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You see now, M. le Vicomte," he said complacently, "the necessity for such a Committee.
