used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
afterdinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
appalledadjectiveUS /əˈpɔːld/
struck with fear, dread, or consternation
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
terminate
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
clutchesnounUS /ˈklʌtʃəz/
the act of grasping
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
describingverbUS /dɪˈskraɪbɪŋ/
-ing form of “describe” — give a description of
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
drynessnounUS /ˈdraɪnəs/
the condition of not containing or being covered by a liquid (especially water)
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
emotionsnounUS /ɪˈmoʊʃənz/
plural of “emotion” — any strong feeling
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
enduringadjectiveUS /enˈdjʊrɪŋ/
lasting a long time
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
an old word for “before”
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
hardshipnounUS /ˈhɑːrdʃɪp/
a state of misfortune or affliction
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
helplessnessnounUS /ˈhelpləsnəs/
powerlessness revealed by an inability to act
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
impossibilitynounUS /ˌɪmpɔːsɪˈbɪlɪti/
incapability of existing or occurring
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
inflictedverbUS /ˌɪnˈflɪktɪd/
past form of “inflict” — impose something unpleasant
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Speechmaking is not penal.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
miseriesnounUS /ˈmɪzəriz/
plural of “misery” — a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Speechmaking is not penal.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
penaladjectiveUS /ˈpiːnəl/
of or relating to punishment
From this reading Speechmaking is not penal.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
PrudencenounUS /ˈpruːdəns/
discretion in practical affairs
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
realiseverbUS /ˈriːəlaɪz/
earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
express in words
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
Semaphoreverb
send signals by or as if by semaphore
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
sensationsnounUS /senˈseɪʃənz/
plural of “sensation” — an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
sparedverbUS /sperd/
past form of “spare” — refrain from harming
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
Speechmakingnoun
delivering an address to a public audience
From this reading Speechmaking is not penal.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
swimmingnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/
the act of swimming
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
unaccustomedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈkʌstəmd/
unusual or unfamiliar
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
variedadjectiveUS /ˈverid/
characterized by variety
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
a flaw or weak point
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
at the time that
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The swimming in the head, the sea of faces dimly seen, the weakness in the knees, dryness of the tongue and throat, confusion of thought and general helplessness experienced, will help them to realise her emotions.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The impossibility of dying suddenly then and there, ere forced to break silence, will appear a hardship, but they will be spared the terror of having somehow brought themselves within the clutches of the law, that appalled Miss Prudence.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading If any desire to experience the feeling, without enduring the varied miseries that a cruel fate inflicted on the unhappy lady, let them, if unaccustomed to public speaking, be called on for an afterdinner speech.
someone who sees an event and reports what happened
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
a late time of life
From this reading Miss Prudence Semaphore, in after years describing her sensations when placed in the witness box, was accustomed to say she didn’t know whether she stood on her head or her heels.
