used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading It did not seem possible to her that Lady Verny would be able to bear her as a daughter-in-law.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading And she couldn't be different; they'd have to take her like that if they took her at all.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As a secretary it had not mattered in the least that she was shabby and socially ineffective.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It did not seem possible to her that Lady Verny would be able to bear her as a daughter-in-law.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And she couldn't be different; they'd have to take her like that if they took her at all.
being joined in close association
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
have
From this reading It did not seem possible to her that Lady Verny would be able to bear her as a daughter-in-law.
be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
buryverbUS /ˈberi/
cover from sight
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And she couldn't be different; they'd have to take her like that if they took her at all.
daughter-in-lawnounUS /ˈdɔːtərɪnlɔː/
the wife of your son
From this reading It did not seem possible to her that Lady Verny would be able to bear her as a daughter-in-law.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading And she couldn't be different; they'd have to take her like that if they took her at all.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As a secretary it had not mattered in the least that she was shabby and socially ineffective.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading And she couldn't be different; they'd have to take her like that if they took her at all.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading And she couldn't be different; they'd have to take her like that if they took her at all.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As a secretary it had not mattered in the least that she was shabby and socially ineffective.
ineffectiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnɪˈfektɪv/
not producing an intended effect
From this reading As a secretary it had not mattered in the least that she was shabby and socially ineffective.
insignificancenounUS /ˌɪnsɪɡˈnjɪfɪkəns/
the quality of having little or no significance
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
JuliannounUS /ˈdʒuːliən/
Roman Emperor and nephew of Constantine; he restored paganism as the official religion of the Roman Empire and destroyed Christian temples but his decision was reversed after his death (331?-363)
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading It did not seem possible to her that Lady Verny would be able to bear her as a daughter-in-law.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading As a secretary it had not mattered in the least that she was shabby and socially ineffective.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
matteredverbUS /ˈmætərd/
past form of “matter” — have weight; have import, carry weight
From this reading As a secretary it had not mattered in the least that she was shabby and socially ineffective.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading It did not seem possible to her that Lady Verny would be able to bear her as a daughter-in-law.
rangedverbUS /reɪndʒd/
past form of “range” — change or be different within limits
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
Redcliffe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading As a secretary it had not mattered in the least that she was shabby and socially ineffective.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It did not seem possible to her that Lady Verny would be able to bear her as a daughter-in-law.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading As a secretary it had not mattered in the least that she was shabby and socially ineffective.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
slinkverb
walk stealthily
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
slippingadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpɪŋ/
moving as on a slippery surface
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
sociallyadverbUS /ˈsoʊʃəli/
by or with respect to society
From this reading As a secretary it had not mattered in the least that she was shabby and socially ineffective.
make square
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
statelinessnoun
an elaborate manner of doing something
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
StellanounUS /ˈstelə/
United States minimalist painter (born in 1936)
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
carry out
From this reading And she couldn't be different; they'd have to take her like that if they took her at all.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As a secretary it had not mattered in the least that she was shabby and socially ineffective.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And she couldn't be different; they'd have to take her like that if they took her at all.
they'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And she couldn't be different; they'd have to take her like that if they took her at all.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading And she couldn't be different; they'd have to take her like that if they took her at all.
Verny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It did not seem possible to her that Lady Verny would be able to bear her as a daughter-in-law.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
at the time that
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Stella was afraid that when she went down to dinner it would be like slipping into another life--a life to which she was attached by her love for Julian, but to which she did not belong.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She ranged them together in her fear of their stateliness; she almost wished that they wouldn't take her at all, but let her slink back to Redcliffe Square and bury herself in her own insignificance.
