used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
bathedverbUS /beɪðd/
past form of “bathe” — cleanse the entire body
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
BEAUGREVAL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
having the place or position changed
From this reading The five men were greatly disturbed, knowing neither what to do nor what to say.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The five men were greatly disturbed, knowing neither what to do nor what to say.
Dorothy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading The five men were greatly disturbed, knowing neither what to do nor what to say.
forthwithadverbUS /ˈfɔːrˈθwɪθ/
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading The five men were greatly disturbed, knowing neither what to do nor what to say.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
an instinctive motive
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading The five men were greatly disturbed, knowing neither what to do nor what to say.
the sound of laughing
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
small silvery drumfish often mistaken for white perch; found along coasts of United States from New York to Mexico
From this reading "Mademoiselle?...
MARQUISnounUS /ˌmɑːrˈkiː/
humorist who wrote about the imaginary life of cockroaches (1878-1937)
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading What's the matter, mademoiselle?"
the force of workers available
From this reading The five men were greatly disturbed, knowing neither what to do nor what to say.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading The five men were greatly disturbed, knowing neither what to do nor what to say.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The five men were greatly disturbed, knowing neither what to do nor what to say.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
peacefulnessnounUS /ˈpiːsfəlnəs/
a state that is calm and tranquil
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
rope-dancer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
express in words
From this reading The five men were greatly disturbed, knowing neither what to do nor what to say.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
sobsnounUS /sɑːbz/
plural of “sob” — a dyspneic condition
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
staggeredverbUS /ˈstæɡərd/
past form of “stagger” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The five men were greatly disturbed, knowing neither what to do nor what to say.
troublingadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌbəlɪŋ/
causing distress or worry or anxiety
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The five men were greatly disturbed, knowing neither what to do nor what to say.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The five men were greatly disturbed, knowing neither what to do nor what to say.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What's the matter, mademoiselle?"
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading THE WILL OF THE MARQUIS DE BEAUGREVAL Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
yieldingadjectiveUS /ˈjiːldɪŋ/
inclined to yield to argument or influence or control
From this reading They seemed so staggered by her sobs and by their own presence round her, that Dorothy passed suddenly from tears to laughter, and yielding to her natural impulse, she began forthwith to dance, without troubling to know whether she would appear to them to be a princess or a rope-dancer.
