used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was certainly nothing to fear in him as he stood before her with a tender, quizzical smile about his large mouth.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading _An Interlude_ She was waiting for him in the library with an expression both eager and worried.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _An Interlude_ She was waiting for him in the library with an expression both eager and worried.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She crossed the room to meet him, but paused half-way as though really fearful of some change.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There was certainly nothing to fear in him as he stood before her with a tender, quizzical smile about his large mouth.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He looked to her now more like a big boy than the cold, stern man she had half expected.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
the two together, not just one
From this reading _An Interlude_ She was waiting for him in the library with an expression both eager and worried.
a youthful male person
From this reading He looked to her now more like a big boy than the cold, stern man she had half expected.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She crossed the room to meet him, but paused half-way as though really fearful of some change.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading There was certainly nothing to fear in him as he stood before her with a tender, quizzical smile about his large mouth.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading She crossed the room to meet him, but paused half-way as though really fearful of some change.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading He looked to her now more like a big boy than the cold, stern man she had half expected.
placed crosswise
From this reading She crossed the room to meet him, but paused half-way as though really fearful of some change.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
droopverbUS /druːp/
droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading _An Interlude_ She was waiting for him in the library with an expression both eager and worried.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading He looked to her now more like a big boy than the cold, stern man she had half expected.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading _An Interlude_ She was waiting for him in the library with an expression both eager and worried.
opinion or judgment
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading There was certainly nothing to fear in him as he stood before her with a tender, quizzical smile about his large mouth.
experiencing or showing fear
From this reading She crossed the room to meet him, but paused half-way as though really fearful of some change.
firesnounUS /ˈfaɪərz/
plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading _An Interlude_ She was waiting for him in the library with an expression both eager and worried.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He looked to her now more like a big boy than the cold, stern man she had half expected.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He looked to her now more like a big boy than the cold, stern man she had half expected.
half-way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She crossed the room to meet him, but paused half-way as though really fearful of some change.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was certainly nothing to fear in him as he stood before her with a tender, quizzical smile about his large mouth.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There was certainly nothing to fear in him as he stood before her with a tender, quizzical smile about his large mouth.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading _An Interlude_ She was waiting for him in the library with an expression both eager and worried.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was certainly nothing to fear in him as he stood before her with a tender, quizzical smile about his large mouth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _An Interlude_ She was waiting for him in the library with an expression both eager and worried.
InterludenounUS /ˈɪntərluːd/
an intervening period or episode
From this reading _An Interlude_ She was waiting for him in the library with an expression both eager and worried.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was certainly nothing to fear in him as he stood before her with a tender, quizzical smile about his large mouth.
a room where books are kept
From this reading _An Interlude_ She was waiting for him in the library with an expression both eager and worried.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He looked to her now more like a big boy than the cold, stern man she had half expected.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked to her now more like a big boy than the cold, stern man she had half expected.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He looked to her now more like a big boy than the cold, stern man she had half expected.
come together
From this reading She crossed the room to meet him, but paused half-way as though really fearful of some change.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He looked to her now more like a big boy than the cold, stern man she had half expected.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading There was certainly nothing to fear in him as he stood before her with a tender, quizzical smile about his large mouth.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was certainly nothing to fear in him as he stood before her with a tender, quizzical smile about his large mouth.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He looked to her now more like a big boy than the cold, stern man she had half expected.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She crossed the room to meet him, but paused half-way as though really fearful of some change.
and nothing more
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading She crossed the room to meet him, but paused half-way as though really fearful of some change.
by chance
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
quizzicaladjectiveUS /ˈkwɪzəkəl/
playfully vexing (especially by ridicule)
From this reading There was certainly nothing to fear in him as he stood before her with a tender, quizzical smile about his large mouth.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading She crossed the room to meet him, but paused half-way as though really fearful of some change.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading She crossed the room to meet him, but paused half-way as though really fearful of some change.
Identical; not different.
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
cut with a saw
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _An Interlude_ She was waiting for him in the library with an expression both eager and worried.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading There was certainly nothing to fear in him as he stood before her with a tender, quizzical smile about his large mouth.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading She crossed the room to meet him, but paused half-way as though really fearful of some change.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading He looked to her now more like a big boy than the cold, stern man she had half expected.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading There was certainly nothing to fear in him as he stood before her with a tender, quizzical smile about his large mouth.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading There was certainly nothing to fear in him as he stood before her with a tender, quizzical smile about his large mouth.
tensenounUS /tens/
a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He looked to her now more like a big boy than the cold, stern man she had half expected.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _An Interlude_ She was waiting for him in the library with an expression both eager and worried.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was certainly nothing to fear in him as he stood before her with a tender, quizzical smile about his large mouth.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She crossed the room to meet him, but paused half-way as though really fearful of some change.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She crossed the room to meet him, but paused half-way as though really fearful of some change.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading _An Interlude_ She was waiting for him in the library with an expression both eager and worried.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _An Interlude_ She was waiting for him in the library with an expression both eager and worried.
wearinessnounUS /ˈwɪrinəs/
temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work
From this reading But she saw only the same kind, tense face, looking perhaps a bit heavy from weariness, the same dark eyes with their strange fires, the same slight droop of the shoulders.
in the company of; together with
From this reading _An Interlude_ She was waiting for him in the library with an expression both eager and worried.
worriedadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrid/
afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief
From this reading _An Interlude_ She was waiting for him in the library with an expression both eager and worried.
