used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
experiencing a sudden sense of danger
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
(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 When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He entered the house steeled to tell her, but his resolution wavered, and, with the words on his tongue's end, he felt them forced back by her kisses.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
confined by bonds
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He entered the house steeled to tell her, but his resolution wavered, and, with the words on his tongue's end, he felt them forced back by her kisses.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He entered the house steeled to tell her, but his resolution wavered, and, with the words on his tongue's end, he felt them forced back by her kisses.
Celeste
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading On the third day she could not shut out the picture of his despondent face.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading On the third day she could not shut out the picture of his despondent face.
the act of departing
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
despondentadjectiveUS /dɪˈspɑːndənt/
without or almost without hope
From this reading On the third day she could not shut out the picture of his despondent face.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading He entered the house steeled to tell her, but his resolution wavered, and, with the words on his tongue's end, he felt them forced back by her kisses.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading He entered the house steeled to tell her, but his resolution wavered, and, with the words on his tongue's end, he felt them forced back by her kisses.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading On the third day she could not shut out the picture of his despondent face.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He entered the house steeled to tell her, but his resolution wavered, and, with the words on his tongue's end, he felt them forced back by her kisses.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading He entered the house steeled to tell her, but his resolution wavered, and, with the words on his tongue's end, he felt them forced back by her kisses.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He entered the house steeled to tell her, but his resolution wavered, and, with the words on his tongue's end, he felt them forced back by her kisses.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
joyousadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɔɪəs/
full of or characterized by joy
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
kissesnounUS /ˈkɪsəz/
plural of “kiss” — the act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof)
From this reading He entered the house steeled to tell her, but his resolution wavered, and, with the words on his tongue's end, he felt them forced back by her kisses.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE TALE OF TEARS.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading On the third day she could not shut out the picture of his despondent face.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading On the third day she could not shut out the picture of his despondent face.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote
From this reading He entered the house steeled to tell her, but his resolution wavered, and, with the words on his tongue's end, he felt them forced back by her kisses.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
scatteringnounUS /ˈskætərɪŋ/
a small number (of something) dispersed haphazardly
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading On the third day she could not shut out the picture of his despondent face.
steeledverbUS /stiːld/
past form of “steel” — get ready for something difficult or unpleasant
From this reading He entered the house steeled to tell her, but his resolution wavered, and, with the words on his tongue's end, he felt them forced back by her kisses.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading THE TALE OF TEARS.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading THE TALE OF TEARS.
express in words
From this reading He entered the house steeled to tell her, but his resolution wavered, and, with the words on his tongue's end, he felt them forced back by her kisses.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TALE OF TEARS.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He entered the house steeled to tell her, but his resolution wavered, and, with the words on his tongue's end, he felt them forced back by her kisses.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading On the third day she could not shut out the picture of his despondent face.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He entered the house steeled to tell her, but his resolution wavered, and, with the words on his tongue's end, he felt them forced back by her kisses.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
tongue's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He entered the house steeled to tell her, but his resolution wavered, and, with the words on his tongue's end, he felt them forced back by her kisses.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
waveredverbUS /ˈweɪvərd/
past form of “waver” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading He entered the house steeled to tell her, but his resolution wavered, and, with the words on his tongue's end, he felt them forced back by her kisses.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When she heard his footsteps in the lower hall that afternoon her heart gave a great bound of relief, and all his plans went scattering before her joyous greeting.
at the time that
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He entered the house steeled to tell her, but his resolution wavered, and, with the words on his tongue's end, he felt them forced back by her kisses.
the words that are spoken
From this reading He entered the house steeled to tell her, but his resolution wavered, and, with the words on his tongue's end, he felt them forced back by her kisses.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had told Celeste that he would be away from home over one night, and she was alarmed when he did not return on the second night after his departure.
