used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading GIVE A GRATIS PERFORMANCE The days that followed were dark days for Gladys.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And to keep him quiet was not an easy thing to do.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her father, whom she loved--and, until now, had never realized how much she loved--lay seriously ill.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading THE MODERN SORCERY COMPANY LTD.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading GIVE A GRATIS PERFORMANCE The days that followed were dark days for Gladys.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading GIVE A GRATIS PERFORMANCE The days that followed were dark days for Gladys.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading And to keep him quiet was not an easy thing to do.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading And to keep him quiet was not an easy thing to do.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Her father, whom she loved--and, until now, had never realized how much she loved--lay seriously ill.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading GIVE A GRATIS PERFORMANCE The days that followed were dark days for Gladys.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading GIVE A GRATIS PERFORMANCE The days that followed were dark days for Gladys.
fortunatelyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by good fortune
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading GIVE A GRATIS PERFORMANCE The days that followed were dark days for Gladys.
Gladys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GIVE A GRATIS PERFORMANCE The days that followed were dark days for Gladys.
GRATISadjectiveUS /ˈɡrætəs/
costing nothing
From this reading GIVE A GRATIS PERFORMANCE The days that followed were dark days for Gladys.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Her father, whom she loved--and, until now, had never realized how much she loved--lay seriously ill.
come to pass
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her father, whom she loved--and, until now, had never realized how much she loved--lay seriously ill.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And to keep him quiet was not an easy thing to do.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father, whom she loved--and, until now, had never realized how much she loved--lay seriously ill.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading Her father, whom she loved--and, until now, had never realized how much she loved--lay seriously ill.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading And to keep him quiet was not an easy thing to do.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Her father, whom she loved--and, until now, had never realized how much she loved--lay seriously ill.
held dear
From this reading Her father, whom she loved--and, until now, had never realized how much she loved--lay seriously ill.
LTD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MODERN SORCERY COMPANY LTD.
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading THE MODERN SORCERY COMPANY LTD.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Her father, whom she loved--and, until now, had never realized how much she loved--lay seriously ill.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Her father, whom she loved--and, until now, had never realized how much she loved--lay seriously ill.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And to keep him quiet was not an easy thing to do.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Her father, whom she loved--and, until now, had never realized how much she loved--lay seriously ill.
PERFORMANCEnounUS /pərˈfɔːrməns/
a dramatic or musical entertainment
From this reading GIVE A GRATIS PERFORMANCE The days that followed were dark days for Gladys.
preludenounUS /ˈpreɪluːd/
something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Her father, whom she loved--and, until now, had never realized how much she loved--lay seriously ill.
past form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
in a serious manner
From this reading Her father, whom she loved--and, until now, had never realized how much she loved--lay seriously ill.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her father, whom she loved--and, until now, had never realized how much she loved--lay seriously ill.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
SORCERYnounUS /ˈsɔːrsəri/
the belief in magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world
From this reading THE MODERN SORCERY COMPANY LTD.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading GIVE A GRATIS PERFORMANCE The days that followed were dark days for Gladys.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MODERN SORCERY COMPANY LTD.
a special situation
From this reading And to keep him quiet was not an easy thing to do.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
except if; if not
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Her father, whom she loved--and, until now, had never realized how much she loved--lay seriously ill.
precisely as stated
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading GIVE A GRATIS PERFORMANCE The days that followed were dark days for Gladys.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Her father, whom she loved--and, until now, had never realized how much she loved--lay seriously ill.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, unless he was kept very quiet.
