used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Christmas Day in Sweden being followed by a Second Christmas Day, equal to the first one in leisure if not in sanctity.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading His failure had one advantage.
(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 It freed him from all of guilt.
in addition
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Christmas Day in Sweden being followed by a Second Christmas Day, equal to the first one in leisure if not in sanctity.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Every one was very busy preparing not only for the feast of the evening, but for the two coming holidays.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Every one was very busy preparing not only for the feast of the evening, but for the two coming holidays.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Christmas Day in Sweden being followed by a Second Christmas Day, equal to the first one in leisure if not in sanctity.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading Christmas Day in Sweden being followed by a Second Christmas Day, equal to the first one in leisure if not in sanctity.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Every one was very busy preparing not only for the feast of the evening, but for the two coming holidays.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading Christmas Day in Sweden being followed by a Second Christmas Day, equal to the first one in leisure if not in sanctity.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Every one was very busy preparing not only for the feast of the evening, but for the two coming holidays.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every one was very busy preparing not only for the feast of the evening, but for the two coming holidays.
expectationsnounUS /ˌekspekˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “expectation” — belief about (or mental picture of) the future
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
an act that fails
From this reading His failure had one advantage.
a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading Every one was very busy preparing not only for the feast of the evening, but for the two coming holidays.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Christmas Day in Sweden being followed by a Second Christmas Day, equal to the first one in leisure if not in sanctity.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Christmas Day in Sweden being followed by a Second Christmas Day, equal to the first one in leisure if not in sanctity.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Every one was very busy preparing not only for the feast of the evening, but for the two coming holidays.
freedverbUS /friːd/
past form of “free” — grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading It freed him from all of guilt.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It freed him from all of guilt.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
guiltnounUS /ɡɪlt/
the state of having committed an offense
From this reading It freed him from all of guilt.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His failure had one advantage.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It freed him from all of guilt.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His failure had one advantage.
holidaysnounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪz/
plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading Every one was very busy preparing not only for the feast of the evening, but for the two coming holidays.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Christmas Day in Sweden being followed by a Second Christmas Day, equal to the first one in leisure if not in sanctity.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It freed him from all of guilt.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
immediately past
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
leisurenounUS /ˈleʒər/
time available for ease and relaxation
From this reading Christmas Day in Sweden being followed by a Second Christmas Day, equal to the first one in leisure if not in sanctity.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Every one was very busy preparing not only for the feast of the evening, but for the two coming holidays.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It freed him from all of guilt.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His failure had one advantage.
and nothing more
From this reading Every one was very busy preparing not only for the feast of the evening, but for the two coming holidays.
pitchnounUS /pɪtʃ/
the property of sound that varies with variation in the frequency of vibration
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
preparingverbUS /priˈperɪŋ/
-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading Every one was very busy preparing not only for the feast of the evening, but for the two coming holidays.
sanctitynounUS /ˈsæŋktɪti/
the quality of being holy
From this reading Christmas Day in Sweden being followed by a Second Christmas Day, equal to the first one in leisure if not in sanctity.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Christmas Day in Sweden being followed by a Second Christmas Day, equal to the first one in leisure if not in sanctity.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
SwedennounUS /ˈswiːdən/
a Scandinavian kingdom in the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula
From this reading Christmas Day in Sweden being followed by a Second Christmas Day, equal to the first one in leisure if not in sanctity.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
tortureverbUS /ˈtɔːrtʃər/
torment emotionally or mentally
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Every one was very busy preparing not only for the feast of the evening, but for the two coming holidays.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
precisely as stated
From this reading Every one was very busy preparing not only for the feast of the evening, but for the two coming holidays.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Every one was very busy preparing not only for the feast of the evening, but for the two coming holidays.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
at the time that
From this reading It served also to keep his expectations at an unusually high pitch, so that when the morning of the great day arrived at last, it seemed as if he were facing twelve long hours of actual torture.
