used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They fell apart without wrench or difficulty, and on Gundred a heavy sense of loneliness settled like a cloud.
(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 All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading They fell apart without wrench or difficulty, and on Gundred a heavy sense of loneliness settled like a cloud.
aspectsnounUS /ˈæspekts/
plural of “aspect” — a distinct feature or element in a problem
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
asunderadjectiveUS /əˈsʌndər/
widely separated especially in space
From this reading Now that the elasticity of the tie that bound them was put to too great a stretch, it flew asunder, and, in the rebound, struck Gundred a stinging blow.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
exhale hard
From this reading Now that the elasticity of the tie that bound them was put to too great a stretch, it flew asunder, and, in the rebound, struck Gundred a stinging blow.
confined by bonds
From this reading Now that the elasticity of the tie that bound them was put to too great a stretch, it flew asunder, and, in the rebound, struck Gundred a stinging blow.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading They fell apart without wrench or difficulty, and on Gundred a heavy sense of loneliness settled like a cloud.
compensationsnounUS /ˌkɑːmpənˈseɪʃənz/
plural of “compensation” — something (such as money) given or received as payment or reparation (as for a service or loss or injury)
From this reading She it was that suffered most from the separation, for she had not her husband’s compensations.
completenessnounUS /kəmˈpliːtnəs/
the state of being complete and entire; having everything that is needed
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading They fell apart without wrench or difficulty, and on Gundred a heavy sense of loneliness settled like a cloud.
elasticitynounUS /ˌiːlæˈstɪsəti/
the tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed
From this reading Now that the elasticity of the tie that bound them was put to too great a stretch, it flew asunder, and, in the rebound, struck Gundred a stinging blow.
brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
divisible by two
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading They fell apart without wrench or difficulty, and on Gundred a heavy sense of loneliness settled like a cloud.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Now that the elasticity of the tie that bound them was put to too great a stretch, it flew asunder, and, in the rebound, struck Gundred a stinging blow.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She it was that suffered most from the separation, for she had not her husband’s compensations.
formaladjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrməl/
being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She it was that suffered most from the separation, for she had not her husband’s compensations.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Now that the elasticity of the tie that bound them was put to too great a stretch, it flew asunder, and, in the rebound, struck Gundred a stinging blow.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
Gundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She it was that suffered most from the separation, for she had not her husband’s compensations.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading They fell apart without wrench or difficulty, and on Gundred a heavy sense of loneliness settled like a cloud.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She it was that suffered most from the separation, for she had not her husband’s compensations.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
husband'snounUS /ˈhʌzbəndz/
possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading She it was that suffered most from the separation, for she had not her husband’s compensations.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
interlopernounUS /ˈɪntərloʊpər/
someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
intimacynounUS /ˈɪntəməsi/
close or warm friendship
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She it was that suffered most from the separation, for she had not her husband’s compensations.
KingstonnounUS /ˈkɪŋstən/
a town on the Hudson River in New York
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading They fell apart without wrench or difficulty, and on Gundred a heavy sense of loneliness settled like a cloud.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
lonelinessnounUS /ˈloʊnlinəs/
the state of being alone in solitary isolation
From this reading They fell apart without wrench or difficulty, and on Gundred a heavy sense of loneliness settled like a cloud.
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 All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
and nothing more
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
used to form the superlative
From this reading She it was that suffered most from the separation, for she had not her husband’s compensations.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She it was that suffered most from the separation, for she had not her husband’s compensations.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They fell apart without wrench or difficulty, and on Gundred a heavy sense of loneliness settled like a cloud.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They fell apart without wrench or difficulty, and on Gundred a heavy sense of loneliness settled like a cloud.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
purelyadverbUS /ˈpjʊrli/
restricted to something
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Now that the elasticity of the tie that bound them was put to too great a stretch, it flew asunder, and, in the rebound, struck Gundred a stinging blow.
reboundverbUS /riˈbaʊnd/
spring back; spring away from an impact
From this reading Now that the elasticity of the tie that bound them was put to too great a stretch, it flew asunder, and, in the rebound, struck Gundred a stinging blow.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading They fell apart without wrench or difficulty, and on Gundred a heavy sense of loneliness settled like a cloud.
separationnounUS /ˌsepərˈeɪʃən/
the state of lacking unity
From this reading She it was that suffered most from the separation, for she had not her husband’s compensations.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading They fell apart without wrench or difficulty, and on Gundred a heavy sense of loneliness settled like a cloud.
sharedadjectiveUS /ʃerd/
have in common; held or experienced in common
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
sharingnounUS /ˈʃerɪŋ/
using or enjoying something jointly with others
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She it was that suffered most from the separation, for she had not her husband’s compensations.
stingingnounUS /ˈstɪŋɪŋ/
a kind of pain; something as sudden and painful as being stung
From this reading Now that the elasticity of the tie that bound them was put to too great a stretch, it flew asunder, and, in the rebound, struck Gundred a stinging blow.
strengthenedadjectiveUS /ˈstreŋθənd/
given added strength or support
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading Now that the elasticity of the tie that bound them was put to too great a stretch, it flew asunder, and, in the rebound, struck Gundred a stinging blow.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Now that the elasticity of the tie that bound them was put to too great a stretch, it flew asunder, and, in the rebound, struck Gundred a stinging blow.
past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to
From this reading She it was that suffered most from the separation, for she had not her husband’s compensations.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She it was that suffered most from the separation, for she had not her husband’s compensations.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Now that the elasticity of the tie that bound them was put to too great a stretch, it flew asunder, and, in the rebound, struck Gundred a stinging blow.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They fell apart without wrench or difficulty, and on Gundred a heavy sense of loneliness settled like a cloud.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
tienounUS /taɪ/
neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
From this reading Now that the elasticity of the tie that bound them was put to too great a stretch, it flew asunder, and, in the rebound, struck Gundred a stinging blow.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
tolerancenounUS /ˈtɑːlərəns/
the power or capacity of an organism to tolerate unfavorable environmental conditions
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Now that the elasticity of the tie that bound them was put to too great a stretch, it flew asunder, and, in the rebound, struck Gundred a stinging blow.
an organization of employees formed to bargain with the employer
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The interloper was established between Kingston and Gundred, and the purely formal nature of their marriage might have been clear even to themselves.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
in the company of; together with
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading They fell apart without wrench or difficulty, and on Gundred a heavy sense of loneliness settled like a cloud.
wrenchverbUS /rentʃ/
twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates
From this reading They fell apart without wrench or difficulty, and on Gundred a heavy sense of loneliness settled like a cloud.
a late time of life
From this reading All these years she had lived in the happiness of what she believed to be perfect intimacy with Kingston, sharing his hopes, his wishes, his thoughts; now, in a flash, she was made to guess that she had merely shared the outer aspects of his life, that the fancied beautiful completeness of their union was merely the band of tolerance strengthened through the long years by custom.
