used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The conviction that somewhere in the world I had permanent ties began to be as strong as the belief that at some time in my life love had been the dominating factor.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The conviction that somewhere in the world I had permanent ties began to be as strong as the belief that at some time in my life love had been the dominating factor.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The conviction that somewhere in the world I had permanent ties began to be as strong as the belief that at some time in my life love had been the dominating factor.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had I been free—but I wasn’t free.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The conviction that somewhere in the world I had permanent ties began to be as strong as the belief that at some time in my life love had been the dominating factor.
any cognitive content held as true
From this reading The conviction that somewhere in the world I had permanent ties began to be as strong as the belief that at some time in my life love had been the dominating factor.
BlairnounUS /bler/
British statesman who became prime minister in 1997 (born in 1953)
From this reading Lydia Blair had seen her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Had I been free—but I wasn’t free.
complicationsnounUS /ˌkɑːmpləˈkeɪʃənz/
plural of “complication” — the act or process of complicating
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
From this reading The conviction that somewhere in the world I had permanent ties began to be as strong as the belief that at some time in my life love had been the dominating factor.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
dominatingadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːməneɪtɪŋ/
most powerful or important or influential
From this reading The conviction that somewhere in the world I had permanent ties began to be as strong as the belief that at some time in my life love had been the dominating factor.
factornounUS /ˈfæktər/
anything that contributes causally to a result
From this reading The conviction that somewhere in the world I had permanent ties began to be as strong as the belief that at some time in my life love had been the dominating factor.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading Had I been free—but I wasn’t free.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had I been free—but I wasn’t free.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lydia Blair had seen her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
invitingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvaɪtɪŋ/
attractive and tempting
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The conviction that somewhere in the world I had permanent ties began to be as strong as the belief that at some time in my life love had been the dominating factor.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading The conviction that somewhere in the world I had permanent ties began to be as strong as the belief that at some time in my life love had been the dominating factor.
LydianounUS /ˈlɪdiə/
an ancient region on the coast of western Asia Minor; a powerful kingdom until conquered by the Persians in 546 BC
From this reading Lydia Blair had seen her.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
and nothing more
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
permanentadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrmənənt/
continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
From this reading The conviction that somewhere in the world I had permanent ties began to be as strong as the belief that at some time in my life love had been the dominating factor.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
express in words
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Lydia Blair had seen her.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The conviction that somewhere in the world I had permanent ties began to be as strong as the belief that at some time in my life love had been the dominating factor.
in or at or to some place
From this reading The conviction that somewhere in the world I had permanent ties began to be as strong as the belief that at some time in my life love had been the dominating factor.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The conviction that somewhere in the world I had permanent ties began to be as strong as the belief that at some time in my life love had been the dominating factor.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There had been a woman.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
tiesnounUS /taɪz/
plural of “tie” — 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 The conviction that somewhere in the world I had permanent ties began to be as strong as the belief that at some time in my life love had been the dominating factor.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The conviction that somewhere in the world I had permanent ties began to be as strong as the belief that at some time in my life love had been the dominating factor.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had I been free—but I wasn’t free.
at the time that
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading There had been a woman.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The conviction that somewhere in the world I had permanent ties began to be as strong as the belief that at some time in my life love had been the dominating factor.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading When I say that this was a relief to me, you must understand it only in the sense that my situation was too difficult to allow of my inviting further complications.
