used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And it was this tragedy with which Peter grappled now.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Suddenly he saw, as if a searchlight had been flung upon them, the innermost, secret depths of his own heart--saw them filled with the image of another man's wife.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had said to him, "There's nothing so tragic as the truth--when it comes too late!"
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
CaldwellnounUS /ˈkɔːldwel/
United States author remembered for novels about poverty and degeneration (1903-1987)
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading She had said to him, "There's nothing so tragic as the truth--when it comes too late!"
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading Suddenly he saw, as if a searchlight had been flung upon them, the innermost, secret depths of his own heart--saw them filled with the image of another man's wife.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Suddenly he saw, as if a searchlight had been flung upon them, the innermost, secret depths of his own heart--saw them filled with the image of another man's wife.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Suddenly he saw, as if a searchlight had been flung upon them, the innermost, secret depths of his own heart--saw them filled with the image of another man's wife.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
grappledverbUS /ˈɡræpəld/
past form of “grapple” — succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available
From this reading And it was this tragedy with which Peter grappled now.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Suddenly he saw, as if a searchlight had been flung upon them, the innermost, secret depths of his own heart--saw them filled with the image of another man's wife.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She had said to him, "There's nothing so tragic as the truth--when it comes too late!"
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Suddenly he saw, as if a searchlight had been flung upon them, the innermost, secret depths of his own heart--saw them filled with the image of another man's wife.
illuminationnounUS /ˌɪluːməˈneɪʃən/
a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
an iconic mental representation
From this reading Suddenly he saw, as if a searchlight had been flung upon them, the innermost, secret depths of his own heart--saw them filled with the image of another man's wife.
innermostadjectiveUS /ˈɪnərmoʊst/
being deepest within the self
From this reading Suddenly he saw, as if a searchlight had been flung upon them, the innermost, secret depths of his own heart--saw them filled with the image of another man's wife.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She had said to him, "There's nothing so tragic as the truth--when it comes too late!"
apprehended with certainty
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
immediately past
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading She had said to him, "There's nothing so tragic as the truth--when it comes too late!"
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
held dear
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Suddenly he saw, as if a searchlight had been flung upon them, the innermost, secret depths of his own heart--saw them filled with the image of another man's wife.
joined in matrimony
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading She had said to him, "There's nothing so tragic as the truth--when it comes too late!"
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And it was this tragedy with which Peter grappled now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Suddenly he saw, as if a searchlight had been flung upon them, the innermost, secret depths of his own heart--saw them filled with the image of another man's wife.
pacingnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪŋ/
(music) the speed at which a composition is to be played
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
revelationnounUS /ˌrevəˈleɪʃən/
the speech act of making something evident
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading She had said to him, "There's nothing so tragic as the truth--when it comes too late!"
cut with a saw
From this reading Suddenly he saw, as if a searchlight had been flung upon them, the innermost, secret depths of his own heart--saw them filled with the image of another man's wife.
searchlightnounUS /ˈsɜːrtʃlaɪt/
a light source with reflectors that projects a beam of light in a particular direction
From this reading Suddenly he saw, as if a searchlight had been flung upon them, the innermost, secret depths of his own heart--saw them filled with the image of another man's wife.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Suddenly he saw, as if a searchlight had been flung upon them, the innermost, secret depths of his own heart--saw them filled with the image of another man's wife.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
Sheila
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She had said to him, "There's nothing so tragic as the truth--when it comes too late!"
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly he saw, as if a searchlight had been flung upon them, the innermost, secret depths of his own heart--saw them filled with the image of another man's wife.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Suddenly he saw, as if a searchlight had been flung upon them, the innermost, secret depths of his own heart--saw them filled with the image of another man's wife.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had said to him, "There's nothing so tragic as the truth--when it comes too late!"
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And it was this tragedy with which Peter grappled now.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had said to him, "There's nothing so tragic as the truth--when it comes too late!"
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading She had said to him, "There's nothing so tragic as the truth--when it comes too late!"
tragedynounUS /ˈtrædʒədi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading And it was this tragedy with which Peter grappled now.
tragicadjectiveUS /ˈtrædʒɪk/
very sad; especially involving grief or death or destruction
From this reading She had said to him, "There's nothing so tragic as the truth--when it comes too late!"
a fact that has been verified
From this reading She had said to him, "There's nothing so tragic as the truth--when it comes too late!"
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Suddenly he saw, as if a searchlight had been flung upon them, the innermost, secret depths of his own heart--saw them filled with the image of another man's wife.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And it was this tragedy with which Peter grappled now.
at the time that
From this reading She had said to him, "There's nothing so tragic as the truth--when it comes too late!"
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And it was this tragedy with which Peter grappled now.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Suddenly he saw, as if a searchlight had been flung upon them, the innermost, secret depths of his own heart--saw them filled with the image of another man's wife.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And it was this tragedy with which Peter grappled now.
the words that are spoken
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Had Mrs. Caldwell seen Peter pacing the floor of his little hotel room that night, she would have been less certain that he did not love Sheila.
a late time of life
From this reading He had not known that he loved Sheila until Mrs. Caldwell told him that he should have married her; but those words had been for him a revelation; an illumination of the last ten years and more.
