used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
abandoningverbUS /əˈbændənɪŋ/
-ing form of “abandon” — forsake, leave behind
From this reading At first he was undecided: the presence of the old woman prevented him from abandoning himself to his feelings.
adjoiningverbUS /əˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjoin” — lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading He passed into the adjoining room and opened the window.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first he was undecided: the presence of the old woman prevented him from abandoning himself to his feelings.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
travel across or pass over
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The light spread everywhere, and the curtains fluttered.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
to or in any or all places
From this reading The light spread everywhere, and the curtains fluttered.
fearingverbUS /ˈfɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading At first he was undecided: the presence of the old woman prevented him from abandoning himself to his feelings.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading At first he was undecided: the presence of the old woman prevented him from abandoning himself to his feelings.
flutteredverbUS /ˈflʌtərd/
past form of “flutter” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading The light spread everywhere, and the curtains fluttered.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At first he was undecided: the presence of the old woman prevented him from abandoning himself to his feelings.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At first he was undecided: the presence of the old woman prevented him from abandoning himself to his feelings.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At first he was undecided: the presence of the old woman prevented him from abandoning himself to his feelings.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading At first he was undecided: the presence of the old woman prevented him from abandoning himself to his feelings.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At first he was undecided: the presence of the old woman prevented him from abandoning himself to his feelings.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He passed into the adjoining room and opened the window.
irritationnounUS /ˌɪrɪˈteɪʃən/
the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The light spread everywhere, and the curtains fluttered.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At first he was undecided: the presence of the old woman prevented him from abandoning himself to his feelings.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading At first he was undecided: the presence of the old woman prevented him from abandoning himself to his feelings.
and nothing more
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading He passed into the adjoining room and opened the window.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading He passed into the adjoining room and opened the window.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading At first he was undecided: the presence of the old woman prevented him from abandoning himself to his feelings.
preventedverbUS /prɪˈventɪd/
past form of “prevent” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading At first he was undecided: the presence of the old woman prevented him from abandoning himself to his feelings.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He passed into the adjoining room and opened the window.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
express in speech
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading The light spread everywhere, and the curtains fluttered.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At first he was undecided: the presence of the old woman prevented him from abandoning himself to his feelings.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading He passed into the third room and opened the window.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At first he was undecided: the presence of the old woman prevented him from abandoning himself to his feelings.
undecidedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪˈsaɪdɪd/
not brought to a conclusion; subject to further thought
From this reading At first he was undecided: the presence of the old woman prevented him from abandoning himself to his feelings.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At first he was undecided: the presence of the old woman prevented him from abandoning himself to his feelings.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading He passed into the adjoining room and opened the window.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading At first he was undecided: the presence of the old woman prevented him from abandoning himself to his feelings.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading His irritation increased to such a degree that he did not speak a single word to her, fearing that his voice would only be cross and angry.
