used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Donald gave a slight start.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a pause, which to Ruth seemed an eternity, he asked quietly, "Why, Ruth?"
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Her shoulder was against his and she felt it.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading After a pause, which to Ruth seemed an eternity, he asked quietly, "Why, Ruth?"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her shoulder was against his and she felt it.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading After a pause, which to Ruth seemed an eternity, he asked quietly, "Why, Ruth?"
audibleadjectiveUS /ˈɑːdəbəl/
heard or perceptible by the ear
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
bereftadjectiveUS /bərˈeft/
unhappy in love; suffering from unrequited love
From this reading It seemed to have temporarily bereft him of speech.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
composurenounUS /kəmˈpoʊʒər/
steadiness of mind under stress
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
demanding attention
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
Donald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Donald gave a slight start.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
eternitynounUS /ɪˈtɜːrnəti/
time without end
From this reading After a pause, which to Ruth seemed an eternity, he asked quietly, "Why, Ruth?"
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Her shoulder was against his and she felt it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Donald gave a slight start.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It seemed to have temporarily bereft him of speech.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After a pause, which to Ruth seemed an eternity, he asked quietly, "Why, Ruth?"
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her shoulder was against his and she felt it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seemed to have temporarily bereft him of speech.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Her shoulder was against his and she felt it.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Her shoulder was against his and she felt it.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
a particular point in time
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It seemed to have temporarily bereft him of speech.
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading After a pause, which to Ruth seemed an eternity, he asked quietly, "Why, Ruth?"
with low volume
From this reading After a pause, which to Ruth seemed an eternity, he asked quietly, "Why, Ruth?"
regainingnounUS /rɪˈɡeɪnɪŋ/
getting something back again
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading After a pause, which to Ruth seemed an eternity, he asked quietly, "Why, Ruth?"
Identical; not different.
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to have temporarily bereft him of speech.
self-controlnounUS /ˌselfkənˈtroʊl/
the act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her shoulder was against his and she felt it.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading Her shoulder was against his and she felt it.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading Donald gave a slight start.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading It seemed to have temporarily bereft him of speech.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Donald gave a slight start.
temporarilyadverbUS /ˌtempərˈerəli/
for a limited time only; not permanently
From this reading It seemed to have temporarily bereft him of speech.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed to have temporarily bereft him of speech.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading She lost her composure for a moment and felt like crying, but regaining her self-control, answered in the same barely audible voice, "I'm already engaged."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her shoulder was against his and she felt it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading After a pause, which to Ruth seemed an eternity, he asked quietly, "Why, Ruth?"
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading After a pause, which to Ruth seemed an eternity, he asked quietly, "Why, Ruth?"
