used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading He had been closeted long with Giannotto; strangely elated he had seemed, and Valentine shudderingly wondered what was in the air.
alliancenounUS /əˈlaɪəns/
the state of being allied or confederated
From this reading For some days she had seen his purpose in his face, and to-day the alliance with the Pope confirmed it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading She did not greatly care, she was too crushed with her own failures to care much for the failure of another.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been closeted long with Giannotto; strangely elated he had seemed, and Valentine shudderingly wondered what was in the air.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading She did not greatly care, she was too crushed with her own failures to care much for the failure of another.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
closetedverbUS /ˈklɑːzətɪd/
past form of “closet” — confine to a small space, as for intensive work
From this reading He had been closeted long with Giannotto; strangely elated he had seemed, and Valentine shudderingly wondered what was in the air.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading That there was something she knew full well; Visconti was hatching some stroke that would complete Della Scala's ruin.
confirmedadjectiveUS /kənˈfɜːrmd/
of persons; not subject to change
From this reading For some days she had seen his purpose in his face, and to-day the alliance with the Pope confirmed it.
Conrad'snounUS /ˈkɑːnrædz/
possessive form of “conrad” — English novelist (born in Poland) noted for sea stories and for his narrative technique (1857-1924)
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
determine the number or amount of
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
crushedadjectiveUS /krʌʃt/
treated so as to have a permanently wrinkled appearance
From this reading She did not greatly care, she was too crushed with her own failures to care much for the failure of another.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading For some days she had seen his purpose in his face, and to-day the alliance with the Pope confirmed it.
Della
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That there was something she knew full well; Visconti was hatching some stroke that would complete Della Scala's ruin.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She did not greatly care, she was too crushed with her own failures to care much for the failure of another.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
elatedadjectiveUS /ɪˈleɪtəd/
exultantly proud and joyful; in high spirits
From this reading He had been closeted long with Giannotto; strangely elated he had seemed, and Valentine shudderingly wondered what was in the air.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading For some days she had seen his purpose in his face, and to-day the alliance with the Pope confirmed it.
an act that fails
From this reading She did not greatly care, she was too crushed with her own failures to care much for the failure of another.
failuresnounUS /ˈfeɪljərz/
plural of “failure” — an act that fails
From this reading She did not greatly care, she was too crushed with her own failures to care much for the failure of another.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For some days she had seen his purpose in his face, and to-day the alliance with the Pope confirmed it.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading That there was something she knew full well; Visconti was hatching some stroke that would complete Della Scala's ruin.
Giannotto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been closeted long with Giannotto; strangely elated he had seemed, and Valentine shudderingly wondered what was in the air.
something acquired without compensation
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading She did not greatly care, she was too crushed with her own failures to care much for the failure of another.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
hatchingnounUS /ˈhætʃɪŋ/
the production of young from an egg
From this reading That there was something she knew full well; Visconti was hatching some stroke that would complete Della Scala's ruin.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been closeted long with Giannotto; strangely elated he had seemed, and Valentine shudderingly wondered what was in the air.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For some days she had seen his purpose in his face, and to-day the alliance with the Pope confirmed it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had been closeted long with Giannotto; strangely elated he had seemed, and Valentine shudderingly wondered what was in the air.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading That there was something she knew full well; Visconti was hatching some stroke that would complete Della Scala's ruin.
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 He had been closeted long with Giannotto; strangely elated he had seemed, and Valentine shudderingly wondered what was in the air.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She did not greatly care, she was too crushed with her own failures to care much for the failure of another.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She did not greatly care, she was too crushed with her own failures to care much for the failure of another.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading She did not greatly care, she was too crushed with her own failures to care much for the failure of another.
PopenounUS /poʊp/
the head of the Roman Catholic Church
From this reading For some days she had seen his purpose in his face, and to-day the alliance with the Pope confirmed it.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading For some days she had seen his purpose in his face, and to-day the alliance with the Pope confirmed it.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading That there was something she knew full well; Visconti was hatching some stroke that would complete Della Scala's ruin.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
Scala's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That there was something she knew full well; Visconti was hatching some stroke that would complete Della Scala's ruin.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He had been closeted long with Giannotto; strangely elated he had seemed, and Valentine shudderingly wondered what was in the air.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading For some days she had seen his purpose in his face, and to-day the alliance with the Pope confirmed it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That there was something she knew full well; Visconti was hatching some stroke that would complete Della Scala's ruin.
shudderinglyadverb
with a shudder
From this reading He had been closeted long with Giannotto; strangely elated he had seemed, and Valentine shudderingly wondered what was in the air.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading That there was something she knew full well; Visconti was hatching some stroke that would complete Della Scala's ruin.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading That there was something she knew full well; Visconti was hatching some stroke that would complete Della Scala's ruin.
in a strange manner
From this reading He had been closeted long with Giannotto; strangely elated he had seemed, and Valentine shudderingly wondered what was in the air.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading That there was something she knew full well; Visconti was hatching some stroke that would complete Della Scala's ruin.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
in or at that place or location
From this reading That there was something she knew full well; Visconti was hatching some stroke that would complete Della Scala's ruin.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some days she had seen his purpose in his face, and to-day the alliance with the Pope confirmed it.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading She did not greatly care, she was too crushed with her own failures to care much for the failure of another.
ValentinenounUS /ˈvæləntaɪn/
a sweetheart chosen to receive a greeting on Saint Valentine's Day
From this reading He had been closeted long with Giannotto; strangely elated he had seemed, and Valentine shudderingly wondered what was in the air.
ViscontinounUS /viˈskoʊnti/
Italian filmmaker (1906-1976)
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading That there was something she knew full well; Visconti was hatching some stroke that would complete Della Scala's ruin.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He had been closeted long with Giannotto; strangely elated he had seemed, and Valentine shudderingly wondered what was in the air.
in the company of; together with
From this reading That morning Visconti had told her the war was drawing to a close--said it with much meaning, and promised her, smiling, Count Conrad's head as a wedding gift.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading He had been closeted long with Giannotto; strangely elated he had seemed, and Valentine shudderingly wondered what was in the air.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading That there was something she knew full well; Visconti was hatching some stroke that would complete Della Scala's ruin.
