used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And so Nick drew near unwelcomed--a lithe, alert figure in European attire, bare-headed, eager-faced.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading And so Nick drew near unwelcomed--a lithe, alert figure in European attire, bare-headed, eager-faced.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading It took all her resolution to remain where she was.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was possessed by an insane desire to spring up and flee.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SURRENDER She awaited him still sitting on the bench and striving vainly to quiet her thumping heart.
attirenounUS /əˈtaɪər/
clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion
From this reading And so Nick drew near unwelcomed--a lithe, alert figure in European attire, bare-headed, eager-faced.
awaitedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪtɪd/
expected hopefully
From this reading SURRENDER She awaited him still sitting on the bench and striving vainly to quiet her thumping heart.
bare-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And so Nick drew near unwelcomed--a lithe, alert figure in European attire, bare-headed, eager-faced.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading She heard him come lightly up behind her, but she did not turn her head though she had no tears to conceal.
a long seat for more than one person
From this reading SURRENDER She awaited him still sitting on the bench and striving vainly to quiet her thumping heart.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She heard him come lightly up behind her, but she did not turn her head though she had no tears to conceal.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She was possessed by an insane desire to spring up and flee.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She heard him come lightly up behind her, but she did not turn her head though she had no tears to conceal.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading She heard him come lightly up behind her, but she did not turn her head though she had no tears to conceal.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading She was possessed by an insane desire to spring up and flee.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She heard him come lightly up behind her, but she did not turn her head though she had no tears to conceal.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading And so Nick drew near unwelcomed--a lithe, alert figure in European attire, bare-headed, eager-faced.
eager-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And so Nick drew near unwelcomed--a lithe, alert figure in European attire, bare-headed, eager-faced.
EuropeannounUS /ˌjʊrəˈpiːən/
a native or inhabitant of Europe
From this reading And so Nick drew near unwelcomed--a lithe, alert figure in European attire, bare-headed, eager-faced.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading And so Nick drew near unwelcomed--a lithe, alert figure in European attire, bare-headed, eager-faced.
fleeverbUS /fliː/
run away quickly
From this reading She was possessed by an insane desire to spring up and flee.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She heard him come lightly up behind her, but she did not turn her head though she had no tears to conceal.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She heard him come lightly up behind her, but she did not turn her head though she had no tears to conceal.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading She heard him come lightly up behind her, but she did not turn her head though she had no tears to conceal.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading SURRENDER She awaited him still sitting on the bench and striving vainly to quiet her thumping heart.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading SURRENDER She awaited him still sitting on the bench and striving vainly to quiet her thumping heart.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading SURRENDER She awaited him still sitting on the bench and striving vainly to quiet her thumping heart.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And so Nick drew near unwelcomed--a lithe, alert figure in European attire, bare-headed, eager-faced.
insaneadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈseɪn/
afflicted with or characteristic of mental derangement
From this reading She was possessed by an insane desire to spring up and flee.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It took all her resolution to remain where she was.
without good reason
From this reading She heard him come lightly up behind her, but she did not turn her head though she had no tears to conceal.
litheadjectiveUS /laɪð/
gracefully thin and bending and moving with ease
From this reading And so Nick drew near unwelcomed--a lithe, alert figure in European attire, bare-headed, eager-faced.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading And so Nick drew near unwelcomed--a lithe, alert figure in European attire, bare-headed, eager-faced.
NickverbUS /nɪk/
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading And so Nick drew near unwelcomed--a lithe, alert figure in European attire, bare-headed, eager-faced.
not any; not one
From this reading She heard him come lightly up behind her, but she did not turn her head though she had no tears to conceal.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She heard him come lightly up behind her, but she did not turn her head though she had no tears to conceal.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading SURRENDER She awaited him still sitting on the bench and striving vainly to quiet her thumping heart.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading She was possessed by an insane desire to spring up and flee.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading SURRENDER She awaited him still sitting on the bench and striving vainly to quiet her thumping heart.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading It took all her resolution to remain where she was.
a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote
From this reading It took all her resolution to remain where she was.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading SURRENDER She awaited him still sitting on the bench and striving vainly to quiet her thumping heart.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading SURRENDER She awaited him still sitting on the bench and striving vainly to quiet her thumping heart.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And so Nick drew near unwelcomed--a lithe, alert figure in European attire, bare-headed, eager-faced.
the season of growth
From this reading She was possessed by an insane desire to spring up and flee.
not in physical motion
From this reading SURRENDER She awaited him still sitting on the bench and striving vainly to quiet her thumping heart.
strivingnounUS /ˈstraɪvɪŋ/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading SURRENDER She awaited him still sitting on the bench and striving vainly to quiet her thumping heart.
SURRENDERnounUS /sərˈendər/
acceptance of despair
From this reading SURRENDER She awaited him still sitting on the bench and striving vainly to quiet her thumping heart.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading She heard him come lightly up behind her, but she did not turn her head though she had no tears to conceal.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SURRENDER She awaited him still sitting on the bench and striving vainly to quiet her thumping heart.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She heard him come lightly up behind her, but she did not turn her head though she had no tears to conceal.
thumpingnounUS /ˈθʌmpɪŋ/
a heavy dull sound (as made by impact of heavy objects)
From this reading SURRENDER She awaited him still sitting on the bench and striving vainly to quiet her thumping heart.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SURRENDER She awaited him still sitting on the bench and striving vainly to quiet her thumping heart.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading It took all her resolution to remain where she was.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading She heard him come lightly up behind her, but she did not turn her head though she had no tears to conceal.
unwelcomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And so Nick drew near unwelcomed--a lithe, alert figure in European attire, bare-headed, eager-faced.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She heard him come lightly up behind her, but she did not turn her head though she had no tears to conceal.
vainlyadverbUS /ˈveɪnli/
to no avail
From this reading SURRENDER She awaited him still sitting on the bench and striving vainly to quiet her thumping heart.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was possessed by an insane desire to spring up and flee.
in or at the place that
From this reading It took all her resolution to remain where she was.
