used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
agitationnounUS /ˌædʒəˈteɪʃən/
a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
anchornounUS /ˈæŋkər/
a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
appropriateverbUS /əˈproʊpriət/
give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
beholdingnounUS /bɪˈhoʊldɪŋ/
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
the two together, not just one
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
crisisnounUS /ˈkraɪsəs/
an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
Erradeen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Lord Erradeen!"
every person
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
hallucinationnounUS /həˌluːsəˈneɪʃən/
illusory perception; a common symptom of severe mental disorder
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
inappropriateadjectiveUS /ˌɪnəˈproʊpriɪt/
not suitable for a particular occasion etc
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
incarnationnounUS /ˌɪnˈkɑːrˈneɪʃən/
a new personification of a familiar idea
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading "Lord Erradeen!"
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
Oona
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
salvationnounUS /sælˈveɪʃən/
(theology) the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
only a very short time before
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
speciallyadverbUS /ˈspeʃəli/
in a special manner
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
