used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Her heart was touched, as it is easy to touch the heart of a mother.
how long something has existed
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
agitationnounUS /ˌædʒəˈteɪʃən/
a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance
From this reading Mrs. Methven had time to recover from the agitation and trouble of the morning before her visitors' arrival.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading He was very pale, and had an air of exhaustion, to which his softened manners and evident endeavour to please her gave an almost pathetic aspect.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He was very pale, and had an air of exhaustion, to which his softened manners and evident endeavour to please her gave an almost pathetic aspect.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was very pale, and had an air of exhaustion, to which his softened manners and evident endeavour to please her gave an almost pathetic aspect.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. Methven had time to recover from the agitation and trouble of the morning before her visitors' arrival.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Walter's aspect had so much changed when he appeared that her fears were calmed, though not dispelled.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading Mrs. Methven had time to recover from the agitation and trouble of the morning before her visitors' arrival.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Her heart was touched, as it is easy to touch the heart of a mother.
a distinct feature or element in a problem
From this reading Walter's aspect had so much changed when he appeared that her fears were calmed, though not dispelled.
awakeningnounUS /əˈweɪkənɪŋ/
the act of waking
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Mrs. Methven had time to recover from the agitation and trouble of the morning before her visitors' arrival.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
calmedverbUS /kɑːmd/
past form of “calm” — make calm or still
From this reading Walter's aspect had so much changed when he appeared that her fears were calmed, though not dispelled.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading Walter's aspect had so much changed when he appeared that her fears were calmed, though not dispelled.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
dispelledverbUS /dɪˈspeld/
inflected form of “dispel” — force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings
From this reading Walter's aspect had so much changed when he appeared that her fears were calmed, though not dispelled.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Her heart was touched, as it is easy to touch the heart of a mother.
endeavournounUS /ɪnˈdevər/
a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)
From this reading He was very pale, and had an air of exhaustion, to which his softened manners and evident endeavour to please her gave an almost pathetic aspect.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading He was very pale, and had an air of exhaustion, to which his softened manners and evident endeavour to please her gave an almost pathetic aspect.
exhaustionnounUS /ɪɡˈzɔːstʃən/
extreme fatigue
From this reading He was very pale, and had an air of exhaustion, to which his softened manners and evident endeavour to please her gave an almost pathetic aspect.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
plural of “fear” — an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading Walter's aspect had so much changed when he appeared that her fears were calmed, though not dispelled.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mrs. Methven had time to recover from the agitation and trouble of the morning before her visitors' arrival.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He was very pale, and had an air of exhaustion, to which his softened manners and evident endeavour to please her gave an almost pathetic aspect.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Methven had time to recover from the agitation and trouble of the morning before her visitors' arrival.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Walter's aspect had so much changed when he appeared that her fears were calmed, though not dispelled.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Her heart was touched, as it is easy to touch the heart of a mother.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Methven had time to recover from the agitation and trouble of the morning before her visitors' arrival.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was very pale, and had an air of exhaustion, to which his softened manners and evident endeavour to please her gave an almost pathetic aspect.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her heart was touched, as it is easy to touch the heart of a mother.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Her heart was touched, as it is easy to touch the heart of a mother.
social deportment
From this reading He was very pale, and had an air of exhaustion, to which his softened manners and evident endeavour to please her gave an almost pathetic aspect.
Methven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Methven had time to recover from the agitation and trouble of the morning before her visitors' arrival.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Mrs. Methven had time to recover from the agitation and trouble of the morning before her visitors' arrival.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Her heart was touched, as it is easy to touch the heart of a mother.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Methven had time to recover from the agitation and trouble of the morning before her visitors' arrival.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Walter's aspect had so much changed when he appeared that her fears were calmed, though not dispelled.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Walter's aspect had so much changed when he appeared that her fears were calmed, though not dispelled.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Methven had time to recover from the agitation and trouble of the morning before her visitors' arrival.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading He was very pale, and had an air of exhaustion, to which his softened manners and evident endeavour to please her gave an almost pathetic aspect.
patheticadjectiveUS /pəˈθetɪk/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading He was very pale, and had an air of exhaustion, to which his softened manners and evident endeavour to please her gave an almost pathetic aspect.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading He was very pale, and had an air of exhaustion, to which his softened manners and evident endeavour to please her gave an almost pathetic aspect.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
recoververbUS /rɪˈkʌvər/
get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading Mrs. Methven had time to recover from the agitation and trouble of the morning before her visitors' arrival.
retirementnounUS /riˈtaɪərmənt/
the state of being retired from one's business or occupation
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
plural of “see” — the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Walter's aspect had so much changed when he appeared that her fears were calmed, though not dispelled.
softenedadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːfənd/
toned down
From this reading He was very pale, and had an air of exhaustion, to which his softened manners and evident endeavour to please her gave an almost pathetic aspect.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Walter's aspect had so much changed when he appeared that her fears were calmed, though not dispelled.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. Methven had time to recover from the agitation and trouble of the morning before her visitors' arrival.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Walter's aspect had so much changed when he appeared that her fears were calmed, though not dispelled.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Mrs. Methven had time to recover from the agitation and trouble of the morning before her visitors' arrival.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Methven had time to recover from the agitation and trouble of the morning before her visitors' arrival.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading Her heart was touched, as it is easy to touch the heart of a mother.
having come into contact
From this reading Her heart was touched, as it is easy to touch the heart of a mother.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Mrs. Methven had time to recover from the agitation and trouble of the morning before her visitors' arrival.
precisely as stated
From this reading He was very pale, and had an air of exhaustion, to which his softened manners and evident endeavour to please her gave an almost pathetic aspect.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading Mrs. Methven had time to recover from the agitation and trouble of the morning before her visitors' arrival.
Walter'snounUS /ˈwɔːltərz/
possessive form of “walter” — German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading Walter's aspect had so much changed when he appeared that her fears were calmed, though not dispelled.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was very pale, and had an air of exhaustion, to which his softened manners and evident endeavour to please her gave an almost pathetic aspect.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Walter's aspect had so much changed when he appeared that her fears were calmed, though not dispelled.
at the time that
From this reading Walter's aspect had so much changed when he appeared that her fears were calmed, though not dispelled.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was very pale, and had an air of exhaustion, to which his softened manners and evident endeavour to please her gave an almost pathetic aspect.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading She had watched him go out in his boat with a faint awakening of that pleasure with which in ordinary circumstances a woman in the retirement of age sees her children go out to their pleasure.
