used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She hesitated for a moment as Rizzio recovered himself with an effort.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading RICE-PAPERS Doris looked from the man whose hand she had accepted to the one she had refused.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She hesitated for a moment as Rizzio recovered himself with an effort.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
attitudesnounUS /ˈætətuːdz/
plural of “attitude” — a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Do come in, Doris,” he said with a smile.
concealmentnounUS /kənˈsiːlmənt/
the condition of being concealed or hidden
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
DiscussingverbUS /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading “Hammersley and I were--er----” “Discussing the scrap of paper.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Do come in, Doris,” he said with a smile.
DorisnounUS /ˈdɔːrəs/
(Greek mythology) wife of Nereus and mother of the Nereids
From this reading RICE-PAPERS Doris looked from the man whose hand she had accepted to the one she had refused.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading She hesitated for a moment as Rizzio recovered himself with an effort.
eloquentadjectiveUS /ˈeləkwənt/
expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs with yttrium
From this reading “Hammersley and I were--er----” “Discussing the scrap of paper.
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 Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She hesitated for a moment as Rizzio recovered himself with an effort.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading RICE-PAPERS Doris looked from the man whose hand she had accepted to the one she had refused.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading RICE-PAPERS Doris looked from the man whose hand she had accepted to the one she had refused.
Hammersley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Hammersley and I were--er----” “Discussing the scrap of paper.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading RICE-PAPERS Doris looked from the man whose hand she had accepted to the one she had refused.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Do come in, Doris,” he said with a smile.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading She hesitated for a moment as Rizzio recovered himself with an effort.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading She hesitated for a moment as Rizzio recovered himself with an effort.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Hammersley and I were--er----” “Discussing the scrap of paper.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Do come in, Doris,” he said with a smile.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading RICE-PAPERS Doris looked from the man whose hand she had accepted to the one she had refused.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading RICE-PAPERS Doris looked from the man whose hand she had accepted to the one she had refused.
a particular point in time
From this reading She hesitated for a moment as Rizzio recovered himself with an effort.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading RICE-PAPERS Doris looked from the man whose hand she had accepted to the one she had refused.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading “Hammersley and I were--er----” “Discussing the scrap of paper.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
phrasesnounUS /ˈfreɪzəz/
plural of “phrase” — an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
freed from illness or injury
From this reading She hesitated for a moment as Rizzio recovered himself with an effort.
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading RICE-PAPERS Doris looked from the man whose hand she had accepted to the one she had refused.
relieveverbUS /rɪˈliːv/
provide physical relief, as from pain
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
RICE-PAPERS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RICE-PAPERS Doris looked from the man whose hand she had accepted to the one she had refused.
Rizzio
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hesitated for a moment as Rizzio recovered himself with an effort.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Do come in, Doris,” he said with a smile.
scrapnounUS /skræp/
a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
From this reading “Hammersley and I were--er----” “Discussing the scrap of paper.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading RICE-PAPERS Doris looked from the man whose hand she had accepted to the one she had refused.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading “Do come in, Doris,” he said with a smile.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
tensionnounUS /ˈtenʃən/
(psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RICE-PAPERS Doris looked from the man whose hand she had accepted to the one she had refused.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading RICE-PAPERS Doris looked from the man whose hand she had accepted to the one she had refused.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Their attitudes were eloquent of concealment and the few phrases which had reached her ears as she paused outside the curtain did nothing to relieve the sudden tension of her fears.
belonging to which person
From this reading RICE-PAPERS Doris looked from the man whose hand she had accepted to the one she had refused.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She hesitated for a moment as Rizzio recovered himself with an effort.
