used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Series of Shocks A FIT of shivering seized Bertha.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Had he stolen the diamonds, and so when he lost them was afraid to make enquiries about them through fear of being found out?
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading Had he stolen the diamonds, and so when he lost them was afraid to make enquiries about them through fear of being found out?
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading As it was, she felt as if she were up against the greatest trouble of her life.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
Bertha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Series of Shocks A FIT of shivering seized Bertha.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
diamondsnounUS /ˈdaɪməndz/
plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading Had he stolen the diamonds, and so when he lost them was afraid to make enquiries about them through fear of being found out?
enquiries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had he stolen the diamonds, and so when he lost them was afraid to make enquiries about them through fear of being found out?
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Had he stolen the diamonds, and so when he lost them was afraid to make enquiries about them through fear of being found out?
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading As it was, she felt as if she were up against the greatest trouble of her life.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading A Series of Shocks A FIT of shivering seized Bertha.
set up or found
From this reading Had he stolen the diamonds, and so when he lost them was afraid to make enquiries about them through fear of being found out?
highest in quality
From this reading As it was, she felt as if she were up against the greatest trouble of her life.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had he stolen the diamonds, and so when he lost them was afraid to make enquiries about them through fear of being found out?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had he stolen the diamonds, and so when he lost them was afraid to make enquiries about them through fear of being found out?
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading As it was, she felt as if she were up against the greatest trouble of her life.
a single distinct event
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As it was, she felt as if she were up against the greatest trouble of her life.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading As it was, she felt as if she were up against the greatest trouble of her life.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Had he stolen the diamonds, and so when he lost them was afraid to make enquiries about them through fear of being found out?
magnitudenounUS /ˈmæɡnətuːd/
the property of relative size or extent (whether large or small)
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
engage in
From this reading Had he stolen the diamonds, and so when he lost them was afraid to make enquiries about them through fear of being found out?
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Was the man a thief?
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A Series of Shocks A FIT of shivering seized Bertha.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Had he stolen the diamonds, and so when he lost them was afraid to make enquiries about them through fear of being found out?
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading A Series of Shocks A FIT of shivering seized Bertha.
similar things placed in order or happening one after another
From this reading A Series of Shocks A FIT of shivering seized Bertha.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
shiveringnounUS /ˈʃɪvərɪŋ/
a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever
From this reading A Series of Shocks A FIT of shivering seized Bertha.
ShocksnounUS /ʃɑːks/
plural of “shock” — the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading A Series of Shocks A FIT of shivering seized Bertha.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Had he stolen the diamonds, and so when he lost them was afraid to make enquiries about them through fear of being found out?
not in physical motion
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent
From this reading Had he stolen the diamonds, and so when he lost them was afraid to make enquiries about them through fear of being found out?
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Had he stolen the diamonds, and so when he lost them was afraid to make enquiries about them through fear of being found out?
thiefnounUS /θiːf/
a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading Was the man a thief?
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Had he stolen the diamonds, and so when he lost them was afraid to make enquiries about them through fear of being found out?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Had he stolen the diamonds, and so when he lost them was afraid to make enquiries about them through fear of being found out?
a source of difficulty
From this reading As it was, she felt as if she were up against the greatest trouble of her life.
unstrungadjective
emotionally upset
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As it was, she felt as if she were up against the greatest trouble of her life.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading As it was, she felt as if she were up against the greatest trouble of her life.
at the time that
From this reading Had he stolen the diamonds, and so when he lost them was afraid to make enquiries about them through fear of being found out?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Of course she was weak and unstrung still, or the incident would not have struck her as being of such magnitude.
