used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The former had assumed a woeful and despairing demeanour which at the end of a few days alarmed Madame Raquin.
experiencing a sudden sense of danger
From this reading The former had assumed a woeful and despairing demeanour which at the end of a few days alarmed Madame Raquin.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the meanwhile, the secret work of Thérèse and Laurent was productive of results.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading She spoke in a vague manner of feeling weary, depressed, of suffering from her nerves, without making any precise complaint.
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading The former had assumed a woeful and despairing demeanour which at the end of a few days alarmed Madame Raquin.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The former had assumed a woeful and despairing demeanour which at the end of a few days alarmed Madame Raquin.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading When pressed by her aunt with questions, she replied that she was well, that she could not imagine what it was that made her so low-spirited, and that she shed tears without knowing why.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When pressed by her aunt with questions, she replied that she was well, that she could not imagine what it was that made her so low-spirited, and that she shed tears without knowing why.
complaintnounUS /kəmˈpleɪnt/
an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
From this reading She spoke in a vague manner of feeling weary, depressed, of suffering from her nerves, without making any precise complaint.
consummateverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəmət/
fulfill sexually
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When pressed by her aunt with questions, she replied that she was well, that she could not imagine what it was that made her so low-spirited, and that she shed tears without knowing why.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The former had assumed a woeful and despairing demeanour which at the end of a few days alarmed Madame Raquin.
demeanournounUS /dɪˈmiːnər/
(behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people
From this reading The former had assumed a woeful and despairing demeanour which at the end of a few days alarmed Madame Raquin.
depressedadjectiveUS /dɪˈprest/
lower than previously
From this reading She spoke in a vague manner of feeling weary, depressed, of suffering from her nerves, without making any precise complaint.
despairingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsperɪŋ/
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading The former had assumed a woeful and despairing demeanour which at the end of a few days alarmed Madame Raquin.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The former had assumed a woeful and despairing demeanour which at the end of a few days alarmed Madame Raquin.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading She spoke in a vague manner of feeling weary, depressed, of suffering from her nerves, without making any precise complaint.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The former had assumed a woeful and despairing demeanour which at the end of a few days alarmed Madame Raquin.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading The former had assumed a woeful and despairing demeanour which at the end of a few days alarmed Madame Raquin.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She spoke in a vague manner of feeling weary, depressed, of suffering from her nerves, without making any precise complaint.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The former had assumed a woeful and despairing demeanour which at the end of a few days alarmed Madame Raquin.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading When pressed by her aunt with questions, she replied that she was well, that she could not imagine what it was that made her so low-spirited, and that she shed tears without knowing why.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the meanwhile, the secret work of Thérèse and Laurent was productive of results.
inconsolableadjective
sad beyond comforting; incapable of being consoled
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When pressed by her aunt with questions, she replied that she was well, that she could not imagine what it was that made her so low-spirited, and that she shed tears without knowing why.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading When pressed by her aunt with questions, she replied that she was well, that she could not imagine what it was that made her so low-spirited, and that she shed tears without knowing why.
Laurent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the meanwhile, the secret work of Thérèse and Laurent was productive of results.
low-spiritedadjectiveUS /ˌloʊˈspɪrətɪd/
filled with melancholy and despondency
From this reading When pressed by her aunt with questions, she replied that she was well, that she could not imagine what it was that made her so low-spirited, and that she shed tears without knowing why.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading The former had assumed a woeful and despairing demeanour which at the end of a few days alarmed Madame Raquin.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading She spoke in a vague manner of feeling weary, depressed, of suffering from her nerves, without making any precise complaint.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She spoke in a vague manner of feeling weary, depressed, of suffering from her nerves, without making any precise complaint.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading In the meanwhile, the secret work of Thérèse and Laurent was productive of results.
mercernounUS /ˈmɜːrsər/
a dealer in textiles (especially silks)
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading She spoke in a vague manner of feeling weary, depressed, of suffering from her nerves, without making any precise complaint.
niecenounUS /niːs/
a daughter of your brother or sister
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When pressed by her aunt with questions, she replied that she was well, that she could not imagine what it was that made her so low-spirited, and that she shed tears without knowing why.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the meanwhile, the secret work of Thérèse and Laurent was productive of results.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
preciseadjectiveUS /prɪˈsaɪs/
sharply exact or accurate or delimited
From this reading She spoke in a vague manner of feeling weary, depressed, of suffering from her nerves, without making any precise complaint.
compacted by ironing
From this reading When pressed by her aunt with questions, she replied that she was well, that she could not imagine what it was that made her so low-spirited, and that she shed tears without knowing why.
productiveadjectiveUS /prəˈdʌktɪv/
producing or capable of producing (especially abundantly)
From this reading In the meanwhile, the secret work of Thérèse and Laurent was productive of results.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading When pressed by her aunt with questions, she replied that she was well, that she could not imagine what it was that made her so low-spirited, and that she shed tears without knowing why.
Raquin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The former had assumed a woeful and despairing demeanour which at the end of a few days alarmed Madame Raquin.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading When pressed by her aunt with questions, she replied that she was well, that she could not imagine what it was that made her so low-spirited, and that she shed tears without knowing why.
resultsnounUS /rɪˈzʌlts/
plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading In the meanwhile, the secret work of Thérèse and Laurent was productive of results.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading In the meanwhile, the secret work of Thérèse and Laurent was productive of results.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She spoke in a vague manner of feeling weary, depressed, of suffering from her nerves, without making any precise complaint.
get rid of
From this reading When pressed by her aunt with questions, she replied that she was well, that she could not imagine what it was that made her so low-spirited, and that she shed tears without knowing why.
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading She spoke in a vague manner of feeling weary, depressed, of suffering from her nerves, without making any precise complaint.
a state of acute pain
From this reading She spoke in a vague manner of feeling weary, depressed, of suffering from her nerves, without making any precise complaint.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading When pressed by her aunt with questions, she replied that she was well, that she could not imagine what it was that made her so low-spirited, and that she shed tears without knowing why.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When pressed by her aunt with questions, she replied that she was well, that she could not imagine what it was that made her so low-spirited, and that she shed tears without knowing why.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the meanwhile, the secret work of Thérèse and Laurent was productive of results.
Thérèse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the meanwhile, the secret work of Thérèse and Laurent was productive of results.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading She spoke in a vague manner of feeling weary, depressed, of suffering from her nerves, without making any precise complaint.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the meanwhile, the secret work of Thérèse and Laurent was productive of results.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading She spoke in a vague manner of feeling weary, depressed, of suffering from her nerves, without making any precise complaint.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading When pressed by her aunt with questions, she replied that she was well, that she could not imagine what it was that made her so low-spirited, and that she shed tears without knowing why.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
at the time that
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The former had assumed a woeful and despairing demeanour which at the end of a few days alarmed Madame Raquin.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading When pressed by her aunt with questions, she replied that she was well, that she could not imagine what it was that made her so low-spirited, and that she shed tears without knowing why.
a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading She spoke in a vague manner of feeling weary, depressed, of suffering from her nerves, without making any precise complaint.
woefuladjectiveUS /ˈwoʊfəl/
affected by or full of grief or woe
From this reading The former had assumed a woeful and despairing demeanour which at the end of a few days alarmed Madame Raquin.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading In the meanwhile, the secret work of Thérèse and Laurent was productive of results.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading When the old mercer inquired what made her niece so sad, the young woman played the part of an inconsolable widow with consummate skill.
