used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
abackadverbUS /əˈbæk/
having the wind against the forward side of the sails
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
anew
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading As I listened to the silvery tones of the fair orator, I became conscious that I was presenting a very awkward appearance.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading As I listened to the silvery tones of the fair orator, I became conscious that I was presenting a very awkward appearance.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading As I listened to the silvery tones of the fair orator, I became conscious that I was presenting a very awkward appearance.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
intentionally conceived
From this reading As I listened to the silvery tones of the fair orator, I became conscious that I was presenting a very awkward appearance.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
opinion or judgment
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading As I listened to the silvery tones of the fair orator, I became conscious that I was presenting a very awkward appearance.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
flowedverbUS /floʊd/
past form of “flow” — move or progress freely as if in a stream
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
something acquired without compensation
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
destroyed or killed
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
an opening into or through something
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
and nothing more
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading As I listened to the silvery tones of the fair orator, I became conscious that I was presenting a very awkward appearance.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
characterized by grandeur
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
oratornounUS /ˈɔːrətər/
a person who delivers a speech or oration
From this reading As I listened to the silvery tones of the fair orator, I became conscious that I was presenting a very awkward appearance.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
presentingverbUS /prɪˈzentɪŋ/
-ing form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading As I listened to the silvery tones of the fair orator, I became conscious that I was presenting a very awkward appearance.
cut with a saw
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
shineverbUS /ʃaɪn/
be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
silveryadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlvəri/
resembling or reminiscent of silver
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
sinkverbUS /sɪŋk/
fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading WOLF’S SPEECH.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
in or at that place or location
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading As I listened to the silvery tones of the fair orator, I became conscious that I was presenting a very awkward appearance.
Toppleton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
precisely as stated
From this reading As I listened to the silvery tones of the fair orator, I became conscious that I was presenting a very awkward appearance.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
at the time that
From this reading I was never so “taken aback” in my life as when I heard the silvery voice of Miss Grace Toppleton, and saw the magnificent gift in her hand.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading I wished there was a hole in the platform beneath me, through which I might sink out of sight; but then, I am sure, if I had gone down into the gloom of the space beneath me, I should instantly have wished myself back again; for I was the hero of the occasion, and the soft eyes of Miss Grace were fixed upon me.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At any time I should have looked at her with interest; but just then it seemed to me that the sun had ceased to shine, and all the light which flowed down upon the brilliant scene around me came from her beautiful face.
WOLF'SnounUS /wʊlfs/
possessive form of “wolf” — any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
From this reading WOLF’S SPEECH.
