used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But this bereavement was swallowed up in the anxiety for the mother, who for many days seemed about to follow her child.
Alice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
(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 the same time another calamity befell the community, a tragedy that touched all hearts.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading At the same time another calamity befell the community, a tragedy that touched all hearts.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading But this bereavement was swallowed up in the anxiety for the mother, who for many days seemed about to follow her child.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the same time another calamity befell the community, a tragedy that touched all hearts.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading This was nothing less than the sudden and unaccountable disappearance of Esther McCleary upon the night Russell had been driven from Mark’s house.
befellverbUS /bɪˈfel/
inflected form of “befall” — become of; happen to
From this reading At the same time another calamity befell the community, a tragedy that touched all hearts.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
bereavementnounUS /bərˈiːvmənt/
state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
From this reading But this bereavement was swallowed up in the anxiety for the mother, who for many days seemed about to follow her child.
brightenedverbUS /ˈbraɪtənd/
past form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But this bereavement was swallowed up in the anxiety for the mother, who for many days seemed about to follow her child.
calamitynounUS /kəˈlæməti/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading At the same time another calamity befell the community, a tragedy that touched all hearts.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
a young person of either sex
From this reading But this bereavement was swallowed up in the anxiety for the mother, who for many days seemed about to follow her child.
communitynounUS /kəˈmjuːnəti/
a group of people living in a particular local area
From this reading At the same time another calamity befell the community, a tragedy that touched all hearts.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Where she went or how, no one could determine.
Cramer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
the act of departing
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
determineverbUS /dəˈtɜːrmən/
establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
From this reading Where she went or how, no one could determine.
disappearancenounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrəns/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading This was nothing less than the sudden and unaccountable disappearance of Esther McCleary upon the night Russell had been driven from Mark’s house.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading This was nothing less than the sudden and unaccountable disappearance of Esther McCleary upon the night Russell had been driven from Mark’s house.
EsthernounUS /ˈestər/
(Old Testament) a beautiful Jewess chosen by the king of Persia to be his queen; she stopped a plot to massacre all the Jews in Persia (an event celebrated by Jews as the feast of Purim)
From this reading This was nothing less than the sudden and unaccountable disappearance of Esther McCleary upon the night Russell had been driven from Mark’s house.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading But this bereavement was swallowed up in the anxiety for the mother, who for many days seemed about to follow her child.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But this bereavement was swallowed up in the anxiety for the mother, who for many days seemed about to follow her child.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This was nothing less than the sudden and unaccountable disappearance of Esther McCleary upon the night Russell had been driven from Mark’s house.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading At the same time another calamity befell the community, a tragedy that touched all hearts.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But this bereavement was swallowed up in the anxiety for the mother, who for many days seemed about to follow her child.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading This was nothing less than the sudden and unaccountable disappearance of Esther McCleary upon the night Russell had been driven from Mark’s house.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where she went or how, no one could determine.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
immediately past
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
the act of departing
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading This was nothing less than the sudden and unaccountable disappearance of Esther McCleary upon the night Russell had been driven from Mark’s house.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading But this bereavement was swallowed up in the anxiety for the mother, who for many days seemed about to follow her child.
Mark'snounUS /mɑːrks/
possessive form of “mark” — a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
McCleary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was nothing less than the sudden and unaccountable disappearance of Esther McCleary upon the night Russell had been driven from Mark’s house.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading But this bereavement was swallowed up in the anxiety for the mother, who for many days seemed about to follow her child.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading This was nothing less than the sudden and unaccountable disappearance of Esther McCleary upon the night Russell had been driven from Mark’s house.
not any; not one
From this reading Where she went or how, no one could determine.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading This was nothing less than the sudden and unaccountable disappearance of Esther McCleary upon the night Russell had been driven from Mark’s house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Where she went or how, no one could determine.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Where she went or how, no one could determine.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
prostrated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
with speed
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
RussellnounUS /ˈrʌsəl/
United States religious leader who founded the sect that is now called Jehovah's Witnesses (1852-1916)
From this reading This was nothing less than the sudden and unaccountable disappearance of Esther McCleary upon the night Russell had been driven from Mark’s house.
Russell'snounUS /ˈrʌsəlz/
possessive form of “russell” — United States religious leader who founded the sect that is now called Jehovah's Witnesses (1852-1916)
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
Identical; not different.
From this reading At the same time another calamity befell the community, a tragedy that touched all hearts.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But this bereavement was swallowed up in the anxiety for the mother, who for many days seemed about to follow her child.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Where she went or how, no one could determine.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading This was nothing less than the sudden and unaccountable disappearance of Esther McCleary upon the night Russell had been driven from Mark’s house.
swallowedverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊd/
past form of “swallow” — pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading But this bereavement was swallowed up in the anxiety for the mother, who for many days seemed about to follow her child.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading This was nothing less than the sudden and unaccountable disappearance of Esther McCleary upon the night Russell had been driven from Mark’s house.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But this bereavement was swallowed up in the anxiety for the mother, who for many days seemed about to follow her child.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At the same time another calamity befell the community, a tragedy that touched all hearts.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
having come into contact
From this reading At the same time another calamity befell the community, a tragedy that touched all hearts.
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading At the same time another calamity befell the community, a tragedy that touched all hearts.
unaccountableadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈkaʊntəbəl/
not to be accounted for or explained
From this reading This was nothing less than the sudden and unaccountable disappearance of Esther McCleary upon the night Russell had been driven from Mark’s house.
not known
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But this bereavement was swallowed up in the anxiety for the mother, who for many days seemed about to follow her child.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading This was nothing less than the sudden and unaccountable disappearance of Esther McCleary upon the night Russell had been driven from Mark’s house.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But this bereavement was swallowed up in the anxiety for the mother, who for many days seemed about to follow her child.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading The shock of Professor Russell’s last visit and forced departure prostrated Alice Cramer, and in the days that followed, a little life that should have brightened Mark’s home opened its eyes to shut them too quickly, and went away into the unknown from whence it came, leaving desolation and sorrow behind it.
in or at the place that
From this reading Where she went or how, no one could determine.
which person or people
From this reading But this bereavement was swallowed up in the anxiety for the mother, who for many days seemed about to follow her child.
