used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A PEACEFUL HOUR.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In the old porch at Bellville, of which you have read so much, sat Charles Taylor.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
beamsnounUS /biːmz/
plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
Bellville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the old porch at Bellville, of which you have read so much, sat Charles Taylor.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
make calm or still
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading In the old porch at Bellville, of which you have read so much, sat Charles Taylor.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
convalescencenounUS /ˌkɑːnvəˈlesəns/
gradual healing (through rest) after sickness or injury
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
effectsnounUS /ɪˈfekts/
property of a personal character that is portable but not used in business
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
at any time
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
fatiguenounUS /fəˈtiːɡ/
temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
ghastlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡæstli/
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In the old porch at Bellville, of which you have read so much, sat Charles Taylor.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading A PEACEFUL HOUR.
implacableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈplækəbəl/
incapable of being placated
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the old porch at Bellville, of which you have read so much, sat Charles Taylor.
ineffableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnefəbəl/
defying expression or description
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
invalid-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
Martha's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading In the old porch at Bellville, of which you have read so much, sat Charles Taylor.
not any; not one
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the old porch at Bellville, of which you have read so much, sat Charles Taylor.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading In the old porch at Bellville, of which you have read so much, sat Charles Taylor.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
PEACEFULadjectiveUS /ˈpiːsfəl/
not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
From this reading A PEACEFUL HOUR.
permanentadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrmənənt/
continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
pillowsnounUS /ˈpɪloʊz/
plural of “pillow” — a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading In the old porch at Bellville, of which you have read so much, sat Charles Taylor.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading In the old porch at Bellville, of which you have read so much, sat Charles Taylor.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading In the old porch at Bellville, of which you have read so much, sat Charles Taylor.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading In the old porch at Bellville, of which you have read so much, sat Charles Taylor.
in the near future
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
sunnyadjectiveUS /ˈsʌni/
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
TaylornounUS /ˈteɪlər/
United States composer and music critic (1885-1966)
From this reading In the old porch at Bellville, of which you have read so much, sat Charles Taylor.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the old porch at Bellville, of which you have read so much, sat Charles Taylor.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
in or at that place or location
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
someone who visits
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
wanadjectiveUS /wɑːn/
(of light) lacking in intensity or brightness; dim or feeble
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading An invalid-chair had been placed there, and he lay back on its pillows in the beams of the afternoon sun of the late autumn; a warm sunny day it had been.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
a flaw or weak point
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
(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 He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Not in his looks, pale, wan, ghastly were they, the shadow of the grim implacable visitor, that was so soon to come, was already on them; but the face in its calm, stillness told of ineffable peace.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In the old porch at Bellville, of which you have read so much, sat Charles Taylor.
wonderously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was feeling wonderously well; almost, but for his ever present weakness, quite well; his fatigue of the previous day, that of Martha’s wedding, had left no permanent effects upon him, and had he not known thoroughly his own hopeless state he might have fancied this afternoon that he was approaching convalescence.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading In the old porch at Bellville, of which you have read so much, sat Charles Taylor.
