used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading She began to admit she was in love with him, to do as he had bidden her, “let herself go.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Had she been a psychological instead of an epigrammatic novelist, she would have understood herself better.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She began to admit she was in love with him, to do as he had bidden her, “let herself go.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had she been a psychological instead of an epigrammatic novelist, she would have understood herself better.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She began to admit she was in love with him, to do as he had bidden her, “let herself go.”
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Had she been a psychological instead of an epigrammatic novelist, she would have understood herself better.
biddenverbUS /ˈbɪdɪn/
inflected form of “bid” — propose a payment
From this reading She began to admit she was in love with him, to do as he had bidden her, “let herself go.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But in a way the incident drew her more definitely toward Gabriel Stanton.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
definitelyadverbUS /ˈdefənətli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading But in a way the incident drew her more definitely toward Gabriel Stanton.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading She began to admit she was in love with him, to do as he had bidden her, “let herself go.”
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading But in a way the incident drew her more definitely toward Gabriel Stanton.
epigrammaticadjectiveUS /ˌepəɡrəˈmætɪk/
terse and witty and like a maxim
From this reading Had she been a psychological instead of an epigrammatic novelist, she would have understood herself better.
GabrielnounUS /ˈɡeɪbriəl/
(Bible) the archangel who was the messenger of God
From this reading But in a way the incident drew her more definitely toward Gabriel Stanton.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She began to admit she was in love with him, to do as he had bidden her, “let herself go.”
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had she been a psychological instead of an epigrammatic novelist, she would have understood herself better.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She began to admit she was in love with him, to do as he had bidden her, “let herself go.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She began to admit she was in love with him, to do as he had bidden her, “let herself go.”
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She began to admit she was in love with him, to do as he had bidden her, “let herself go.”
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading In imagination at least.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But in a way the incident drew her more definitely toward Gabriel Stanton.
a single distinct event
From this reading But in a way the incident drew her more definitely toward Gabriel Stanton.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Had she been a psychological instead of an epigrammatic novelist, she would have understood herself better.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading In imagination at least.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading She began to admit she was in love with him, to do as he had bidden her, “let herself go.”
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading She began to admit she was in love with him, to do as he had bidden her, “let herself go.”
magnifyingverbUS /ˈmæɡnəfaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “magnify” — increase in size, volume or significance
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
minimising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But in a way the incident drew her more definitely toward Gabriel Stanton.
novelistnounUS /ˈnɑːvələst/
one who writes novels
From this reading Had she been a psychological instead of an epigrammatic novelist, she would have understood herself better.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Had she been a psychological instead of an epigrammatic novelist, she would have understood herself better.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
psychologicaladjectiveUS /ˌsaɪkəˈlɑːdʒɪkəl/
mental or emotional as opposed to physical in nature
From this reading Had she been a psychological instead of an epigrammatic novelist, she would have understood herself better.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
StantonnounUS /ˈstæntən/
United States suffragist and feminist; called for reform of the practices that perpetuated sexual inequality (1815-1902)
From this reading But in a way the incident drew her more definitely toward Gabriel Stanton.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But in a way the incident drew her more definitely toward Gabriel Stanton.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading But in a way the incident drew her more definitely toward Gabriel Stanton.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading Had she been a psychological instead of an epigrammatic novelist, she would have understood herself better.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But in a way the incident drew her more definitely toward Gabriel Stanton.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She was surprised at what had happened to her, thought a great deal about it, magnifying or minimising it according to her mood.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She began to admit she was in love with him, to do as he had bidden her, “let herself go.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Had she been a psychological instead of an epigrammatic novelist, she would have understood herself better.
