used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They recalled tales of arbitrary Russian political oppression, and imagined they were all about to be thrown into a dungeon.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They recalled tales of arbitrary Russian political oppression, and imagined they were all about to be thrown into a dungeon.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
(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 They recalled tales of arbitrary Russian political oppression, and imagined they were all about to be thrown into a dungeon.
allayedverbUS /əˈleɪd/
past form of “allay” — lessen the intensity of or calm
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
any thing at all
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
arbitraryadjectiveUS /ˈɑːrbətreri/
based on or subject to individual discretion or preference or sometimes impulse or caprice
From this reading They recalled tales of arbitrary Russian political oppression, and imagined they were all about to be thrown into a dungeon.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first they had supposed the gentleman’s remarks were merely politely casual.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They recalled tales of arbitrary Russian political oppression, and imagined they were all about to be thrown into a dungeon.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading They were made uneasy when he began to show impatience, and when the policeman stationed himself at their father’s side their wonder and fear grew.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
of short duration or distance
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
casualadjectiveUS /ˈkæʒəwəl/
marked by blithe unconcern
From this reading At first they had supposed the gentleman’s remarks were merely politely casual.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
dismaynounUS /dɪˈsmeɪ/
the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
dungeonnounUS /ˈdʌndʒən/
the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
From this reading They recalled tales of arbitrary Russian political oppression, and imagined they were all about to be thrown into a dungeon.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading They were made uneasy when he began to show impatience, and when the policeman stationed himself at their father’s side their wonder and fear grew.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading They were made uneasy when he began to show impatience, and when the policeman stationed himself at their father’s side their wonder and fear grew.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading At first they had supposed the gentleman’s remarks were merely politely casual.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
gentleman'snounUS /ˈdʒentəlmʌnz/
possessive form of “gentleman” — a man of refinement
From this reading At first they had supposed the gentleman’s remarks were merely politely casual.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading They were made uneasy when he began to show impatience, and when the policeman stationed himself at their father’s side their wonder and fear grew.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
only a very short time before
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were made uneasy when he began to show impatience, and when the policeman stationed himself at their father’s side their wonder and fear grew.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading They were made uneasy when he began to show impatience, and when the policeman stationed himself at their father’s side their wonder and fear grew.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading They recalled tales of arbitrary Russian political oppression, and imagined they were all about to be thrown into a dungeon.
impatiencenounUS /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəns/
a lack of patience; irritation with anything that causes delay
From this reading They were made uneasy when he began to show impatience, and when the policeman stationed himself at their father’s side their wonder and fear grew.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They recalled tales of arbitrary Russian political oppression, and imagined they were all about to be thrown into a dungeon.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading They were made uneasy when he began to show impatience, and when the policeman stationed himself at their father’s side their wonder and fear grew.
and nothing more
From this reading At first they had supposed the gentleman’s remarks were merely politely casual.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They recalled tales of arbitrary Russian political oppression, and imagined they were all about to be thrown into a dungeon.
and nothing more
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
oppressionnounUS /əˈpreʃən/
the act of subjugating by cruelty
From this reading They recalled tales of arbitrary Russian political oppression, and imagined they were all about to be thrown into a dungeon.
policemannounUS /pəˈliːsmən/
a member of a police force
From this reading They were made uneasy when he began to show impatience, and when the policeman stationed himself at their father’s side their wonder and fear grew.
politelyadverbUS /pəˈlaɪtli/
in a polite manner
From this reading At first they had supposed the gentleman’s remarks were merely politely casual.
involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians
From this reading They recalled tales of arbitrary Russian political oppression, and imagined they were all about to be thrown into a dungeon.
Raymond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
past form of “recall” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading They recalled tales of arbitrary Russian political oppression, and imagined they were all about to be thrown into a dungeon.
plural of “remark” — a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading At first they had supposed the gentleman’s remarks were merely politely casual.
RussiannounUS /ˈrʌʃən/
a native or inhabitant of Russia
From this reading They recalled tales of arbitrary Russian political oppression, and imagined they were all about to be thrown into a dungeon.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading They were made uneasy when he began to show impatience, and when the policeman stationed himself at their father’s side their wonder and fear grew.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading They were made uneasy when he began to show impatience, and when the policeman stationed himself at their father’s side their wonder and fear grew.
SidneynounUS /ˈsɪdni/
English poet (1554-1586)
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
stationedverbUS /ˈsteɪʃənd/
past form of “station” — assign to a station
From this reading They were made uneasy when he began to show impatience, and when the policeman stationed himself at their father’s side their wonder and fear grew.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
required or under orders
From this reading At first they had supposed the gentleman’s remarks were merely politely casual.
suspensenounUS /səˈspens/
apprehension about what is going to happen
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
plural of “tale” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading They recalled tales of arbitrary Russian political oppression, and imagined they were all about to be thrown into a dungeon.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At first they had supposed the gentleman’s remarks were merely politely casual.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading They recalled tales of arbitrary Russian political oppression, and imagined they were all about to be thrown into a dungeon.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
uneasyadjectiveUS /əˈniːzi/
lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading They were made uneasy when he began to show impatience, and when the policeman stationed himself at their father’s side their wonder and fear grew.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sidney and Raymond, not understanding anything that was said, had listened in great suspense to the conversation between their father and the stranger.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At first they had supposed the gentleman’s remarks were merely politely casual.
at the time that
From this reading They were made uneasy when he began to show impatience, and when the policeman stationed himself at their father’s side their wonder and fear grew.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading They were made uneasy when he began to show impatience, and when the policeman stationed himself at their father’s side their wonder and fear grew.
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading Their dismay was hardly allayed by their father’s brief explanation as he was hurried away, and there was only time for Sidney to call after him,-- “Don’t worry about us, father.”
