used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
accountsnounUS /əˈkaʊnts/
plural of “account” — a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading The picture she still bore fresh in mind of the boy at the age of ten was unprepossessing enough, and the accounts she heard of the youth coincided but too well with it.
how long something has existed
From this reading The picture she still bore fresh in mind of the boy at the age of ten was unprepossessing enough, and the accounts she heard of the youth coincided but too well with it.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
announcementnounUS /əˈnaʊnsmənt/
a formal public statement
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
Baratowski
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
cause to be bored
From this reading The picture she still bore fresh in mind of the boy at the age of ten was unprepossessing enough, and the accounts she heard of the youth coincided but too well with it.
a youthful male person
From this reading The picture she still bore fresh in mind of the boy at the age of ten was unprepossessing enough, and the accounts she heard of the youth coincided but too well with it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
coincidedverbUS /ˌkoʊənˈsaɪdəd/
past form of “coincide” — go with, fall together
From this reading The picture she still bore fresh in mind of the boy at the age of ten was unprepossessing enough, and the accounts she heard of the youth coincided but too well with it.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
communicationnounUS /kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃən/
the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
gotten under control
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
discernverbUS /dɪˈsɜːrn/
detect with the senses
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The picture she still bore fresh in mind of the boy at the age of ten was unprepossessing enough, and the accounts she heard of the youth coincided but too well with it.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
a social unit living together
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
fixedlyadverb
in a fixed manner
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
forenoonnoun
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading The picture she still bore fresh in mind of the boy at the age of ten was unprepossessing enough, and the accounts she heard of the youth coincided but too well with it.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
handwritingnounUS /ˈhændraɪtɪŋ/
something written by hand
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The picture she still bore fresh in mind of the boy at the age of ten was unprepossessing enough, and the accounts she heard of the youth coincided but too well with it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
intervalsnounUS /ˈɪntərvəlz/
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
messenger's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The picture she still bore fresh in mind of the boy at the age of ten was unprepossessing enough, and the accounts she heard of the youth coincided but too well with it.
missivenounUS /ˈmɪsɪv/
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
held or filled or in use
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading The picture she still bore fresh in mind of the boy at the age of ten was unprepossessing enough, and the accounts she heard of the youth coincided but too well with it.
The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
with speed
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
a male human offspring
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
not in physical motion
From this reading The picture she still bore fresh in mind of the boy at the age of ten was unprepossessing enough, and the accounts she heard of the youth coincided but too well with it.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading The picture she still bore fresh in mind of the boy at the age of ten was unprepossessing enough, and the accounts she heard of the youth coincided but too well with it.
tenantedadjective
resided in; having tenants
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The picture she still bore fresh in mind of the boy at the age of ten was unprepossessing enough, and the accounts she heard of the youth coincided but too well with it.
hard to endure
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
unprepossessingadjective
creating an unfavorable or neutral first impression
From this reading The picture she still bore fresh in mind of the boy at the age of ten was unprepossessing enough, and the accounts she heard of the youth coincided but too well with it.
villanounUS /ˈvɪlə/
Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
Waldemar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was early in the forenoon, and the morning room of the villa in C----, occupied by the Baratowski family, was, for the time being, tenanted by the Princess alone.
(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 The picture she still bore fresh in mind of the boy at the age of ten was unprepossessing enough, and the accounts she heard of the youth coincided but too well with it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She was absorbed in the study of a letter which she had received an hour before, and which contained an announcement from Waldemar that he intended coming over that day, and should follow quickly on his messenger's steps.
which person or people
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The picture she still bore fresh in mind of the boy at the age of ten was unprepossessing enough, and the accounts she heard of the youth coincided but too well with it.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The mother gazed as fixedly at the missive as though from the short cold words, or from the handwriting, she were trying to discern the character of the son who had grown so complete a stranger to her.
a late time of life
From this reading Since her second marriage she had seen him but at rare intervals; and during the latter years she had spent in France, communication between them had almost entirely ceased.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading The picture she still bore fresh in mind of the boy at the age of ten was unprepossessing enough, and the accounts she heard of the youth coincided but too well with it.
