used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DREARY HOMECOMING.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TO the end of their lives Ronald and Vivian never forgot that journey home.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading It was such a contrast to the bright, happy woman who had been like a playmate to them ever since they arrived.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was such a contrast to the bright, happy woman who had been like a playmate to them ever since they arrived.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading For one thing, they had never travelled in the dark before, and everything looked strange and unreal.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading It was such a contrast to the bright, happy woman who had been like a playmate to them ever since they arrived.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading It was such a contrast to the bright, happy woman who had been like a playmate to them ever since they arrived.
cousin'snounUS /ˈkʌzənz/
possessive form of “cousin” — the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading For one thing, they had never travelled in the dark before, and everything looked strange and unreal.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
Dora
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
DREARYadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading A DREARY HOMECOMING.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading TO the end of their lives Ronald and Vivian never forgot that journey home.
at any time
From this reading It was such a contrast to the bright, happy woman who had been like a playmate to them ever since they arrived.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading For one thing, they had never travelled in the dark before, and everything looked strange and unreal.
communicated in words
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For one thing, they had never travelled in the dark before, and everything looked strange and unreal.
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading TO the end of their lives Ronald and Vivian never forgot that journey home.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
good-byenounUS /ɡɪdˈbaɪ/
a farewell remark
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For one thing, they had never travelled in the dark before, and everything looked strange and unreal.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading It was such a contrast to the bright, happy woman who had been like a playmate to them ever since they arrived.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading TO the end of their lives Ronald and Vivian never forgot that journey home.
HOMECOMINGnounUS /ˈhoʊmkʌmɪŋ/
an annual school or university reunion for graduates
From this reading A DREARY HOMECOMING.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For one thing, they had never travelled in the dark before, and everything looked strange and unreal.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was such a contrast to the bright, happy woman who had been like a playmate to them ever since they arrived.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading TO the end of their lives Ronald and Vivian never forgot that journey home.
the act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof)
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
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 Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It was such a contrast to the bright, happy woman who had been like a playmate to them ever since they arrived.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading TO the end of their lives Ronald and Vivian never forgot that journey home.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading For one thing, they had never travelled in the dark before, and everything looked strange and unreal.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading TO the end of their lives Ronald and Vivian never forgot that journey home.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TO the end of their lives Ronald and Vivian never forgot that journey home.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For one thing, they had never travelled in the dark before, and everything looked strange and unreal.
playmatenounUS /ˈpleɪmeɪt/
a companion at play
From this reading It was such a contrast to the bright, happy woman who had been like a playmate to them ever since they arrived.
recoverynounUS /rɪˈkʌvri/
return to an original state
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
Ronald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TO the end of their lives Ronald and Vivian never forgot that journey home.
express in words
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
shrankverbUS /ʃræŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It was such a contrast to the bright, happy woman who had been like a playmate to them ever since they arrived.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading For one thing, they had never travelled in the dark before, and everything looked strange and unreal.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was such a contrast to the bright, happy woman who had been like a playmate to them ever since they arrived.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading TO the end of their lives Ronald and Vivian never forgot that journey home.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TO the end of their lives Ronald and Vivian never forgot that journey home.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading TO the end of their lives Ronald and Vivian never forgot that journey home.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For one thing, they had never travelled in the dark before, and everything looked strange and unreal.
a special situation
From this reading For one thing, they had never travelled in the dark before, and everything looked strange and unreal.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TO the end of their lives Ronald and Vivian never forgot that journey home.
travelledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
familiar with many parts of the world
From this reading For one thing, they had never travelled in the dark before, and everything looked strange and unreal.
unrealadjectiveUS /ənˈriːl/
lacking in reality or substance or genuineness; not corresponding to acknowledged facts or criteria
From this reading For one thing, they had never travelled in the dark before, and everything looked strange and unreal.
Vivian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TO the end of their lives Ronald and Vivian never forgot that journey home.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
a Caucasian
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
which person or people
From this reading It was such a contrast to the bright, happy woman who had been like a playmate to them ever since they arrived.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading It was such a contrast to the bright, happy woman who had been like a playmate to them ever since they arrived.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Aunt Dora came down into the hall before they left, to kiss them and say good-bye; but her face was so white and drawn that Vivian almost shrank from her in fear, and the hopes that Ronald would have expressed for his little cousin’s recovery died away on his lips.
