used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading Greswold watching her said to himself: 'She is afraid lest her husband should enter.'
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
apprehensionnounUS /ˌæprɪˈhenʃən/
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading In time the convulsions ceased, the stupor lightened; they began to hope.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading In time the convulsions ceased, the stupor lightened; they began to hope.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading She never spoke of him or of the children.
convulsionsnounUS /kənˈvʌlʃənz/
plural of “convulsion” — a sudden uncontrollable attack
From this reading In time the convulsions ceased, the stupor lightened; they began to hope.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
enabledverbUS /eˈneɪbəld/
past form of “enable” — render capable or able for some task
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
to come or go into
From this reading Greswold watching her said to himself: 'She is afraid lest her husband should enter.'
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
Greswold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Greswold watching her said to himself: 'She is afraid lest her husband should enter.'
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She never spoke of him or of the children.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Greswold watching her said to himself: 'She is afraid lest her husband should enter.'
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading In time the convulsions ceased, the stupor lightened; they began to hope.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Greswold watching her said to himself: 'She is afraid lest her husband should enter.'
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In time the convulsions ceased, the stupor lightened; they began to hope.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Greswold watching her said to himself: 'She is afraid lest her husband should enter.'
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
kinsmannounUS /ˈkɪnzmæn/
a male relative
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
in order that something should not happen
From this reading Greswold watching her said to himself: 'She is afraid lest her husband should enter.'
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
lightenedverbUS /ˈlaɪtənd/
past form of “lighten” — make more cheerful
From this reading In time the convulsions ceased, the stupor lightened; they began to hope.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She never spoke of him or of the children.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She never spoke of him or of the children.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
perfectionnounUS /pərˈfekʃən/
the state of being without a flaw or defect
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Greswold watching her said to himself: 'She is afraid lest her husband should enter.'
not often
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Greswold watching her said to himself: 'She is afraid lest her husband should enter.'
shrankverbUS /ʃræŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
stupornounUS /ˈstuːpər/
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading In time the convulsions ceased, the stupor lightened; they began to hope.
sunkadjectiveUS /sʌŋk/
doomed to extinction
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In time the convulsions ceased, the stupor lightened; they began to hope.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In time the convulsions ceased, the stupor lightened; they began to hope.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In time the convulsions ceased, the stupor lightened; they began to hope.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In time the convulsions ceased, the stupor lightened; they began to hope.
vigournoun
forceful exertion
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Greswold watching her said to himself: 'She is afraid lest her husband should enter.'
well-nighadverb
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The danger had been great, but it was well-nigh past; the vigour and perfection of her strength had enabled her to keep her hold on life.
at the time that
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
in the company of; together with
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
the words that are spoken
From this reading After those few words to her kinsman she spoke seldom, she appeared sunk in silent thought; when the door opened she shrank with a sort of apprehension.
