used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
acuteadjectiveUS /əˈkjuːt/
having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
adventnounUS /ˈædvent/
arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous)
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The latter, he told himself, might be merely a symptom of mental sickness, a condition natural to the influences under which she had been formed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This, then, was by implication the history of the woman at his side; it disposed of the mystery that had veiled her situation here.
casualadjectiveUS /ˈkæʒəwəl/
marked by blithe unconcern
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
rid of obstructions
From this reading It was surprisingly clear, even to the subtle influence that, inherited from her father, had set the shadow of his own obsession upon her voice and eyes.
a state at a particular time
From this reading The latter, he told himself, might be merely a symptom of mental sickness, a condition natural to the influences under which she had been formed.
an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
having made preparations
From this reading This, then, was by implication the history of the woman at his side; it disposed of the mystery that had veiled her situation here.
divisible by two
From this reading It was surprisingly clear, even to the subtle influence that, inherited from her father, had set the shadow of his own obsession upon her voice and eyes.
explicableadjectiveUS /ekˈsplɪkəbəl/
capable of being explicated or accounted for
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
opinion or judgment
From this reading It was surprisingly clear, even to the subtle influence that, inherited from her father, had set the shadow of his own obsession upon her voice and eyes.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading It was surprisingly clear, even to the subtle influence that, inherited from her father, had set the shadow of his own obsession upon her voice and eyes.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
footfallnounUS /ˈfʊtfɔːl/
the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading The latter, he told himself, might be merely a symptom of mental sickness, a condition natural to the influences under which she had been formed.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was surprisingly clear, even to the subtle influence that, inherited from her father, had set the shadow of his own obsession upon her voice and eyes.
glancesnounUS /ˈɡlænsɪz/
plural of “glance” — a quick look
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
harmlessadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrmləs/
not causing or capable of causing harm
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading This, then, was by implication the history of the woman at his side; it disposed of the mystery that had veiled her situation here.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading This, then, was by implication the history of the woman at his side; it disposed of the mystery that had veiled her situation here.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The latter, he told himself, might be merely a symptom of mental sickness, a condition natural to the influences under which she had been formed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This, then, was by implication the history of the woman at his side; it disposed of the mystery that had veiled her situation here.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading This, then, was by implication the history of the woman at his side; it disposed of the mystery that had veiled her situation here.
the quality of being humane
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
implicationnounUS /ˌɪmpləˈkeɪʃən/
something that is inferred (deduced or entailed or implied)
From this reading This, then, was by implication the history of the woman at his side; it disposed of the mystery that had veiled her situation here.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading It was surprisingly clear, even to the subtle influence that, inherited from her father, had set the shadow of his own obsession upon her voice and eyes.
influencesnounUS /ˈɪnfluːənsɪz/
plural of “influence” — a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading The latter, he told himself, might be merely a symptom of mental sickness, a condition natural to the influences under which she had been formed.
inheritedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈherətɪd/
occurring among members of a family usually by heredity
From this reading It was surprisingly clear, even to the subtle influence that, inherited from her father, had set the shadow of his own obsession upon her voice and eyes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This, then, was by implication the history of the woman at his side; it disposed of the mystery that had veiled her situation here.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The latter, he told himself, might be merely a symptom of mental sickness, a condition natural to the influences under which she had been formed.
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 Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
Lichfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
lurkedverbUS /lɜːrkt/
past form of “lurk” — lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
menaceverbUS /ˈmenəs/
pose a threat to; present a danger to
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading The latter, he told himself, might be merely a symptom of mental sickness, a condition natural to the influences under which she had been formed.
and nothing more
From this reading The latter, he told himself, might be merely a symptom of mental sickness, a condition natural to the influences under which she had been formed.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The latter, he told himself, might be merely a symptom of mental sickness, a condition natural to the influences under which she had been formed.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
a particular point in time
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading This, then, was by implication the history of the woman at his side; it disposed of the mystery that had veiled her situation here.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading The latter, he told himself, might be merely a symptom of mental sickness, a condition natural to the influences under which she had been formed.
obsessionnounUS /əbˈseʃən/
an irrational motive for performing trivial or repetitive actions, even against your will
From this reading It was surprisingly clear, even to the subtle influence that, inherited from her father, had set the shadow of his own obsession upon her voice and eyes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading It was surprisingly clear, even to the subtle influence that, inherited from her father, had set the shadow of his own obsession upon her voice and eyes.
past form of “recall” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It was surprisingly clear, even to the subtle influence that, inherited from her father, had set the shadow of his own obsession upon her voice and eyes.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading It was surprisingly clear, even to the subtle influence that, inherited from her father, had set the shadow of his own obsession upon her voice and eyes.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
shudderverbUS /ˈʃʌdər/
shake, as from cold
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
sicknessnounUS /ˈsɪknəs/
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
From this reading The latter, he told himself, might be merely a symptom of mental sickness, a condition natural to the influences under which she had been formed.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading This, then, was by implication the history of the woman at his side; it disposed of the mystery that had veiled her situation here.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading This, then, was by implication the history of the woman at his side; it disposed of the mystery that had veiled her situation here.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
not in physical motion
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
Stope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
subtleadjectiveUS /ˈsʌtəl/
difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
From this reading It was surprisingly clear, even to the subtle influence that, inherited from her father, had set the shadow of his own obsession upon her voice and eyes.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
surprisinglyadverbUS /sərˈpraɪzɪŋli/
in a surprising manner
From this reading It was surprisingly clear, even to the subtle influence that, inherited from her father, had set the shadow of his own obsession upon her voice and eyes.
survivedverbUS /sərˈvaɪvd/
past form of “survive” — continue to live and avoid dying
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
symptomnounUS /ˈsɪmptəm/
(medicine) any sensation or change in bodily function that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a particular disease
From this reading The latter, he told himself, might be merely a symptom of mental sickness, a condition natural to the influences under which she had been formed.
tensionnounUS /ˈtenʃən/
(psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
From this reading Yet, in the moment that she had been made explicable, he recalled the conviction that the knowledge of an actual menace lurked in her mind; he had seen it in the tension of her body, in the anxiety of fleet backward glances.
tenuousadjectiveUS /ˈtenjəwəs/
having thin consistency
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading This, then, was by implication the history of the woman at his side; it disposed of the mystery that had veiled her situation here.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This, then, was by implication the history of the woman at his side; it disposed of the mystery that had veiled her situation here.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading The latter, he told himself, might be merely a symptom of mental sickness, a condition natural to the influences under which she had been formed.
tormentnounUS /ˈtɔːrment/
unbearable physical pain
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
a just detectable amount
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The latter, he told himself, might be merely a symptom of mental sickness, a condition natural to the influences under which she had been formed.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was surprisingly clear, even to the subtle influence that, inherited from her father, had set the shadow of his own obsession upon her voice and eyes.
veiledadjectiveUS /veɪld/
having or as if having a veil or concealing cover
From this reading This, then, was by implication the history of the woman at his side; it disposed of the mystery that had veiled her situation here.
a vivid mental image
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading It was surprisingly clear, even to the subtle influence that, inherited from her father, had set the shadow of his own obsession upon her voice and eyes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The latter, he told himself, might be merely a symptom of mental sickness, a condition natural to the influences under which she had been formed.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading This, then, was by implication the history of the woman at his side; it disposed of the mystery that had veiled her situation here.
Woolfolk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
a late time of life
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
but in spite of that
From this reading Woolfolk had a vision of the tenuous figure of Lichfield Stope; he was surprised that such acute agony had left the slightest trace of humanity; yet the other, after forty years of torment, still survived to shudder at a chance footfall, the advent of a casual and harmless stranger.
