adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/
in the past
From this reading Had Lorraine been in her normal condition, she could hardly have failed to notice that the “Hal” who came up in haste to ask this urgent question was not the “Hal” of a few months, a few weeks ago.
Alymer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would probably have observed that the vague, indefinable change Alymer had seen in her had grown more marked and more defined.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
askverbUS /æsk/
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
banishedverbUS /ˈbænɪʃt/
past form of “banish” — expel from a community or group
From this reading When she saw Lorraine in tears the question was instantly banished for the moment.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had Lorraine been in her normal condition, she could hardly have failed to notice that the “Hal” who came up in haste to ask this urgent question was not the “Hal” of a few months, a few weeks ago.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Had Lorraine been in her normal condition, she could hardly have failed to notice that the “Hal” who came up in haste to ask this urgent question was not the “Hal” of a few months, a few weeks ago.
chancenounUS /tʃæns/
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
changeverbUS /tʃeɪndʒ/
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading She would probably have observed that the vague, indefinable change Alymer had seen in her had grown more marked and more defined.
concerningverbUS /kənˈsɜːrnɪŋ/
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
conditionnounUS /kənˈdɪʃən/
a state at a particular time
From this reading Had Lorraine been in her normal condition, she could hardly have failed to notice that the “Hal” who came up in haste to ask this urgent question was not the “Hal” of a few months, a few weeks ago.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Had Lorraine been in her normal condition, she could hardly have failed to notice that the “Hal” who came up in haste to ask this urgent question was not the “Hal” of a few months, a few weeks ago.
Crathie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
definedadjectiveUS /dɪˈfaɪnd/
clearly characterized or delimited
From this reading She would probably have observed that the vague, indefinable change Alymer had seen in her had grown more marked and more defined.
EdwinnounUS /ˈedwən/
king of Northumbria who was converted to Christianity (585-633)
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
failedverbUS /feɪld/
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Had Lorraine been in her normal condition, she could hardly have failed to notice that the “Hal” who came up in haste to ask this urgent question was not the “Hal” of a few months, a few weeks ago.
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Had Lorraine been in her normal condition, she could hardly have failed to notice that the “Hal” who came up in haste to ask this urgent question was not the “Hal” of a few months, a few weeks ago.
flatadjectiveUS /flæt/
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When she saw Lorraine in tears the question was instantly banished for the moment.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading It was there Hal found her.
grownadjectiveUS /ɡroʊn/
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading She would probably have observed that the vague, indefinable change Alymer had seen in her had grown more marked and more defined.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
Hal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was there Hal found her.
hardlyadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdli/
only a very short time before
From this reading Had Lorraine been in her normal condition, she could hardly have failed to notice that the “Hal” who came up in haste to ask this urgent question was not the “Hal” of a few months, a few weeks ago.
hastenounUS /heɪst/
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading Had Lorraine been in her normal condition, she could hardly have failed to notice that the “Hal” who came up in haste to ask this urgent question was not the “Hal” of a few months, a few weeks ago.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was there Hal found her.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
imperativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈperətɪv/
requiring attention or action
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When she saw Lorraine in tears the question was instantly banished for the moment.
indefinableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈfaɪnəbəl/
not capable of being precisely or readily described; not easily put into words
From this reading She would probably have observed that the vague, indefinable change Alymer had seen in her had grown more marked and more defined.
instantlyadverbUS /ˈɪnstəntli/
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading When she saw Lorraine in tears the question was instantly banished for the moment.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was there Hal found her.
LorrainenounUS /lərˈeɪn/
an eastern French region rich in iron-ore deposits
From this reading When she saw Lorraine in tears the question was instantly banished for the moment.
markedadjectiveUS /mɑːrkt/
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading She would probably have observed that the vague, indefinable change Alymer had seen in her had grown more marked and more defined.
merestadjectiveUS /ˈmerəst/
superlative of “mere” — being nothing more than specified
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
middaynounUS /ˈmɪddeɪ/
the middle of the day
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading When she saw Lorraine in tears the question was instantly banished for the moment.
monthsnounUS /mʌnθs/
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Had Lorraine been in her normal condition, she could hardly have failed to notice that the “Hal” who came up in haste to ask this urgent question was not the “Hal” of a few months, a few weeks ago.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She would probably have observed that the vague, indefinable change Alymer had seen in her had grown more marked and more defined.
neednounUS /niːd/
a condition requiring relief
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
normaladjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrməl/
conforming with or constituting a norm or standard or level or type or social norm; not abnormal
From this reading Had Lorraine been in her normal condition, she could hardly have failed to notice that the “Hal” who came up in haste to ask this urgent question was not the “Hal” of a few months, a few weeks ago.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Had Lorraine been in her normal condition, she could hardly have failed to notice that the “Hal” who came up in haste to ask this urgent question was not the “Hal” of a few months, a few weeks ago.
noticenounUS /ˈnoʊtəs/
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading Had Lorraine been in her normal condition, she could hardly have failed to notice that the “Hal” who came up in haste to ask this urgent question was not the “Hal” of a few months, a few weeks ago.
observedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvd/
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading She would probably have observed that the vague, indefinable change Alymer had seen in her had grown more marked and more defined.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Had Lorraine been in her normal condition, she could hardly have failed to notice that the “Hal” who came up in haste to ask this urgent question was not the “Hal” of a few months, a few weeks ago.
probablyadverbUS /ˈprɑːbəbliː/
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading She would probably have observed that the vague, indefinable change Alymer had seen in her had grown more marked and more defined.
questionverbUS /ˈkwestʃən/
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
rumournounUS /ˈruːmər/
gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
runverbUS /rʌn/
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading When she saw Lorraine in tears the question was instantly banished for the moment.
seenverbUS /siːn/
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She would probably have observed that the vague, indefinable change Alymer had seen in her had grown more marked and more defined.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
SirnounUS /sɜːr/
term of address for a man
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
tearsnounUS /terz/
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading When she saw Lorraine in tears the question was instantly banished for the moment.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was there Hal found her.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Had Lorraine been in her normal condition, she could hardly have failed to notice that the “Hal” who came up in haste to ask this urgent question was not the “Hal” of a few months, a few weeks ago.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading By the merest chance she had run up to the flat at her midday hour, to ask a question about Sir Edwin Crathie, and a rumour concerning him that she felt an imperative need to have answered.
urgentadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrdʒənt/
compelling immediate action
From this reading Had Lorraine been in her normal condition, she could hardly have failed to notice that the “Hal” who came up in haste to ask this urgent question was not the “Hal” of a few months, a few weeks ago.
vagueadjectiveUS /veɪɡ/
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading She would probably have observed that the vague, indefinable change Alymer had seen in her had grown more marked and more defined.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was there Hal found her.
weeksnounUS /wiːks/
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Had Lorraine been in her normal condition, she could hardly have failed to notice that the “Hal” who came up in haste to ask this urgent question was not the “Hal” of a few months, a few weeks ago.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When she saw Lorraine in tears the question was instantly banished for the moment.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Had Lorraine been in her normal condition, she could hardly have failed to notice that the “Hal” who came up in haste to ask this urgent question was not the “Hal” of a few months, a few weeks ago.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She would probably have observed that the vague, indefinable change Alymer had seen in her had grown more marked and more defined.
