Chapter IV · Chapter 4

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading They all understood that, and especially Aniela.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading She trusts me altogether.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They all understood that, and especially Aniela.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading "I will write to you from Rome," I said before starting; to which she replied: "May God comfort you first."

the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain

From this reading "I will write to you from Rome," I said before starting; to which she replied: "May God comfort you first."

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading They all understood that, and especially Aniela.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading "I will write to you from Rome," I said before starting; to which she replied: "May God comfort you first."

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "I will write to you from Rome," I said before starting; to which she replied: "May God comfort you first."

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading "I will write to you from Rome," I said before starting; to which she replied: "May God comfort you first."

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

intense and profound fear

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

evidencing the possession of inside information

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

immediately past

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading "I will write to you from Rome," I said before starting; to which she replied: "May God comfort you first."

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading She trusts me altogether.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading "I will write to you from Rome," I said before starting; to which she replied: "May God comfort you first."

capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire

From this reading "I will write to you from Rome," I said before starting; to which she replied: "May God comfort you first."

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "I will write to you from Rome," I said before starting; to which she replied: "May God comfort you first."

Identical; not different.

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "I will write to you from Rome," I said before starting; to which she replied: "May God comfort you first."

the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

express in speech

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear

From this reading "I will write to you from Rome," I said before starting; to which she replied: "May God comfort you first."

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They all understood that, and especially Aniela.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They all understood that, and especially Aniela.

a special situation

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

plural of “trust” — something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)

From this reading She trusts me altogether.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading In the hurry, the sudden shock, and under the horror of my father's likely death, I could not speak of love and marriage.

fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation

From this reading They all understood that, and especially Aniela.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading "I will write to you from Rome," I said before starting; to which she replied: "May God comfort you first."

speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "I will write to you from Rome," I said before starting; to which she replied: "May God comfort you first."

the words that are spoken

From this reading It seemed against nature, almost a brutal thing, to whisper words of love, not knowing whether at the same time my father might not be breathing his last.

produce a literary work

From this reading "I will write to you from Rome," I said before starting; to which she replied: "May God comfort you first."

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "I will write to you from Rome," I said before starting; to which she replied: "May God comfort you first."