used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Who has not imagined similar improbabilities when gazing upon the corpse of a loved one?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
third-person singular of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading Had she deceived herself, or did she really see the linen upon her mother’s breast move slightly?
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
the act of burning something
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
corpsenounUS /kɔːrps/
the dead body of a human being
From this reading Who has not imagined similar improbabilities when gazing upon the corpse of a loved one?
deceivedverbUS /dɪˈsiːvd/
past form of “deceive” — be false to; be dishonest with
From this reading Had she deceived herself, or did she really see the linen upon her mother’s breast move slightly?
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Had she deceived herself, or did she really see the linen upon her mother’s breast move slightly?
divisible by two
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
feeblyadverbUS /ˈfiːbli/
in a faint and feeble manner
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
fluttersnounUS /ˈflʌtərz/
plural of “flutter” — the act of moving back and forth
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Who has not imagined similar improbabilities when gazing upon the corpse of a loved one?
destroyed or killed
From this reading GONE!
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had she deceived herself, or did she really see the linen upon her mother’s breast move slightly?
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Who has not imagined similar improbabilities when gazing upon the corpse of a loved one?
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Had she deceived herself, or did she really see the linen upon her mother’s breast move slightly?
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading Who has not imagined similar improbabilities when gazing upon the corpse of a loved one?
improbabilities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who has not imagined similar improbabilities when gazing upon the corpse of a loved one?
intensitynounUS /ɪnˈtensəti/
the amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation)
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
kneltverbUS /nelt/
inflected form of “kneel” — rest one's weight on one's knees
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
linennounUS /ˈlɪnən/
a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
From this reading Had she deceived herself, or did she really see the linen upon her mother’s breast move slightly?
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
held dear
From this reading Who has not imagined similar improbabilities when gazing upon the corpse of a loved one?
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Had she deceived herself, or did she really see the linen upon her mother’s breast move slightly?
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Had she deceived herself, or did she really see the linen upon her mother’s breast move slightly?
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Who has not imagined similar improbabilities when gazing upon the corpse of a loved one?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Who has not imagined similar improbabilities when gazing upon the corpse of a loved one?
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Had she deceived herself, or did she really see the linen upon her mother’s breast move slightly?
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
having a margin incised almost to the base so as to create distinct divisions or lobes
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Had she deceived herself, or did she really see the linen upon her mother’s breast move slightly?
move upward
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Had she deceived herself, or did she really see the linen upon her mother’s breast move slightly?
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had she deceived herself, or did she really see the linen upon her mother’s breast move slightly?
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
marked by correspondence or resemblance
From this reading Who has not imagined similar improbabilities when gazing upon the corpse of a loved one?
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Had she deceived herself, or did she really see the linen upon her mother’s breast move slightly?
not in physical motion
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
strivingnounUS /ˈstraɪvɪŋ/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The closed eyes seem striving to open, the chest appears to rise and fall; even one may fancy that the breath flutters feebly from between the parted lips.
a shaky motion
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
VioletnounUS /ˈvaɪəlɪt/
any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
at the time that
From this reading Who has not imagined similar improbabilities when gazing upon the corpse of a loved one?
a Caucasian
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
which person or people
From this reading Who has not imagined similar improbabilities when gazing upon the corpse of a loved one?
in the company of; together with
From this reading Pale and trembling with excitement, Violet knelt at the side of the body, her eyes fastened with burning intensity upon the white, still face.
