used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
abundantadjectiveUS /əˈbʌndənt/
present in great quantity
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
(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 Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What do you want?" she asked roughly.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
bedsidenounUS /ˈbedsaɪd/
space by the side of a bed (especially the bed of a sick or dying person)
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
containingverbUS /kənˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
contractedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːntræktəd/
reduced in size or pulled together
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
convulsivelyadverb
with convulsions, in a convulsive way
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
deathlyadjectiveUS /ˈdeθli/
having the physical appearance of death
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
debrisnounUS /dəˈbriː/
the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "What do you want?" she asked roughly.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading At the sight of a stranger standing in the doorway, however, her features resumed the habitual expression of harshness and moroseness.
dropsnounUS /drɑːps/
plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
endeavoringverbUS /ɪnˈdevərɪŋ/
-ing form of “endeavor” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
opinion or judgment
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
a young female
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
godmothernounUS /ˈɡɑːdmʌðər/
any woman who serves as a sponsor for a child at baptism
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
habitualadjectiveUS /həˈbɪtʃuːəl/
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading At the sight of a stranger standing in the doorway, however, her features resumed the habitual expression of harshness and moroseness.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
harshadjectiveUS /hɑːrʃ/
unpleasantly stern
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
harshnessnounUS /ˈhɑːrʃnəs/
the roughness of a substance that causes abrasions
From this reading At the sight of a stranger standing in the doorway, however, her features resumed the habitual expression of harshness and moroseness.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading At the sight of a stranger standing in the doorway, however, her features resumed the habitual expression of harshness and moroseness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
KneelingnounUS /ˈniːlɪŋ/
supporting yourself on your knees
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
Lacombe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
listlesslyadverbUS /ˈlɪstləsli/
in a listless manner
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
lividadjectiveUS /ˈlɪvɪd/
anemic looking from illness or emotion
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
Mariette
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
Mariette's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
mattressnounUS /ˈmætrəs/
a large thick pad filled with resilient material and often incorporating coiled springs, used as a bed or part of a bed
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
Mme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
a particular point in time
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
morosenessnoun
a gloomy ill-tempered feeling
From this reading At the sight of a stranger standing in the doorway, however, her features resumed the habitual expression of harshness and moroseness.
mutilatedadjectiveUS /ˈmjuːtəleɪtəd/
having a part of the body crippled or disabled
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
held or filled or in use
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
painfullyadverbUS /ˈpeɪnfəli/
unpleasantly
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
pallornoun
unnatural lack of color in the skin (as from bruising or sickness or emotional distress)
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
past form of “resume” — take up or begin anew
From this reading At the sight of a stranger standing in the doorway, however, her features resumed the habitual expression of harshness and moroseness.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
roughlyadverbUS /ˈrʌfli/
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
From this reading "What do you want?" she asked roughly.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
sarcasticadjectiveUS /sɑːrˈkæstɪk/
expressing or expressive of ridicule that wounds
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
seeminglyadverbUS /ˈsiːmɪŋli/
from appearances alone
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading At the sight of a stranger standing in the doorway, however, her features resumed the habitual expression of harshness and moroseness.
softenedadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːfənd/
toned down
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
stainedadjectiveUS /steɪnd/
marked or dyed or discolored with foreign matter
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
having a supporting base
From this reading At the sight of a stranger standing in the doorway, however, her features resumed the habitual expression of harshness and moroseness.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading At the sight of a stranger standing in the doorway, however, her features resumed the habitual expression of harshness and moroseness.
supportingadjectiveUS /səˈpɔːrtɪŋ/
furnishing support and encouragement
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
arousing affect
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
tracesnounUS /ˈtreɪsəz/
plural of “trace” — a just detectable amount
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading "What do you want?" she asked roughly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What do you want?" she asked roughly.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Lying on a thin mattress in a corner of the room was the young girl, seemingly unconscious; her features were of a deathly pallor and painfully contracted, and traces of abundant tears stained her marble cheeks; one hand lay listlessly at her side, while in the other she convulsively clutched the envelope containing the debris of Louis' letter.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Kneeling by the bedside, her harsh, sarcastic features softened by an expression of touching grief and cruel anxiety, Mme. Lacombe was supporting Mariette's head with her mutilated arm, while with the other hand she was endeavoring to force a few drops of water through the livid lips.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What do you want?" she asked roughly.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading A sad picture met the young man's eyes, as he paused for a moment on the threshold of the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother.
