used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sophronia had been locked in a separate cell, where she was entirely alone.
ajaradjectiveUS /əˈdʒɑːr/
slightly open
From this reading The door of the dungeon opened and a tall, stately woman entered, slipping a purse of gold into the jailer's hand as he left it ajar behind her.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Sophronia had been locked in a separate cell, where she was entirely alone.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Her face wore an expression of supernatural repose, in which the impress of resolution alone betrayed the mortal.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A snow-white robe, fair and pure as her soul, floated around her.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Sophronia had been locked in a separate cell, where she was entirely alone.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The door of the dungeon opened and a tall, stately woman entered, slipping a purse of gold into the jailer's hand as he left it ajar behind her.
past form of “betray” — reveal unintentionally
From this reading Her face wore an expression of supernatural repose, in which the impress of resolution alone betrayed the mortal.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading Sophronia had been locked in a separate cell, where she was entirely alone.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The door of the dungeon opened and a tall, stately woman entered, slipping a purse of gold into the jailer's hand as he left it ajar behind her.
dungeonnounUS /ˈdʌndʒən/
the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
From this reading The door of the dungeon opened and a tall, stately woman entered, slipping a purse of gold into the jailer's hand as he left it ajar behind her.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading The door of the dungeon opened and a tall, stately woman entered, slipping a purse of gold into the jailer's hand as he left it ajar behind her.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Sophronia had been locked in a separate cell, where she was entirely alone.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Her face wore an expression of supernatural repose, in which the impress of resolution alone betrayed the mortal.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Her face wore an expression of supernatural repose, in which the impress of resolution alone betrayed the mortal.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading A snow-white robe, fair and pure as her soul, floated around her.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading A snow-white robe, fair and pure as her soul, floated around her.
coins made of gold
From this reading The door of the dungeon opened and a tall, stately woman entered, slipping a purse of gold into the jailer's hand as he left it ajar behind her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Sophronia had been locked in a separate cell, where she was entirely alone.
halonounUS /ˈheɪloʊ/
an indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a saint
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The door of the dungeon opened and a tall, stately woman entered, slipping a purse of gold into the jailer's hand as he left it ajar behind her.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The door of the dungeon opened and a tall, stately woman entered, slipping a purse of gold into the jailer's hand as he left it ajar behind her.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
hoververbUS /ˈhʌvər/
be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
impressverbUS /ˌɪmˈpres/
have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
From this reading Her face wore an expression of supernatural repose, in which the impress of resolution alone betrayed the mortal.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sophronia had been locked in a separate cell, where she was entirely alone.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The door of the dungeon opened and a tall, stately woman entered, slipping a purse of gold into the jailer's hand as he left it ajar behind her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
jailer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of the dungeon opened and a tall, stately woman entered, slipping a purse of gold into the jailer's hand as he left it ajar behind her.
kneelingnounUS /ˈniːlɪŋ/
supporting yourself on your knees
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
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 The door of the dungeon opened and a tall, stately woman entered, slipping a purse of gold into the jailer's hand as he left it ajar behind her.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading Sophronia had been locked in a separate cell, where she was entirely alone.
an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
martyrdomnounUS /ˈmɑːrtərdəm/
death that is imposed because of the person's adherence of a religious faith or cause
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
subject to death
From this reading Her face wore an expression of supernatural repose, in which the impress of resolution alone betrayed the mortal.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
and nothing more
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The door of the dungeon opened and a tall, stately woman entered, slipping a purse of gold into the jailer's hand as he left it ajar behind her.
free of extraneous elements of any kind
From this reading A snow-white robe, fair and pure as her soul, floated around her.
pursenounUS /pɜːrs/
a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)
From this reading The door of the dungeon opened and a tall, stately woman entered, slipping a purse of gold into the jailer's hand as he left it ajar behind her.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
reposeverbUS /riˈpoʊz/
put or confide something in a person or thing
From this reading Her face wore an expression of supernatural repose, in which the impress of resolution alone betrayed the mortal.
a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote
From this reading Her face wore an expression of supernatural repose, in which the impress of resolution alone betrayed the mortal.
robenounUS /roʊb/
any loose flowing garment
From this reading A snow-white robe, fair and pure as her soul, floated around her.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
act as a barrier between; stand between
From this reading Sophronia had been locked in a separate cell, where she was entirely alone.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sophronia had been locked in a separate cell, where she was entirely alone.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
slippingadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpɪŋ/
moving as on a slippery surface
From this reading The door of the dungeon opened and a tall, stately woman entered, slipping a purse of gold into the jailer's hand as he left it ajar behind her.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
snow-whiteadjective
of the white color of snow
From this reading A snow-white robe, fair and pure as her soul, floated around her.
Sophronia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophronia had been locked in a separate cell, where she was entirely alone.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading A snow-white robe, fair and pure as her soul, floated around her.
statelyadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪtli/
impressive in appearance
From this reading The door of the dungeon opened and a tall, stately woman entered, slipping a purse of gold into the jailer's hand as he left it ajar behind her.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
supernaturalnounUS /ˌsuːpərˈnætʃərəl/
supernatural forces and events and beings collectively
From this reading Her face wore an expression of supernatural repose, in which the impress of resolution alone betrayed the mortal.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading The door of the dungeon opened and a tall, stately woman entered, slipping a purse of gold into the jailer's hand as he left it ajar behind her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sophronia had been locked in a separate cell, where she was entirely alone.
at the time that
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
in or at the place that
From this reading Sophronia had been locked in a separate cell, where she was entirely alone.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Her face wore an expression of supernatural repose, in which the impress of resolution alone betrayed the mortal.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The sun could reach her only through a small round window, and when it shone upon the head of the kneeling maiden, the halo of martyrdom seemed to hover around it.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The door of the dungeon opened and a tall, stately woman entered, slipping a purse of gold into the jailer's hand as he left it ajar behind her.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading Her face wore an expression of supernatural repose, in which the impress of resolution alone betrayed the mortal.
