adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
accentedadjectiveUS /ˈæksentɪd/
(used of syllables) bearing the principle stress, usually accompanied by a change in pitch
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
accordionnounUS /əˈkɔːrdiən/
a portable box-shaped free-reed instrument; the reeds are made to vibrate by air from the bellows controlled by the player
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
albeitconjunctionUS /ɔːlˈbiːɪt/
although
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
albumsnounUS /ˈælbəmz/
plural of “album” — one or more recordings issued together; originally released on 12-inch phonograph records (usually with attractive record covers) and later on cassette audiotape and compact disc
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
ante-natal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
apparentlyadverbUS /əˈperəntli/
from appearances alone
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
attitudenounUS /ˈætətuːd/
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
Baron'snounUS /ˈbærənz/
possessive form of “baron” — a nobleman (in various countries) of varying rank
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
beautynounUS /ˈbjuːti/
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
booknounUS /bʊk/
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
BridenounUS /braɪd/
a woman who has recently been married
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
brieflyadverbUS /ˈbriːfli/
for a short time
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
centre-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
chairnounUS /tʃer/
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
commonadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmən/
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
ConstancynounUS /ˈkɑːnstənsi/
the quality of being enduring and free from change or variation
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
contemplationnounUS /ˌkɑːntəmˈpleɪʃən/
a long and thoughtful observation
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
conventionalizeverb
make conventional or adapt to conventions
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
copperplatenoun
a graceful style of handwriting based on the writing used on copperplate engravings
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
creaturesnounUS /ˈkriːtʃərz/
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
dressverbUS /dres/
put on clothes
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
elaboratelyadverbUS /ɪˈlæbrətli/
with elaboration
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
eldernounUS /ˈeldər/
a person who is older than you are
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
episodical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
existedverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪstəd/
past form of “exist” — have an existence, be extant
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
familynounUS /ˈfæməli/
a social unit living together
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
featurenounUS /ˈfiːtʃər/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
featuresnounUS /ˈfiːtʃərz/
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
generaladjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəl/
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/
a young female
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
gratuitouslyadverbUS /ɡrəˈtuːətəsli/
in an uncalled-for manner
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
hairnounUS /her/
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
headnounUS /hed/
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 long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
heldadjectiveUS /held/
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
highadjectiveUS /haɪ/
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
hopelesslyadverbUS /ˈhoʊpləsli/
in a hopeless manner
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
idealadjectiveUS /aɪˈdiːl/
conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
impressionnounUS /ˌɪmˈpreʃən/
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
incongruousadjectiveUS /ˌɪŋˈkɔːŋruːəs/
lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
inconsistentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənt/
displaying a lack of consistency
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
keptadjectiveUS /kept/
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/
apprehended with certainty
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
livedverbUS /lɪvd/
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
localadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkəl/
relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
lyrenounUS /laɪr/
a harp used by ancient Greeks for accompaniment
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
MeditationnounUS /ˌmedəˈteɪʃən/
continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
mezzotintnoun
print produced by an engraving that has been scraped to represent light or shade
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
movedadjectiveUS /muːvd/
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
necknounUS /nek/
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
offspringnounUS /ˈɔːfsprɪŋ/
the immediate descendants of a person
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
originaladjectiveUS /ərˈɪdʒənəl/
preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
ornamentedverbUS /ˈɔːrnəmentɪd/
past form of “ornament” — make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
outlinesnounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪnz/
plural of “outline” — the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
over-sentimental
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
over-white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
patriciannounUS /pəˈtrɪʃən/
a person of refined upbringing and manners
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
peculiaritiesnounUS /pɪˌkjuːliˈerətiz/
plural of “peculiarity” — an odd or unusual characteristic
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
personifiedverbUS /pərˈsɑːnəfaɪd/
inflected form of “personify” — invest with or as with a body; give body to
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
Phemie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
photographicadjectiveUS /ˌfoʊtəˈɡræfɪk/
relating to photography or obtained by using photography
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
picturenounUS /ˈpɪktʃər/
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
pinknounUS /pɪŋk/
a light shade of red
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
poseverbUS /poʊz/
introduce
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
prettyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪti/
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
printnounUS /prɪnt/
the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/
on the contrary
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
refinementnounUS /rəˈfaɪnmənt/
a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
regularitynounUS /ˌreɡjəˈlerəti/
a property of polygons: the property of having equal sides and equal angles
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
restverbUS /rest/
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
restedadjectiveUS /ˈrestəd/
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
rosenounUS /roʊz/
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
separateverbUS /ˈsepəreɪt/
act as a barrier between; stand between
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
shouldersnounUS /ˈʃoʊldərz/
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
sleevesnounUS /sliːvz/
plural of “sleeve” — the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
SouthnounUS /saʊθ/
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
spitenounUS /spaɪt/
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
stampedverbUS /stæmpt/
past form of “stamp” — walk heavily
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
stifflyadverbUS /ˈstɪfli/
in a stiff manner
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
strikingadjectiveUS /ˈstraɪkɪŋ/
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
stronglyadverbUS /ˈstrɔːŋli/
with strength or in a strong manner
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
suggestionnounUS /səˈdʒestʃən/
an idea that is suggested
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
swan-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
swimmingnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/
the act of swimming
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
talleradjectiveUS /ˈtɔːlər/
comparative of “tall” — great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
Tasajara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
tendriled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long swan-like neck, tendriled hair, swimming eyes, and small patrician head, had never lived or moved before in Tasajara or the West, nor perhaps even existed except as a personified “Constancy,” “Meditation,” or the “Baron's Bride,” in mezzotint or copperplate.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
thusadverbUS /ðʌs/
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
typenounUS /taɪp/
a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
typicaladjectiveUS /ˈtɪpəkəl/
exhibiting the qualities or characteristics that identify a group or kind or category
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
unlikeadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪk/
marked by dissimilarity
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
unnaturaladjectiveUS /ənˈnætʃərəl/
not in accordance with or determined by nature; contrary to nature
From this reading It may be said briefly that sitting thus--in spite of their unnatural attitude, or perhaps rather because of its suggestion of a photographic pose--they made a striking picture, and strongly accented their separate peculiarities.
vagueadjectiveUS /veɪɡ/
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
wantonlyadverbUS /ˈwɔːntənli/
in a wanton manner
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
welladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Even the girl's common pink print dress with its high sleeves and shoulders could not conventionalize these original outlines; and the hand that rested stiffly on the back of her chair, albeit neither over-white nor well kept, looked as if it had never held anything but a lyre, a rose, or a good book.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
WestnounUS /west/
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading They were both pretty, but the taller girl, apparently the elder, had an ideal refinement and regularity of feature which was not only unlike Phemie, but gratuitously unlike the rest of her family, and as hopelessly and even wantonly inconsistent with her surroundings as was the elaborately ornamented accordion on the centre-table.
womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading She was one of those occasional creatures, episodical in the South and West, who might have been stamped with some vague ante-natal impression of a mother given to over-sentimental contemplation of books of beauty and albums rather than the family features; offspring of typical men and women, and yet themselves incongruous to any known local or even general type.
