used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
at or in or to any place
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading When she first arrived, she kept on her coat, pretending that the house was cold, but Emma said, “It’s nonsense, Naomi.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
feeling shame or guilt or embarrassment or remorse
From this reading She couldn’t explain to Mabelle that she was ashamed of the dress, nor why she was ashamed of it.
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/
The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
beadsnounUS /biːdz/
several beads threaded together on a string
From this reading She couldn’t explain how the sight of the other woman had made the foulard dress seem poor and frowzy, even when she put on the coral beads left her by her mother, and pinned on the little gold fleur-de-lys watch her father had given her.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When she first arrived, she kept on her coat, pretending that the house was cold, but Emma said, “It’s nonsense, Naomi.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She couldn’t explain how the sight of the other woman had made the foulard dress seem poor and frowzy, even when she put on the coral beads left her by her mother, and pinned on the little gold fleur-de-lys watch her father had given her.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading When she first arrived, she kept on her coat, pretending that the house was cold, but Emma said, “It’s nonsense, Naomi.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading When she first arrived, she kept on her coat, pretending that the house was cold, but Emma said, “It’s nonsense, Naomi.
coralnounUS /ˈkɔːrəl/
a variable color averaging a deep pink
From this reading She couldn’t explain how the sight of the other woman had made the foulard dress seem poor and frowzy, even when she put on the coral beads left her by her mother, and pinned on the little gold fleur-de-lys watch her father had given her.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She couldn’t explain to Mabelle that she was ashamed of the dress, nor why she was ashamed of it.
placed crosswise
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
disheveledadjectiveUS /dɪˈʃevəld/
in disarray; extremely disorderly
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
dowdynounUS /ˈdaʊdi/
British marshal of the RAF who commanded the British air defense forces that defeated the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain (1882-1970)
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
put on clothes
From this reading She couldn’t explain to Mabelle that she was ashamed of the dress, nor why she was ashamed of it.
Emma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she first arrived, she kept on her coat, pretending that the house was cold, but Emma said, “It’s nonsense, Naomi.
divisible by two
From this reading She couldn’t explain how the sight of the other woman had made the foulard dress seem poor and frowzy, even when she put on the coral beads left her by her mother, and pinned on the little gold fleur-de-lys watch her father had given her.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading She couldn’t explain to Mabelle that she was ashamed of the dress, nor why she was ashamed of it.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading She couldn’t explain how the sight of the other woman had made the foulard dress seem poor and frowzy, even when she put on the coral beads left her by her mother, and pinned on the little gold fleur-de-lys watch her father had given her.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading When she first arrived, she kept on her coat, pretending that the house was cold, but Emma said, “It’s nonsense, Naomi.
fleur-de-lysnoun
(heraldry) charge consisting of a conventionalized representation of an iris
From this reading She couldn’t explain how the sight of the other woman had made the foulard dress seem poor and frowzy, even when she put on the coral beads left her by her mother, and pinned on the little gold fleur-de-lys watch her father had given her.
foulardnoun
a light plain-weave or twill-weave silk or silklike fabric (usually with a printed design)
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
frowzyadjective
negligent of neatness especially in dress and person; habitually dirty and unkempt
From this reading She couldn’t explain how the sight of the other woman had made the foulard dress seem poor and frowzy, even when she put on the coral beads left her by her mother, and pinned on the little gold fleur-de-lys watch her father had given her.
fursnounUS /fɜːrz/
plural of “fur” — the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading She couldn’t explain how the sight of the other woman had made the foulard dress seem poor and frowzy, even when she put on the coral beads left her by her mother, and pinned on the little gold fleur-de-lys watch her father had given her.
coins made of gold
From this reading She couldn’t explain how the sight of the other woman had made the foulard dress seem poor and frowzy, even when she put on the coral beads left her by her mother, and pinned on the little gold fleur-de-lys watch her father had given her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading When she first arrived, she kept on her coat, pretending that the house was cold, but Emma said, “It’s nonsense, Naomi.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She couldn’t explain to Mabelle that she was ashamed of the dress, nor why she was ashamed of it.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she first arrived, she kept on her coat, pretending that the house was cold, but Emma said, “It’s nonsense, Naomi.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading When she first arrived, she kept on her coat, pretending that the house was cold, but Emma said, “It’s nonsense, Naomi.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
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 She couldn’t explain how the sight of the other woman had made the foulard dress seem poor and frowzy, even when she put on the coral beads left her by her mother, and pinned on the little gold fleur-de-lys watch her father had given her.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
Mabelle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She couldn’t explain to Mabelle that she was ashamed of the dress, nor why she was ashamed of it.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She couldn’t explain how the sight of the other woman had made the foulard dress seem poor and frowzy, even when she put on the coral beads left her by her mother, and pinned on the little gold fleur-de-lys watch her father had given her.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading She couldn’t explain how the sight of the other woman had made the foulard dress seem poor and frowzy, even when she put on the coral beads left her by her mother, and pinned on the little gold fleur-de-lys watch her father had given her.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
NaominounUS /neɪˈoʊmi/
the mother-in-law of Ruth whose story is told in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament
From this reading When she first arrived, she kept on her coat, pretending that the house was cold, but Emma said, “It’s nonsense, Naomi.
a message that seems to convey no meaning
From this reading When she first arrived, she kept on her coat, pretending that the house was cold, but Emma said, “It’s nonsense, Naomi.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading She couldn’t explain to Mabelle that she was ashamed of the dress, nor why she was ashamed of it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She couldn’t explain to Mabelle that she was ashamed of the dress, nor why she was ashamed of it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading She couldn’t explain how the sight of the other woman had made the foulard dress seem poor and frowzy, even when she put on the coral beads left her by her mother, and pinned on the little gold fleur-de-lys watch her father had given her.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
pinnedverbUS /pɪnd/
inflected form of “pin” — to hold fast or prevent from moving
From this reading She couldn’t explain how the sight of the other woman had made the foulard dress seem poor and frowzy, even when she put on the coral beads left her by her mother, and pinned on the little gold fleur-de-lys watch her father had given her.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
pretendingnounUS /priˈtendɪŋ/
the act of giving a false appearance
From this reading When she first arrived, she kept on her coat, pretending that the house was cold, but Emma said, “It’s nonsense, Naomi.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She couldn’t explain how the sight of the other woman had made the foulard dress seem poor and frowzy, even when she put on the coral beads left her by her mother, and pinned on the little gold fleur-de-lys watch her father had given her.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
inspiring scornful pity
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading When she first arrived, she kept on her coat, pretending that the house was cold, but Emma said, “It’s nonsense, Naomi.
cut with a saw
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
express in words
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She couldn’t explain to Mabelle that she was ashamed of the dress, nor why she was ashamed of it.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading She couldn’t explain how the sight of the other woman had made the foulard dress seem poor and frowzy, even when she put on the coral beads left her by her mother, and pinned on the little gold fleur-de-lys watch her father had given her.
stableadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪbəl/
resistant to change of position or condition
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
having a supporting base
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
fastener consisting of a narrow strip of welded metal used to join steel members
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She couldn’t explain to Mabelle that she was ashamed of the dress, nor why she was ashamed of it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She couldn’t explain to Mabelle that she was ashamed of the dress, nor why she was ashamed of it.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She couldn’t explain to Mabelle that she was ashamed of the dress, nor why she was ashamed of it.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
nonexistent
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She couldn’t explain to Mabelle that she was ashamed of the dress, nor why she was ashamed of it.
look attentively
From this reading She couldn’t explain how the sight of the other woman had made the foulard dress seem poor and frowzy, even when she put on the coral beads left her by her mother, and pinned on the little gold fleur-de-lys watch her father had given her.
at the time that
From this reading She couldn’t explain how the sight of the other woman had made the foulard dress seem poor and frowzy, even when she put on the coral beads left her by her mother, and pinned on the little gold fleur-de-lys watch her father had given her.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading She couldn’t explain to Mabelle that she was ashamed of the dress, nor why she was ashamed of it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading She couldn’t explain how she had become suddenly sick at the understanding that she must seem dowdy and ridiculous, standing there, all red and hot and disheveled, staring at them, and wanting all the time to turn and run, anywhere, on and on, without stopping.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading She couldn’t say that as she stood on the stairs of the stable and saw a handsome woman, in a plain black dress, with her knees crossed, and furs thrown back over her fine shoulders, that the pride of the poor little foulard dress had turned to ashes.
