used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading There was no motion, and her bed was so soft and wide.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
curtainedadjective
furnished or concealed with curtains or draperies
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
DorisnounUS /ˈdɔːrəs/
(Greek mythology) wife of Nereus and mother of the Nereids
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
dreamingnounUS /ˈdriːmɪŋ/
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
enchantmentnounUS /enˈtʃæntmənt/
a feeling of great liking for something wonderful and unusual
From this reading What enchantment had transported her thither?
opinion or judgment
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
feathersnounUS /ˈfeðərz/
plural of “feather” — the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
From this reading She sat up straight, half-startled, and she seemed in a well of fluffy feathers.
fluffyadjectiveUS /ˈflʌfi/
like down or as soft as down
From this reading She sat up straight, half-startled, and she seemed in a well of fluffy feathers.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
half-startled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She sat up straight, half-startled, and she seemed in a well of fluffy feathers.
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
knobnounUS /nɑːb/
a circular rounded projection or protuberance
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
legendsnounUS /ˈledʒəndz/
plural of “legend” — a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
engage in
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading There was no motion, and her bed was so soft and wide.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no motion, and her bed was so soft and wide.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She sat up straight, half-startled, and she seemed in a well of fluffy feathers.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
rubbedverbUS /rʌbd/
inflected form of “rub” — move over something with pressure
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She sat up straight, half-startled, and she seemed in a well of fluffy feathers.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She sat up straight, half-startled, and she seemed in a well of fluffy feathers.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There was no motion, and her bed was so soft and wide.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading There was no motion, and her bed was so soft and wide.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
splintnounUS /splɪnt/
a thin sliver of wood
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
spritenounUS /spraɪt/
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
successive (without a break)
From this reading She sat up straight, half-startled, and she seemed in a well of fluffy feathers.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no motion, and her bed was so soft and wide.
an old word meaning “to that place”
From this reading What enchantment had transported her thither?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
the upper part of anything
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
transportedverbUS /trænˈspɔːrtɪd/
past form of “transport” — move something or somebody around; usually over long distances
From this reading What enchantment had transported her thither?
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She sat up straight, half-startled, and she seemed in a well of fluffy feathers.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
(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 She sat up straight, half-startled, and she seemed in a well of fluffy feathers.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What enchantment had transported her thither?
at the time that
From this reading IN A NEW HOME The sun was shining when Doris opened her eyes, and she rubbed them to make sure she was not dreaming.
a Caucasian
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading There was no motion, and her bed was so soft and wide.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There were two white curtained windows and a straight splint chair at each one, with a queer little knob on the top of the post that suggested a sprite from some of the old legends she had been used to hearing.
