Chapter XX · Chapter 20

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

(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 All alone, all alone.

Having no one else present.

From this reading Then nothing stirred, and she was alone.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

support and strengthen

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

curving or bulging outward

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

the act of departing

From this reading Jeanne, with her eyes fixed on the door, remained plunged in grief over her mother’s sudden departure.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Jeanne, with her eyes fixed on the door, remained plunged in grief over her mother’s sudden departure.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

make void or empty of contents

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

opinion or judgment

From this reading Jeanne, with her eyes fixed on the door, remained plunged in grief over her mother’s sudden departure.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value

From this reading Jeanne, with her eyes fixed on the door, remained plunged in grief over her mother’s sudden departure.

inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

an article of clothing

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)

From this reading Jeanne, with her eyes fixed on the door, remained plunged in grief over her mother’s sudden departure.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Jeanne, with her eyes fixed on the door, remained plunged in grief over her mother’s sudden departure.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

moving with great haste

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Jeanne, with her eyes fixed on the door, remained plunged in grief over her mother’s sudden departure.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Jeanne, with her eyes fixed on the door, remained plunged in grief over her mother’s sudden departure.

immediately past

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Jeanne, with her eyes fixed on the door, remained plunged in grief over her mother’s sudden departure.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Then nothing stirred, and she was alone.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Jeanne, with her eyes fixed on the door, remained plunged in grief over her mother’s sudden departure.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

being on the outside or further from a center

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

above and across; more than

From this reading Jeanne, with her eyes fixed on the door, remained plunged in grief over her mother’s sudden departure.

past form of “overwhelm” — overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

a human being

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into

From this reading Jeanne, with her eyes fixed on the door, remained plunged in grief over her mother’s sudden departure.

lacking any definite plan or order or purpose; governed by or depending on chance

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading Jeanne, with her eyes fixed on the door, remained plunged in grief over her mother’s sudden departure.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

the stealing of cattle

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

marked by absence of sound

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

plural of “skirt” — cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

inflected form of “slam” — close violently

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

convulsive gasp made while weeping

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

not in physical motion

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading Then nothing stirred, and she was alone.

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading Jeanne, with her eyes fixed on the door, remained plunged in grief over her mother’s sudden departure.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Jeanne, with her eyes fixed on the door, remained plunged in grief over her mother’s sudden departure.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then nothing stirred, and she was alone.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

a gradual decrease in magnitude or extent

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading She gazed around her; the room was empty and silent; but she could still hear the waning sounds of hurrying footsteps and rustling skirts, and last the slamming of the outer door.

which person or people

From this reading Over the bed hung her mother’s dressing-gown, flung there at random, the skirt bulging out and a sleeve lying across the bolster, so that the garment looked like some person who had fallen down overwhelmed with grief, and sobbing in misery.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Jeanne, with her eyes fixed on the door, remained plunged in grief over her mother’s sudden departure.