Chapter I

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

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

possessing life

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

(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 Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship

From this reading She hungered now for the sight of her face as she hungered for death, and held the flaring candle aloft that she might see better.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

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

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

pertaining to or characteristic of an ascetic or the practice of rigorous self-discipline

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading She hungered now for the sight of her face as she hungered for death, and held the flaring candle aloft that she might see better.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

stick of wax with a wick in the middle

From this reading She hungered now for the sight of her face as she hungered for death, and held the flaring candle aloft that she might see better.

in a close relation or position in time or space

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

argue or speak in defense of

From this reading "The fire was kind," she said, stubbornly, as though to defend herself from it.

divisible by two

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

start firing a weapon

From this reading "The fire was kind," she said, stubbornly, as though to defend herself from it.

A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.

From this reading Then a wave of impassioned self-pity swept her like flame.

streaming or flapping or spreading wide as if in a current of air

From this reading She hungered now for the sight of her face as she hungered for death, and held the flaring candle aloft that she might see better.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "The fire was kind," she said, stubbornly, as though to defend herself from it.

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

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

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

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

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading She hungered now for the sight of her face as she hungered for death, and held the flaring candle aloft that she might see better.

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

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

a health facility where patients receive treatment

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

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

From this reading She hungered now for the sight of her face as she hungered for death, and held the flaring candle aloft that she might see better.

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

characterized by intense emotion

From this reading Then a wave of impassioned self-pity swept her like flame.

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

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

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

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "The fire was kind," she said, stubbornly, as though to defend herself from it.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

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 Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

in order that something should not happen

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Then a wave of impassioned self-pity swept her like flame.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

polished surface that forms images by reflecting light

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

not any; not one

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading She hungered now for the sight of her face as she hungered for death, and held the flaring candle aloft that she might see better.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

a strong feeling or emotion

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

past form of “pray” — address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

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

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "The fire was kind," she said, stubbornly, as though to defend herself from it.

except for; apart from

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

a feeling of sorrow (often self-indulgent) over your own sufferings

From this reading Then a wave of impassioned self-pity swept her like flame.

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

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

do one's shopping

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading She hungered now for the sight of her face as she hungered for death, and held the flaring candle aloft that she might see better.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

to a small degree or extent

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

in a stubborn unregenerate manner

From this reading "The fire was kind," she said, stubbornly, as though to defend herself from it.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

maintained at length without interruption or weakening

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

possessing sweep

From this reading Then a wave of impassioned self-pity swept her like flame.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She hungered now for the sight of her face as she hungered for death, and held the flaring candle aloft that she might see better.

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

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then a wave of impassioned self-pity swept her like flame.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading "The fire was kind," she said, stubbornly, as though to defend herself from it.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

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

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

having or as if having a veil or concealing cover

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

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

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading Then a wave of impassioned self-pity swept her like flame.

in or at the place that

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading She had prayed for death, but had not been more than slightly ill, upborne, as she was, by a great grief which sustained her as surely as an ascetic is kept alive by the passion of his faith.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Even on the street, closely veiled, she would not look at a shop window, lest she might see herself reflected in the plate glass, and she had kept the mirror, in her room covered with a cloth, Since the day she left the hospital, where they all had been so kind to her, no human being, save herself, had seen her face.