used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
(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 stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading Doris went back to the house scarcely knowing whether she was awake or dreaming.
awakeningnounUS /əˈweɪkənɪŋ/
the act of waking
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Doris went back to the house scarcely knowing whether she was awake or dreaming.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Could it be possible that she had promised to be Percy Levant’s wife?
boudoirnounUS /ˈbuːdɔɪr/
a lady's bedroom or private sitting room
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Could it be possible that she had promised to be Percy Levant’s wife?
Despard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
Despard's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
DorisnounUS /ˈdɔːrəs/
(Greek mythology) wife of Nereus and mother of the Nereids
From this reading Doris went back to the house scarcely knowing whether she was awake or dreaming.
dreamingnounUS /ˈdriːmɪŋ/
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading Doris went back to the house scarcely knowing whether she was awake or dreaming.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading THE GLASS OF FASHION.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading THE GLASS OF FASHION.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Could it be possible that she had promised to be Percy Levant’s wife?
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Doris went back to the house scarcely knowing whether she was awake or dreaming.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Yes, it is I,” she said.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Could it be possible that she had promised to be Percy Levant’s wife?
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading Doris went back to the house scarcely knowing whether she was awake or dreaming.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
Levant's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Could it be possible that she had promised to be Percy Levant’s wife?
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
a particular point in time
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE GLASS OF FASHION.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Doris went back to the house scarcely knowing whether she was awake or dreaming.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
PercynounUS /ˈpɜːrsi/
United States writer whose novels explored human alienation (1916-1990)
From this reading Could it be possible that she had promised to be Percy Levant’s wife?
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Could it be possible that she had promised to be Percy Levant’s wife?
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading Could it be possible that she had promised to be Percy Levant’s wife?
be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Yes, it is I,” she said.
only a very short time before
From this reading Doris went back to the house scarcely knowing whether she was awake or dreaming.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Doris went back to the house scarcely knowing whether she was awake or dreaming.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
in a strange manner
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Could it be possible that she had promised to be Percy Levant’s wife?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GLASS OF FASHION.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Doris went back to the house scarcely knowing whether she was awake or dreaming.
hard to endure
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Doris went back to the house scarcely knowing whether she was awake or dreaming.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Doris went back to the house scarcely knowing whether she was awake or dreaming.
at the time that
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Doris went back to the house scarcely knowing whether she was awake or dreaming.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Could it be possible that she had promised to be Percy Levant’s wife?
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes, it is I,” she said.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading She stood for a moment outside the door of Lady Despard’s _boudoir_, trying to realize all that had passed, and the step she had taken so strangely, so suddenly, and when Lady Despard called out, “Is that you, Doris?” she started like one awakening from sleep.
