used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Lowering the paper, she waited for him to come forward, which he did with a certain perplexity of expression and a slight confusion of manner.
chandeliernounUS /ʃændəˈlɪr/
branched lighting fixture; often ornate; hangs from the ceiling
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
cladadjectiveUS /klæd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
columnsnounUS /ˈkɑːləmz/
plural of “column” — a line of units following one after another
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Lowering the paper, she waited for him to come forward, which he did with a certain perplexity of expression and a slight confusion of manner.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading Lowering the paper, she waited for him to come forward, which he did with a certain perplexity of expression and a slight confusion of manner.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Lowering the paper, she waited for him to come forward, which he did with a certain perplexity of expression and a slight confusion of manner.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
a movement into or inward
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Lowering the paper, she waited for him to come forward, which he did with a certain perplexity of expression and a slight confusion of manner.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Seeing these indications, the girl looked into his face with frank self-possession, and said gently:
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Lowering the paper, she waited for him to come forward, which he did with a certain perplexity of expression and a slight confusion of manner.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Lowering the paper, she waited for him to come forward, which he did with a certain perplexity of expression and a slight confusion of manner.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Seeing these indications, the girl looked into his face with frank self-possession, and said gently:
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
Gaston's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
a man of refinement
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Seeing these indications, the girl looked into his face with frank self-possession, and said gently:
a young female
From this reading Seeing these indications, the girl looked into his face with frank self-possession, and said gently:
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lowering the paper, she waited for him to come forward, which he did with a certain perplexity of expression and a slight confusion of manner.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Lowering the paper, she waited for him to come forward, which he did with a certain perplexity of expression and a slight confusion of manner.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Seeing these indications, the girl looked into his face with frank self-possession, and said gently:
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
indicationsnounUS /ˌɪndəˈkeɪʃənz/
plural of “indication” — something that serves to indicate or suggest
From this reading Seeing these indications, the girl looked into his face with frank self-possession, and said gently:
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Seeing these indications, the girl looked into his face with frank self-possession, and said gently:
itemnounUS /ˈaɪtəm/
a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enumerated on a list
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
and nothing more
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
listlesslyadverbUS /ˈlɪstləsli/
in a listless manner
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Seeing these indications, the girl looked into his face with frank self-possession, and said gently:
LoweringadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərɪŋ/
darkened by clouds
From this reading Lowering the paper, she waited for him to come forward, which he did with a certain perplexity of expression and a slight confusion of manner.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Lowering the paper, she waited for him to come forward, which he did with a certain perplexity of expression and a slight confusion of manner.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
milk-whiteadjective
of a white the color of fresh milk
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
perplexitynounUS /pərˈpleksəti/
trouble or confusion resulting from complexity
From this reading Lowering the paper, she waited for him to come forward, which he did with a certain perplexity of expression and a slight confusion of manner.
in the near future
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
on the contrary
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Seeing these indications, the girl looked into his face with frank self-possession, and said gently:
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading Seeing these indications, the girl looked into his face with frank self-possession, and said gently:
self-possessionnoun
the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior
From this reading Seeing these indications, the girl looked into his face with frank self-possession, and said gently:
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading Lowering the paper, she waited for him to come forward, which he did with a certain perplexity of expression and a slight confusion of manner.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
staircasenounUS /ˈsterkeɪs/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
swathedverbUS /swɑːðd/
past form of “swathe” — wrap in swaddling clothes
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Seeing these indications, the girl looked into his face with frank self-possession, and said gently:
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A few minutes before six o’clock that evening, Margaret, clad in a long black gown that swathed her up to her milk-white throat, came slowly down the broad staircase of General Gaston’s house and entered the empty drawing-room.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Lowering the paper, she waited for him to come forward, which he did with a certain perplexity of expression and a slight confusion of manner.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Finding herself alone, she moved across the warm, bright room to the table which stood under the chandelier, and taking up the evening paper, which had just been brought in, she began rather listlessly to run her eyes along its columns.
which person or people
From this reading Presently some particular item caught her attention, and so absorbed her that she was unconscious of approaching footsteps, until she caught sight of a gentleman who was just entering the room from the hall.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Lowering the paper, she waited for him to come forward, which he did with a certain perplexity of expression and a slight confusion of manner.
