used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was the vigil of the Assumption, a hot, cloudy Wednesday.
(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 First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Usually two women perform this task, but Giovanna was doing it alone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading She was seated on the ground, and beside her was another basket heaped with grain that looked as though it were piled with gold dust.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She was seated on the ground, and beside her was another basket heaped with grain that looked as though it were piled with gold dust.
AssumptionnounUS /əˈsʌmpʃən/
a statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn
From this reading It was the vigil of the Assumption, a hot, cloudy Wednesday.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Aunt Martina sat on the portico spinning, while Giovanna, who was pregnant, sifted grain near by.
a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
next to; at the side of
From this reading She was seated on the ground, and beside her was another basket heaped with grain that looked as though it were piled with gold dust.
bitsnounUS /bɪts/
plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Usually two women perform this task, but Giovanna was doing it alone.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Aunt Martina sat on the portico spinning, while Giovanna, who was pregnant, sifted grain near by.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
cloudyadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdi/
lacking definite form or limits
From this reading It was the vigil of the Assumption, a hot, cloudy Wednesday.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Usually two women perform this task, but Giovanna was doing it alone.
remove the dust from
From this reading She was seated on the ground, and beside her was another basket heaped with grain that looked as though it were piled with gold dust.
extractedverbUS /ekˈstræktɪd/
past form of “extract” — remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
Giovanna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Martina sat on the portico spinning, while Giovanna, who was pregnant, sifted grain near by.
coins made of gold
From this reading She was seated on the ground, and beside her was another basket heaped with grain that looked as though it were piled with gold dust.
grainnounUS /ɡreɪn/
a relatively small granular particle of a substance
From this reading Aunt Martina sat on the portico spinning, while Giovanna, who was pregnant, sifted grain near by.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading She was seated on the ground, and beside her was another basket heaped with grain that looked as though it were piled with gold dust.
heapedverbUS /hiːpt/
past form of “heap” — bestow in large quantities
From this reading She was seated on the ground, and beside her was another basket heaped with grain that looked as though it were piled with gold dust.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading It was the vigil of the Assumption, a hot, cloudy Wednesday.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the vigil of the Assumption, a hot, cloudy Wednesday.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She was seated on the ground, and beside her was another basket heaped with grain that looked as though it were piled with gold dust.
Martina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Martina sat on the portico spinning, while Giovanna, who was pregnant, sifted grain near by.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Aunt Martina sat on the portico spinning, while Giovanna, who was pregnant, sifted grain near by.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the vigil of the Assumption, a hot, cloudy Wednesday.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Aunt Martina sat on the portico spinning, while Giovanna, who was pregnant, sifted grain near by.
performverbUS /pərˈfɔːrm/
carry out or perform an action
From this reading Usually two women perform this task, but Giovanna was doing it alone.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading She was seated on the ground, and beside her was another basket heaped with grain that looked as though it were piled with gold dust.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
porticonounUS /ˈpɔːrtəkoʊ/
a porch or entrance to a building consisting of a covered and often columned area
From this reading Aunt Martina sat on the portico spinning, while Giovanna, who was pregnant, sifted grain near by.
pregnantadjectiveUS /ˈpreɡnənt/
carrying developing offspring within the body or being about to produce new life
From this reading Aunt Martina sat on the portico spinning, while Giovanna, who was pregnant, sifted grain near by.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Aunt Martina sat on the portico spinning, while Giovanna, who was pregnant, sifted grain near by.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading She was seated on the ground, and beside her was another basket heaped with grain that looked as though it were piled with gold dust.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
sievenounUS /sɪv/
a strainer for separating lumps from powdered material or grading particles
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
siftedverbUS /ˈsɪftɪd/
past form of “sift” — move as if through a sieve
From this reading Aunt Martina sat on the portico spinning, while Giovanna, who was pregnant, sifted grain near by.
spinningnounUS /ˈspɪnɪŋ/
creating thread
From this reading Aunt Martina sat on the portico spinning, while Giovanna, who was pregnant, sifted grain near by.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Usually two women perform this task, but Giovanna was doing it alone.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was the vigil of the Assumption, a hot, cloudy Wednesday.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading First she stirred the grain around in the sieve and extracted all bits of stone, then she sifted it carefully into a piece of cloth placed in a large basket that stood before her.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Usually two women perform this task, but Giovanna was doing it alone.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She was seated on the ground, and beside her was another basket heaped with grain that looked as though it were piled with gold dust.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Usually two women perform this task, but Giovanna was doing it alone.
under normal conditions
From this reading Usually two women perform this task, but Giovanna was doing it alone.
vigilnounUS /ˈvɪdʒəl/
a period of sleeplessness
From this reading It was the vigil of the Assumption, a hot, cloudy Wednesday.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the vigil of the Assumption, a hot, cloudy Wednesday.
WednesdaynounUS /ˈwenzdi/
the fourth day of the week; the third working day
From this reading It was the vigil of the Assumption, a hot, cloudy Wednesday.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She was seated on the ground, and beside her was another basket heaped with grain that looked as though it were piled with gold dust.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Aunt Martina sat on the portico spinning, while Giovanna, who was pregnant, sifted grain near by.
which person or people
From this reading Aunt Martina sat on the portico spinning, while Giovanna, who was pregnant, sifted grain near by.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She was seated on the ground, and beside her was another basket heaped with grain that looked as though it were piled with gold dust.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Usually two women perform this task, but Giovanna was doing it alone.
