used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
angularadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡjələr/
measured by an angle or by the rate of change of an angle
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He looked around furtively with keen eyes, half fearful at what he might see.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He looked around furtively with keen eyes, half fearful at what he might see.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But there was no one there but an elderly girl taking off her hat and coat at the back of the room.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there was no one there but an elderly girl taking off her hat and coat at the back of the room.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading But there was no one there but an elderly girl taking off her hat and coat at the back of the room.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
dabverbUS /dæb/
apply (usually a liquid) to a surface
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
elderlyadjectiveUS /ˈeldərli/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading But there was no one there but an elderly girl taking off her hat and coat at the back of the room.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He looked around furtively with keen eyes, half fearful at what he might see.
experiencing or showing fear
From this reading He looked around furtively with keen eyes, half fearful at what he might see.
furtivelyadverbUS /ˈfɜːrtɪvli/
in a furtive manner
From this reading He looked around furtively with keen eyes, half fearful at what he might see.
a young female
From this reading But there was no one there but an elderly girl taking off her hat and coat at the back of the room.
a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He looked around furtively with keen eyes, half fearful at what he might see.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading But there was no one there but an elderly girl taking off her hat and coat at the back of the room.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He looked around furtively with keen eyes, half fearful at what he might see.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But there was no one there but an elderly girl taking off her hat and coat at the back of the room.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading He looked around furtively with keen eyes, half fearful at what he might see.
immediately past
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked around furtively with keen eyes, half fearful at what he might see.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He looked around furtively with keen eyes, half fearful at what he might see.
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
NELSONnounUS /ˈnelsən/
English admiral who defeated the French fleets of Napoleon but was mortally wounded at Trafalgar (1758-1805)
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
not any; not one
From this reading But there was no one there but an elderly girl taking off her hat and coat at the back of the room.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But there was no one there but an elderly girl taking off her hat and coat at the back of the room.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
Oliver'snounUS /ˈɑːlɪvərz/
possessive form of “oliver” — United States jazz musician who influenced the style of Louis Armstrong (1885-1938)
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But there was no one there but an elderly girl taking off her hat and coat at the back of the room.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
pattedverbUS /ˈpætɪd/
inflected form of “pat” — pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading He paused and watched her uncertainly.
pegsnounUS /peɡz/
plural of “peg” — a wooden pin pushed or driven into a surface
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
powdernounUS /ˈpaʊdər/
a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
primverbUS /prɪm/
assume a prim appearance
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
with speed
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
a unit of radiation exposure; the dose of ionizing radiation that will produce 1 electrostatic unit of electricity in 1 cc of dry air
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading But there was no one there but an elderly girl taking off her hat and coat at the back of the room.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He looked around furtively with keen eyes, half fearful at what he might see.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
stealthyadjectiveUS /ˈstelθi/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading But there was no one there but an elderly girl taking off her hat and coat at the back of the room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But there was no one there but an elderly girl taking off her hat and coat at the back of the room.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading She hung them on a couple of pegs in a shadowy corner, patted her hair into prim shape before a small mirror, and put a last dab of powder on a thin angular nose.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
uncertainlyadverbUS /ənˈsɜːrtənli/
in an unsteady manner
From this reading He paused and watched her uncertainly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But there was no one there but an elderly girl taking off her hat and coat at the back of the room.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading He paused and watched her uncertainly.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He looked around furtively with keen eyes, half fearful at what he might see.
WHITNEYnounUS /ˈwɪtni/
United States inventor of the mechanical cotton gin (1765-1825)
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
in the company of; together with
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading NELSON WHITNEY pushed the door of R. H. Oliver's office open quickly and stepped within with an air of stealthy triumph.
