used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE A woman was sitting in a low room, engaged in knitting.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Her feet were stretched out toward a small fire that smouldered in an open hearth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
cause to be bored
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Come in, sir," she called in a soft but distinct voice; "come in, miss."
calicoadjectiveUS /ˈkæləkoʊ/
made of calico or resembling calico in being patterned
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Come in, sir," she called in a soft but distinct voice; "come in, miss."
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Come in, sir," she called in a soft but distinct voice; "come in, miss."
DISAPPEARANCEnounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrəns/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE A woman was sitting in a low room, engaged in knitting.
distinctadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality
From this reading "Come in, sir," she called in a soft but distinct voice; "come in, miss."
effaceverbUS /ɪˈfeɪs/
remove completely from recognition or memory
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE A woman was sitting in a low room, engaged in knitting.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Her feet were stretched out toward a small fire that smouldered in an open hearth.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Her feet were stretched out toward a small fire that smouldered in an open hearth.
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Suddenly she paused in her work, her head turned slightly to one side to listen.
hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading Her feet were stretched out toward a small fire that smouldered in an open hearth.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her feet were stretched out toward a small fire that smouldered in an open hearth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE A woman was sitting in a low room, engaged in knitting.
knittingnounUS /ˈnɪtɪŋ/
needlework created by interlacing yarn in a series of connected loops using straight eyeless needles or by machine
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE A woman was sitting in a low room, engaged in knitting.
hear with intention
From this reading Suddenly she paused in her work, her head turned slightly to one side to listen.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE A woman was sitting in a low room, engaged in knitting.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "Come in, sir," she called in a soft but distinct voice; "come in, miss."
to a great degree or extent
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
of an obscure nature
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE A woman was sitting in a low room, engaged in knitting.
neatadjectiveUS /niːt/
clean or organized
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Suddenly she paused in her work, her head turned slightly to one side to listen.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Her feet were stretched out toward a small fire that smouldered in an open hearth.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Her feet were stretched out toward a small fire that smouldered in an open hearth.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Suddenly she paused in her work, her head turned slightly to one side to listen.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE A woman was sitting in a low room, engaged in knitting.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Suddenly she paused in her work, her head turned slightly to one side to listen.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
term of address for a man
From this reading "Come in, sir," she called in a soft but distinct voice; "come in, miss."
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE A woman was sitting in a low room, engaged in knitting.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Suddenly she paused in her work, her head turned slightly to one side to listen.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Her feet were stretched out toward a small fire that smouldered in an open hearth.
smouldered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her feet were stretched out toward a small fire that smouldered in an open hearth.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading "Come in, sir," she called in a soft but distinct voice; "come in, miss."
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Her feet were stretched out toward a small fire that smouldered in an open hearth.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly she paused in her work, her head turned slightly to one side to listen.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Her feet were stretched out toward a small fire that smouldered in an open hearth.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Her feet were stretched out toward a small fire that smouldered in an open hearth.
tracesnounUS /ˈtreɪsəz/
plural of “trace” — a just detectable amount
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Suddenly she paused in her work, her head turned slightly to one side to listen.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "Come in, sir," she called in a soft but distinct voice; "come in, miss."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE A woman was sitting in a low room, engaged in knitting.
well-fitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her feet were stretched out toward a small fire that smouldered in an open hearth.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE A woman was sitting in a low room, engaged in knitting.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading She wore a simple calico gown, neat and well-fitting, and her face bore traces of much beauty that time and care had been unable wholly to efface.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Suddenly she paused in her work, her head turned slightly to one side to listen.
