used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading I know it's silver-cleaning afternoon.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
from appearances alone
From this reading Her stepmother was standing by the hall-stand, apparently intent on examining Wilfred's straw hat.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
Aw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Aw, I'll squeeze it in some'ow.”
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
brought into existence
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Her stepmother was standing by the hall-stand, apparently intent on examining Wilfred's straw hat.
Cecilia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cecilia picked up the inky cloth, and went out.
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading Cecilia picked up the inky cloth, and went out.
recognizable; marked
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
Eliza
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
examiningverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading Her stepmother was standing by the hall-stand, apparently intent on examining Wilfred's straw hat.
footstepnounUS /ˈfʊtstep/
the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
forksnounUS /fɔːrks/
plural of “fork” — cutlery used for serving and eating food
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
hall-stand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her stepmother was standing by the hall-stand, apparently intent on examining Wilfred's straw hat.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading Her stepmother was standing by the hall-stand, apparently intent on examining Wilfred's straw hat.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her stepmother was standing by the hall-stand, apparently intent on examining Wilfred's straw hat.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I know it's silver-cleaning afternoon.”
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Aw, I'll squeeze it in some'ow.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Aw, I'll squeeze it in some'ow.”
inkyadjectiveUS /ˈɪŋki/
of the color of black ink
From this reading Cecilia picked up the inky cloth, and went out.
intentnounUS /ˌɪnˈtent/
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Her stepmother was standing by the hall-stand, apparently intent on examining Wilfred's straw hat.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Aw, I'll squeeze it in some'ow.”
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I know it's silver-cleaning afternoon.”
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I know it's silver-cleaning afternoon.”
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 Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Her stepmother was standing by the hall-stand, apparently intent on examining Wilfred's straw hat.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Cecilia picked up the inky cloth, and went out.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading Cecilia picked up the inky cloth, and went out.
a customary way of operation or behavior
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
rattleverbUS /ˈrætəl/
make short successive sounds
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
silver-cleaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I know it's silver-cleaning afternoon.”
some'ow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Aw, I'll squeeze it in some'ow.”
spoonsnounUS /spuːnz/
plural of “spoon” — a piece of cutlery with a shallow bowl-shaped container and a handle; used to stir or serve or take up food
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
squeezeverbUS /skwiːz/
to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition
From this reading “Aw, I'll squeeze it in some'ow.”
having a supporting base
From this reading Her stepmother was standing by the hall-stand, apparently intent on examining Wilfred's straw hat.
stepmothernounUS /ˈstepmʌðər/
the wife of your father by a subsequent marriage
From this reading Her stepmother was standing by the hall-stand, apparently intent on examining Wilfred's straw hat.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
From this reading Her stepmother was standing by the hall-stand, apparently intent on examining Wilfred's straw hat.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Cecilia picked up the inky cloth, and went out.
vigournoun
forceful exertion
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her stepmother was standing by the hall-stand, apparently intent on examining Wilfred's straw hat.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Cecilia picked up the inky cloth, and went out.
Wilfred's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her stepmother was standing by the hall-stand, apparently intent on examining Wilfred's straw hat.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Eliza stopped suddenly, at a decided footstep in the passage, and began to rattle spoons and forks with a vigour born of long practice.
