used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
abashedadjectiveUS /əˈbæʃt/
feeling or caused to feel ill at ease or self-conscious or ashamed
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
admiringverbUS /ædˈmaɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “admire” — feel admiration for
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Her attention was diverted from the great river.
Barbara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Barbara rounded the next turn.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There before her, widely gleaming, spread the waters of the great river itself.
a youthful male person
From this reading Here was a tall boy--of her own caste unmistakably--poling himself out on a precarious little raft to meet her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
castenounUS /kæst/
social status or position conferred by a system based on class
From this reading Here was a tall boy--of her own caste unmistakably--poling himself out on a precarious little raft to meet her.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
criticaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
divertedadjectiveUS /daɪˈvɜːrtɪd/
pleasantly occupied
From this reading Her attention was diverted from the great river.
franklyadverbUS /ˈfræŋkli/
(used as intensives reflecting the speaker's attitude) it is sincerely the case that
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Her attention was diverted from the great river.
gleamingnounUS /ˈɡliːmɪŋ/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading There before her, widely gleaming, spread the waters of the great river itself.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading There before her, widely gleaming, spread the waters of the great river itself.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There before her, widely gleaming, spread the waters of the great river itself.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here was a tall boy--of her own caste unmistakably--poling himself out on a precarious little raft to meet her.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Here was a tall boy--of her own caste unmistakably--poling himself out on a precarious little raft to meet her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading There before her, widely gleaming, spread the waters of the great river itself.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Here was a tall boy--of her own caste unmistakably--poling himself out on a precarious little raft to meet her.
madlyadverbUS /ˈmædli/
in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
come together
From this reading Here was a tall boy--of her own caste unmistakably--poling himself out on a precarious little raft to meet her.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Barbara rounded the next turn.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There before her, widely gleaming, spread the waters of the great river itself.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Here was a tall boy--of her own caste unmistakably--poling himself out on a precarious little raft to meet her.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Here was a tall boy--of her own caste unmistakably--poling himself out on a precarious little raft to meet her.
paddledverbUS /ˈpædəld/
past form of “paddle” — propel with a paddle
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
perceivingverbUS /pərˈsiːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “perceive” — to become aware of through the senses
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
polingverbUS /ˈpoʊlɪŋ/
-ing form of “pole” — propel with a pole
From this reading Here was a tall boy--of her own caste unmistakably--poling himself out on a precarious little raft to meet her.
precariousadjectiveUS /priˈkeriəs/
affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading Here was a tall boy--of her own caste unmistakably--poling himself out on a precarious little raft to meet her.
raftnounUS /ræft/
a flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be used for transport or as a platform for swimmers
From this reading Here was a tall boy--of her own caste unmistakably--poling himself out on a precarious little raft to meet her.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading There before her, widely gleaming, spread the waters of the great river itself.
roundedadjectiveUS /ˈraʊndəd/
curving and somewhat round in shape rather than jagged
From this reading Barbara rounded the next turn.
scrutinynounUS /ˈskruːtəni/
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading There before her, widely gleaming, spread the waters of the great river itself.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Here was a tall boy--of her own caste unmistakably--poling himself out on a precarious little raft to meet her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Barbara rounded the next turn.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There before her, widely gleaming, spread the waters of the great river itself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Here was a tall boy--of her own caste unmistakably--poling himself out on a precarious little raft to meet her.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading Barbara rounded the next turn.
unmistakablyadverbUS /ˌʌnmɪˈsteɪkəbli/
without possibility of mistake
From this reading Here was a tall boy--of her own caste unmistakably--poling himself out on a precarious little raft to meet her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She cried out in her joy, and paddled madly--then paused, abashed, perceiving that she was the object of a critical but frankly admiring scrutiny.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading There before her, widely gleaming, spread the waters of the great river itself.
widelyadverbUS /ˈwaɪdli/
to a great degree
From this reading There before her, widely gleaming, spread the waters of the great river itself.
