used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
alternationnounUS /ˈɔːltərneɪʃən/
successive change from one thing or state to another and back again
From this reading Then she undressed, put on her long, white nightgown, and said her prayers with a troubled alternation of fervour and forgetfulness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
Barbara's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
candlesnounUS /ˈkændəlz/
plural of “candle” — stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading First she lighted the four candles that stood, two on each side of the mirror, on her shining mahogany dressing-table.
childishadjectiveUS /ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ/
indicating a lack of maturity
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She slipped, and fell down on the other side.
dressing-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First she lighted the four candles that stood, two on each side of the mirror, on her shining mahogany dressing-table.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading First she lighted the four candles that stood, two on each side of the mirror, on her shining mahogany dressing-table.
exaltationnoun
a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading She slipped, and fell down on the other side.
fervournoun
the state of being emotionally aroused and worked up
From this reading Then she undressed, put on her long, white nightgown, and said her prayers with a troubled alternation of fervour and forgetfulness.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading First she lighted the four candles that stood, two on each side of the mirror, on her shining mahogany dressing-table.
forgetfulnessnoun
tendency to forget
From this reading Then she undressed, put on her long, white nightgown, and said her prayers with a troubled alternation of fervour and forgetfulness.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading First she lighted the four candles that stood, two on each side of the mirror, on her shining mahogany dressing-table.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
the act of departing
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
set afire or burning
From this reading First she lighted the four candles that stood, two on each side of the mirror, on her shining mahogany dressing-table.
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 Then she undressed, put on her long, white nightgown, and said her prayers with a troubled alternation of fervour and forgetfulness.
mahoganynounUS /məˈhɑːɡəni/
wood of any of various mahogany trees; much used for cabinetwork and furniture
From this reading First she lighted the four candles that stood, two on each side of the mirror, on her shining mahogany dressing-table.
maintainedadjectiveUS /meɪnˈteɪnd/
kept in good condition
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
Mehitable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading First she lighted the four candles that stood, two on each side of the mirror, on her shining mahogany dressing-table.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
nightgownnoun
lingerie consisting of a loose dress designed to be worn in bed by women
From this reading Then she undressed, put on her long, white nightgown, and said her prayers with a troubled alternation of fervour and forgetfulness.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She slipped, and fell down on the other side.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading She slipped, and fell down on the other side.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
pinnaclenounUS /ˈpɪnəkəl/
(architecture) a slender upright spire at the top of a buttress of tower
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
plural of “prayer” — the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading Then she undressed, put on her long, white nightgown, and said her prayers with a troubled alternation of fervour and forgetfulness.
presentsnounUS /ˈprezənts/
plural of “present” — the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Then she undressed, put on her long, white nightgown, and said her prayers with a troubled alternation of fervour and forgetfulness.
reactionnounUS /riˈækʃən/
(chemistry) a process in which one or more substances are changed into others
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Then she undressed, put on her long, white nightgown, and said her prayers with a troubled alternation of fervour and forgetfulness.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading First she lighted the four candles that stood, two on each side of the mirror, on her shining mahogany dressing-table.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading She slipped, and fell down on the other side.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading She slipped, and fell down on the other side.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading First she lighted the four candles that stood, two on each side of the mirror, on her shining mahogany dressing-table.
possessing sweep
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then she undressed, put on her long, white nightgown, and said her prayers with a troubled alternation of fervour and forgetfulness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading Then she undressed, put on her long, white nightgown, and said her prayers with a troubled alternation of fervour and forgetfulness.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading First she lighted the four candles that stood, two on each side of the mirror, on her shining mahogany dressing-table.
uncle'snounUS /ˈʌŋkəlz/
possessive form of “uncle” — the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
undressedadjectiveUS /ənˈdrest/
of lumber or stone or hides; not finished or dressed
From this reading Then she undressed, put on her long, white nightgown, and said her prayers with a troubled alternation of fervour and forgetfulness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
at the time that
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
whirlverbUS /wɜːrl/
turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading The joy of her uncle's coming, the whirl of childish delight over the presents he had brought her, had swept her spirits to a pinnacle which could not be maintained.
a Caucasian
From this reading Then she undressed, put on her long, white nightgown, and said her prayers with a troubled alternation of fervour and forgetfulness.
in the company of; together with
From this reading That night, when she was going to bed, came Barbara's really deep reaction from the exaltation and excitement which had possessed her since the morning with Mistress Mehitable.
