used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE GIFTIE GIE US It had been raining for a week.
a feeling of delighted approval and liking
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Once the slanting beat of the drops against the pane caught her eye, and she paused for a moment to consider their angle of incidence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
anglenounUS /ˈæŋɡəl/
the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading Once the slanting beat of the drops against the pane caught her eye, and she paused for a moment to consider their angle of incidence.
anglesnounUS /ˈæŋɡəlz/
plural of “angle” — the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading She decided that she liked curves better than angles.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading Once the slanting beat of the drops against the pane caught her eye, and she paused for a moment to consider their angle of incidence.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE GIFTIE GIE US It had been raining for a week.
BellenounUS /bel/
a young woman who is the most charming and beautiful of several rivals
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
Berta
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Berta was writing a poem, her elbows on the desk, her hair clutched in one hand, her pen in the other.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading She decided that she liked curves better than angles.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Once the slanting beat of the drops against the pane caught her eye, and she paused for a moment to consider their angle of incidence.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Berta was writing a poem, her elbows on the desk, her hair clutched in one hand, her pen in the other.
deem to be
From this reading Once the slanting beat of the drops against the pane caught her eye, and she paused for a moment to consider their angle of incidence.
curve-tracing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
curvesnounUS /kɜːrvz/
plural of “curve” — the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes
From this reading She decided that she liked curves better than angles.
recognizable; marked
From this reading She decided that she liked curves better than angles.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Berta was writing a poem, her elbows on the desk, her hair clutched in one hand, her pen in the other.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
dropsnounUS /drɑːps/
plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small
From this reading Once the slanting beat of the drops against the pane caught her eye, and she paused for a moment to consider their angle of incidence.
elbowsnounUS /ˈelboʊz/
plural of “elbow” — hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading Berta was writing a poem, her elbows on the desk, her hair clutched in one hand, her pen in the other.
the organ of sight
From this reading Once the slanting beat of the drops against the pane caught her eye, and she paused for a moment to consider their angle of incidence.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE GIFTIE GIE US It had been raining for a week.
a long fixed look
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
GIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GIFTIE GIE US It had been raining for a week.
GIFTIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GIFTIE GIE US It had been raining for a week.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE GIFTIE GIE US It had been raining for a week.
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 Berta was writing a poem, her elbows on the desk, her hair clutched in one hand, her pen in the other.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Berta was writing a poem, her elbows on the desk, her hair clutched in one hand, her pen in the other.
happilyadverbUS /ˈhæpəli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Berta was writing a poem, her elbows on the desk, her hair clutched in one hand, her pen in the other.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Berta was writing a poem, her elbows on the desk, her hair clutched in one hand, her pen in the other.
incidencenounUS /ˈɪnsədəns/
the relative frequency of occurrence of something
From this reading Once the slanting beat of the drops against the pane caught her eye, and she paused for a moment to consider their angle of incidence.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE GIFTIE GIE US It had been raining for a week.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading She decided that she liked curves better than angles.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
a particular point in time
From this reading Once the slanting beat of the drops against the pane caught her eye, and she paused for a moment to consider their angle of incidence.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Berta was writing a poem, her elbows on the desk, her hair clutched in one hand, her pen in the other.
on one occasion
From this reading Once the slanting beat of the drops against the pane caught her eye, and she paused for a moment to consider their angle of incidence.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Berta was writing a poem, her elbows on the desk, her hair clutched in one hand, her pen in the other.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Berta was writing a poem, her elbows on the desk, her hair clutched in one hand, her pen in the other.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
panenounUS /peɪn/
sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors
From this reading Once the slanting beat of the drops against the pane caught her eye, and she paused for a moment to consider their angle of incidence.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Once the slanting beat of the drops against the pane caught her eye, and she paused for a moment to consider their angle of incidence.
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading Berta was writing a poem, her elbows on the desk, her hair clutched in one hand, her pen in the other.
a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines
From this reading Berta was writing a poem, her elbows on the desk, her hair clutched in one hand, her pen in the other.
problemnounUS /ˈprɑːbləm/
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
rainingadjectiveUS /ˈreɪnɪŋ/
falling in drops or as if falling like rain
From this reading THE GIFTIE GIE US It had been raining for a week.
Robbie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once the slanting beat of the drops against the pane caught her eye, and she paused for a moment to consider their angle of incidence.
slantingadjectiveUS /ˈslæntɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading Once the slanting beat of the drops against the pane caught her eye, and she paused for a moment to consider their angle of incidence.
sweepingadjectiveUS /ˈswiːpɪŋ/
taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She decided that she liked curves better than angles.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She decided that she liked curves better than angles.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GIFTIE GIE US It had been raining for a week.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Once the slanting beat of the drops against the pane caught her eye, and she paused for a moment to consider their angle of incidence.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE GIFTIE GIE US It had been raining for a week.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Berta was writing a poem, her elbows on the desk, her hair clutched in one hand, her pen in the other.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading THE GIFTIE GIE US It had been raining for a week.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading At the window Robbie Belle was working happily over her curve-tracing, now and then drawing back to gaze with admiration at the sweeping lines of her problem.
the act of creating written works
From this reading Berta was writing a poem, her elbows on the desk, her hair clutched in one hand, her pen in the other.
