used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
blindsnounUS /blaɪndz/
plural of “blind” — people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
Edmund
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
ensconcedverbUS /ɪnˈskɑːnst/
past form of “ensconce” — fix firmly
From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
a social unit living together
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.
FUNERALnounUS /ˈfjuːnərəl/
a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated
From this reading WATCHING THE FUNERAL.
GassnounUS /ɡæs/
plural of “gas” — the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
Gass's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.
genteeladjectiveUS /dʒenˈtiːl/
marked by refinement in taste and manners
From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
improvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvd/
made more desirable or valuable or profitable; especially made ready for use or marketing
From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
mourningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
neighboursnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
plural of “neighbour” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.
netnounUS /net/
a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
phrasedverbUS /freɪzd/
past form of “phrase” — put into words or an expression
From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
securelyadverbUS /sɪˈkjʊrli/
in a secure manner; in a manner free from danger
From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WATCHING THE FUNERAL.
a special situation
From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.
someone who visits
From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading WATCHING THE FUNERAL.
a Caucasian
From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
