used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!
Alida
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
BethnounUS /beθ/
the 2nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
past form of “betray” — reveal unintentionally
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
Cortlandt's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
dilatedverbUS /ˌdaɪˈleɪtɪd/
past form of “dilate” — become wider
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
dollnounUS /dɑːl/
a small replica of a person; used as a toy
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
divisible by two
From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!
opinion or judgment
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
favoritenounUS /ˈfeɪvərɪt/
something regarded with special favor or liking
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
a young female
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
a female domestic
From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
metropolisnounUS /məˈtrɑːpələs/
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
not in physical motion
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
pallornoun
unnatural lack of color in the skin (as from bruising or sickness or emotional distress)
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
pressurenounUS /ˈpreʃər/
the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
reddenedadjective
(especially of the face) reddened or suffused with or as if with blood from emotion or exertion
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
rompingverbUS /ˈrɑːmpɪŋ/
-ing form of “romp” — play boisterously
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
rosyadjectiveUS /ˈroʊzi/
reflecting optimism
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!
intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
spotlessadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːtləs/
completely neat and clean
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
stifflyadverbUS /ˈstɪfli/
in a stiff manner
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
not in physical motion
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
tipsnounUS /tɪps/
plural of “tip” — the extreme end of something; especially something pointed
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
create by training and teaching
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
under normal conditions
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
at the time that
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
which person or people
From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
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 WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
