used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Lucia stopped, caught her breath as one does after crying, mopped her eyes again and stood still to listen.
anew
From this reading Lucia stopped, caught her breath as one does after crying, mopped her eyes again and stood still to listen.
ajaradjectiveUS /əˈdʒɑːr/
slightly open
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading But as she grasped the ornate bronze handle, the first notes of something beautiful sounded upon the piano below.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Lucia had merely pushed it to before they had cuddled down in the cushions.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading After a sparkling prelude, a voice began to sing.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading But as she grasped the ornate bronze handle, the first notes of something beautiful sounded upon the piano below.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Lucia stopped, caught her breath as one does after crying, mopped her eyes again and stood still to listen.
bronzenounUS /brɑːnz/
an alloy of copper and tin and sometimes other elements; also any copper-base alloy containing other elements in place of tin
From this reading But as she grasped the ornate bronze handle, the first notes of something beautiful sounded upon the piano below.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But as she grasped the ornate bronze handle, the first notes of something beautiful sounded upon the piano below.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Lucia stopped, caught her breath as one does after crying, mopped her eyes again and stood still to listen.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
female equivalent of a count or earl
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
demanding attention
From this reading Lucia stopped, caught her breath as one does after crying, mopped her eyes again and stood still to listen.
cuddledverbUS /ˈkʌdəld/
past form of “cuddle” — move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position
From this reading Lucia had merely pushed it to before they had cuddled down in the cushions.
cushionsnounUS /ˈkʊʃənz/
plural of “cushion” — a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
From this reading Lucia had merely pushed it to before they had cuddled down in the cushions.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lucia stopped, caught her breath as one does after crying, mopped her eyes again and stood still to listen.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Lucia had merely pushed it to before they had cuddled down in the cushions.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Lucia stopped, caught her breath as one does after crying, mopped her eyes again and stood still to listen.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading But as she grasped the ornate bronze handle, the first notes of something beautiful sounded upon the piano below.
graspedverbUS /ɡræspt/
past form of “grasp” — hold firmly
From this reading But as she grasped the ornate bronze handle, the first notes of something beautiful sounded upon the piano below.
past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Lucia had merely pushed it to before they had cuddled down in the cushions.
be in charge of, act on, or dispose of
From this reading But as she grasped the ornate bronze handle, the first notes of something beautiful sounded upon the piano below.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
hear with intention
From this reading Lucia stopped, caught her breath as one does after crying, mopped her eyes again and stood still to listen.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
Lucia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
LYONnounUS /ˈlaɪən/
a city in east-central France on the Rhone River; a principal producer of silk and rayon
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
and nothing more
From this reading Lucia had merely pushed it to before they had cuddled down in the cushions.
moppedverbUS /mɑːpt/
inflected form of “mop” — to wash or wipe with or as if with a mop
From this reading Lucia stopped, caught her breath as one does after crying, mopped her eyes again and stood still to listen.
plural of “note” — a brief written record
From this reading But as she grasped the ornate bronze handle, the first notes of something beautiful sounded upon the piano below.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But as she grasped the ornate bronze handle, the first notes of something beautiful sounded upon the piano below.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Lucia stopped, caught her breath as one does after crying, mopped her eyes again and stood still to listen.
ornateadjectiveUS /ɔːrˈneɪt/
marked by elaborate rhetoric and elaborated with decorative details
From this reading But as she grasped the ornate bronze handle, the first notes of something beautiful sounded upon the piano below.
pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/
a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
From this reading But as she grasped the ornate bronze handle, the first notes of something beautiful sounded upon the piano below.
preludenounUS /ˈpreɪluːd/
something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows
From this reading After a sparkling prelude, a voice began to sing.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading Lucia had merely pushed it to before they had cuddled down in the cushions.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But as she grasped the ornate bronze handle, the first notes of something beautiful sounded upon the piano below.
deliver by singing
From this reading After a sparkling prelude, a voice began to sing.
sobsnounUS /sɑːbz/
plural of “sob” — a dyspneic condition
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading But as she grasped the ornate bronze handle, the first notes of something beautiful sounded upon the piano below.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading But as she grasped the ornate bronze handle, the first notes of something beautiful sounded upon the piano below.
sparklingadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːrklɪŋ/
shining with brilliant points of light like stars
From this reading After a sparkling prelude, a voice began to sing.
stiflingnounUS /ˈstaɪflɪŋ/
forceful prevention; putting down by power or authority
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
not in physical motion
From this reading Lucia stopped, caught her breath as one does after crying, mopped her eyes again and stood still to listen.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Lucia stopped, caught her breath as one does after crying, mopped her eyes again and stood still to listen.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lucia had merely pushed it to before they had cuddled down in the cushions.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But as she grasped the ornate bronze handle, the first notes of something beautiful sounded upon the piano below.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading After a sparkling prelude, a voice began to sing.
YnounUS /waɪ/
a silvery metallic element that is common in rare-earth minerals; used in magnesium and aluminum alloys
From this reading LYON “Y” AND A COUNTESS The door stood a little ajar and Lucia, having difficulty in stifling her sobs, suddenly rose and ran toward it, to close it, as Betty guessed.
