the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She had changed her dress for an exquisite orchid-coloured tea-gown of chiffon under the rarest and most delicate of lace.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had changed her dress for an exquisite orchid-coloured tea-gown of chiffon under the rarest and most delicate of lace.
on or to one side
From this reading Ranjab was holding the curtains aside for her to enter.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The tall figure of Frederic loomed up behind her, his dark face glowing in the warm light that came from the room.
Brood's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an instant her gaze rested on Lydia, and then went questioningly to Brood's face.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The tall figure of Frederic loomed up behind her, his dark face glowing in the warm light that came from the room.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading She had changed her dress for an exquisite orchid-coloured tea-gown of chiffon under the rarest and most delicate of lace.
chiffonnounUS /ʃɪˈfɑːn/
a sheer fabric of silk or rayon
From this reading She had changed her dress for an exquisite orchid-coloured tea-gown of chiffon under the rarest and most delicate of lace.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Ranjab was holding the curtains aside for her to enter.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The tall figure of Frederic loomed up behind her, his dark face glowing in the warm light that came from the room.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading She had changed her dress for an exquisite orchid-coloured tea-gown of chiffon under the rarest and most delicate of lace.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading Yvonne stopped in the doorway.
put on clothes
From this reading She had changed her dress for an exquisite orchid-coloured tea-gown of chiffon under the rarest and most delicate of lace.
to come or go into
From this reading Ranjab was holding the curtains aside for her to enter.
exquisiteadjectiveUS /ˈekskwəzət/
intense or sharp
From this reading She had changed her dress for an exquisite orchid-coloured tea-gown of chiffon under the rarest and most delicate of lace.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The tall figure of Frederic loomed up behind her, his dark face glowing in the warm light that came from the room.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading The tall figure of Frederic loomed up behind her, his dark face glowing in the warm light that came from the room.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Ranjab was holding the curtains aside for her to enter.
Frederic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tall figure of Frederic loomed up behind her, his dark face glowing in the warm light that came from the room.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The tall figure of Frederic loomed up behind her, his dark face glowing in the warm light that came from the room.
a long fixed look
From this reading For an instant her gaze rested on Lydia, and then went questioningly to Brood's face.
glowingadjectiveUS /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/
highly enthusiastic
From this reading The tall figure of Frederic loomed up behind her, his dark face glowing in the warm light that came from the room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had changed her dress for an exquisite orchid-coloured tea-gown of chiffon under the rarest and most delicate of lace.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Ranjab was holding the curtains aside for her to enter.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The tall figure of Frederic loomed up behind her, his dark face glowing in the warm light that came from the room.
the act of retaining something
From this reading Ranjab was holding the curtains aside for her to enter.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Yvonne stopped in the doorway.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading For an instant her gaze rested on Lydia, and then went questioningly to Brood's face.
laceverbUS /leɪs/
spin, wind, or twist together
From this reading She had changed her dress for an exquisite orchid-coloured tea-gown of chiffon under the rarest and most delicate of lace.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The tall figure of Frederic loomed up behind her, his dark face glowing in the warm light that came from the room.
loomedverbUS /luːmd/
past form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading The tall figure of Frederic loomed up behind her, his dark face glowing in the warm light that came from the room.
LydianounUS /ˈlɪdiə/
an ancient region on the coast of western Asia Minor; a powerful kingdom until conquered by the Persians in 546 BC
From this reading For an instant her gaze rested on Lydia, and then went questioningly to Brood's face.
used to form the superlative
From this reading She had changed her dress for an exquisite orchid-coloured tea-gown of chiffon under the rarest and most delicate of lace.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The tall figure of Frederic loomed up behind her, his dark face glowing in the warm light that came from the room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For an instant her gaze rested on Lydia, and then went questioningly to Brood's face.
orchid-coloured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had changed her dress for an exquisite orchid-coloured tea-gown of chiffon under the rarest and most delicate of lace.
questioninglyadverb
in a curious and questioning manner
From this reading For an instant her gaze rested on Lydia, and then went questioningly to Brood's face.
Ranjab
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ranjab was holding the curtains aside for her to enter.
rarestadjectiveUS /ˈrerəst/
superlative of “rare” — not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading She had changed her dress for an exquisite orchid-coloured tea-gown of chiffon under the rarest and most delicate of lace.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading For an instant her gaze rested on Lydia, and then went questioningly to Brood's face.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The tall figure of Frederic loomed up behind her, his dark face glowing in the warm light that came from the room.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had changed her dress for an exquisite orchid-coloured tea-gown of chiffon under the rarest and most delicate of lace.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Yvonne stopped in the doorway.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading The tall figure of Frederic loomed up behind her, his dark face glowing in the warm light that came from the room.
tea-gown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had changed her dress for an exquisite orchid-coloured tea-gown of chiffon under the rarest and most delicate of lace.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The tall figure of Frederic loomed up behind her, his dark face glowing in the warm light that came from the room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Yvonne stopped in the doorway.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading For an instant her gaze rested on Lydia, and then went questioningly to Brood's face.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ranjab was holding the curtains aside for her to enter.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She had changed her dress for an exquisite orchid-coloured tea-gown of chiffon under the rarest and most delicate of lace.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The tall figure of Frederic loomed up behind her, his dark face glowing in the warm light that came from the room.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading The tall figure of Frederic loomed up behind her, his dark face glowing in the warm light that came from the room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Ranjab was holding the curtains aside for her to enter.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading For an instant her gaze rested on Lydia, and then went questioningly to Brood's face.
Yvonne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yvonne stopped in the doorway.
