used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The former was a woman of about sixty-five years of age, with a delicate, high-bred face, surrounded by bands of soft, silvery hair.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
how long something has existed
From this reading The former was a woman of about sixty-five years of age, with a delicate, high-bred face, surrounded by bands of soft, silvery hair.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Brownie had just been reading to her from “Patience Strong’s Outings,” and now they were talking it over together.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
aristocraticadjectiveUS /ərˌɪstəˈkrætɪk/
belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
bandsnounUS /bændz/
plural of “band” — an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading The former was a woman of about sixty-five years of age, with a delicate, high-bred face, surrounded by bands of soft, silvery hair.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
BrownienounUS /ˈbraʊni/
a junior Girl Scout
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The former was a woman of about sixty-five years of age, with a delicate, high-bred face, surrounded by bands of soft, silvery hair.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
ChestnutadjectiveUS /ˈtʃesnʌt/
(of hair or feathers) of a golden brown to reddish brown color
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
crushedadjectiveUS /krʌʃt/
treated so as to have a permanently wrinkled appearance
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading The former was a woman of about sixty-five years of age, with a delicate, high-bred face, surrounded by bands of soft, silvery hair.
DouglasnounUS /ˈdʌɡləs/
United States politician who proposed that individual territories be allowed to decide whether they would have slavery; he engaged in a famous series of debates with Abraham Lincoln (1813-1861)
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
easy-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The former was a woman of about sixty-five years of age, with a delicate, high-bred face, surrounded by bands of soft, silvery hair.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading The former was a woman of about sixty-five years of age, with a delicate, high-bred face, surrounded by bands of soft, silvery hair.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Brownie had just been reading to her from “Patience Strong’s Outings,” and now they were talking it over together.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
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 The former was a woman of about sixty-five years of age, with a delicate, high-bred face, surrounded by bands of soft, silvery hair.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
high-bred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The former was a woman of about sixty-five years of age, with a delicate, high-bred face, surrounded by bands of soft, silvery hair.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
hoveredverbUS /ˈhʌvərd/
past form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Why is it, I wonder,” said Brownie, reflectively, “that so much sport is made of old maids?”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
incidentsnounUS /ˈɪnsədənts/
plural of “incident” — a single distinct event
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Why is it, I wonder,” said Brownie, reflectively, “that so much sport is made of old maids?”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Brownie had just been reading to her from “Patience Strong’s Outings,” and now they were talking it over together.
and nothing more
From this reading Brownie had just been reading to her from “Patience Strong’s Outings,” and now they were talking it over together.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
luxuriousadjectiveUS /ləɡˈʒɜːriəs/
displaying luxury and furnishing gratification to the senses
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading “Why is it, I wonder,” said Brownie, reflectively, “that so much sport is made of old maids?”
maidsnounUS /meɪdz/
plural of “maid” — a female domestic
From this reading “Why is it, I wonder,” said Brownie, reflectively, “that so much sport is made of old maids?”
Mehetabel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading “Why is it, I wonder,” said Brownie, reflectively, “that so much sport is made of old maids?”
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Brownie had just been reading to her from “Patience Strong’s Outings,” and now they were talking it over together.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “Why is it, I wonder,” said Brownie, reflectively, “that so much sport is made of old maids?”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
ottomannounUS /ˈɑːtəmən/
a Turk (especially a Turk who is a member of the tribe of Osman I)
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
OutingsnounUS /ˈaʊtɪŋz/
plural of “outing” — a journey taken for pleasure
From this reading Brownie had just been reading to her from “Patience Strong’s Outings,” and now they were talking it over together.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Brownie had just been reading to her from “Patience Strong’s Outings,” and now they were talking it over together.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading Brownie had just been reading to her from “Patience Strong’s Outings,” and now they were talking it over together.
a person who requires medical care
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading Brownie had just been reading to her from “Patience Strong’s Outings,” and now they were talking it over together.
reflectivelyadverb
in a reflective manner
From this reading “Why is it, I wonder,” said Brownie, reflectively, “that so much sport is made of old maids?”
being connected either logically or causally or by shared characteristics
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Why is it, I wonder,” said Brownie, reflectively, “that so much sport is made of old maids?”
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
senioradjectiveUS /ˈsiːnjər/
older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
silveryadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlvəri/
resembling or reminiscent of silver
From this reading The former was a woman of about sixty-five years of age, with a delicate, high-bred face, surrounded by bands of soft, silvery hair.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
sixty-fiveadjective
being five more than sixty
From this reading The former was a woman of about sixty-five years of age, with a delicate, high-bred face, surrounded by bands of soft, silvery hair.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Why is it, I wonder,” said Brownie, reflectively, “that so much sport is made of old maids?”
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The former was a woman of about sixty-five years of age, with a delicate, high-bred face, surrounded by bands of soft, silvery hair.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition
From this reading “Why is it, I wonder,” said Brownie, reflectively, “that so much sport is made of old maids?”
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
Strong's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brownie had just been reading to her from “Patience Strong’s Outings,” and now they were talking it over together.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
confined on all sides
From this reading The former was a woman of about sixty-five years of age, with a delicate, high-bred face, surrounded by bands of soft, silvery hair.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading Brownie had just been reading to her from “Patience Strong’s Outings,” and now they were talking it over together.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Why is it, I wonder,” said Brownie, reflectively, “that so much sport is made of old maids?”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Brownie had just been reading to her from “Patience Strong’s Outings,” and now they were talking it over together.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Brownie had just been reading to her from “Patience Strong’s Outings,” and now they were talking it over together.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Brownie had just been reading to her from “Patience Strong’s Outings,” and now they were talking it over together.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The former was a woman of about sixty-five years of age, with a delicate, high-bred face, surrounded by bands of soft, silvery hair.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Brownie had just been reading to her from “Patience Strong’s Outings,” and now they were talking it over together.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She had dark gray eyes, which always had a look in them as of some hope suddenly crushed out of her life, while a patient, gentle expression hovered about her thin, aristocratic lips.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading In a luxurious apartment of a modern house on Chestnut street, two hours after the incidents related in our first chapter, Miss Mehetabel Douglas, the senior, might have been seen sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, while Brownie sat upon an ottoman at her feet.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why is it, I wonder,” said Brownie, reflectively, “that so much sport is made of old maids?”
in the company of; together with
From this reading The former was a woman of about sixty-five years of age, with a delicate, high-bred face, surrounded by bands of soft, silvery hair.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The former was a woman of about sixty-five years of age, with a delicate, high-bred face, surrounded by bands of soft, silvery hair.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading “Why is it, I wonder,” said Brownie, reflectively, “that so much sport is made of old maids?”
a late time of life
From this reading The former was a woman of about sixty-five years of age, with a delicate, high-bred face, surrounded by bands of soft, silvery hair.
