used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She looked up and motioned to a low chair near the window.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
in the past
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “Sit there for a few minutes, Dorothy; I shall not be long before I am free to talk to you.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She looked up and motioned to a low chair near the window.
Arden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HEAD DECIDES Miss Arden was writing at the table in the middle of the room when Dorothy entered.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE HEAD DECIDES Miss Arden was writing at the table in the middle of the room when Dorothy entered.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Sit there for a few minutes, Dorothy; I shall not be long before I am free to talk to you.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “Sit there for a few minutes, Dorothy; I shall not be long before I am free to talk to you.”
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
brightnessnounUS /ˈbraɪtnəs/
the location of a visual perception along a continuum from black to white
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading She looked up and motioned to a low chair near the window.
DECIDESverbUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdz/
third-person singular of “decide” — reach, make, or come to a decision about something
From this reading THE HEAD DECIDES Miss Arden was writing at the table in the middle of the room when Dorothy entered.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
Dorothy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HEAD DECIDES Miss Arden was writing at the table in the middle of the room when Dorothy entered.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading THE HEAD DECIDES Miss Arden was writing at the table in the middle of the room when Dorothy entered.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading “Sit there for a few minutes, Dorothy; I shall not be long before I am free to talk to you.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Sit there for a few minutes, Dorothy; I shall not be long before I am free to talk to you.”
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading “Sit there for a few minutes, Dorothy; I shall not be long before I am free to talk to you.”
gapnounUS /ɡæp/
a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading THE HEAD DECIDES Miss Arden was writing at the table in the middle of the room when Dorothy entered.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Sit there for a few minutes, Dorothy; I shall not be long before I am free to talk to you.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE HEAD DECIDES Miss Arden was writing at the table in the middle of the room when Dorothy entered.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
and nothing more
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading “Sit there for a few minutes, Dorothy; I shall not be long before I am free to talk to you.”
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She looked up and motioned to a low chair near the window.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading She looked up and motioned to a low chair near the window.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading THE HEAD DECIDES Miss Arden was writing at the table in the middle of the room when Dorothy entered.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading “Sit there for a few minutes, Dorothy; I shall not be long before I am free to talk to you.”
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading THE HEAD DECIDES Miss Arden was writing at the table in the middle of the room when Dorothy entered.
motionedverbUS /ˈmoʊʃənd/
past form of “motion” — show, express or direct through movement
From this reading She looked up and motioned to a low chair near the window.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading She looked up and motioned to a low chair near the window.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Sit there for a few minutes, Dorothy; I shall not be long before I am free to talk to you.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HEAD DECIDES Miss Arden was writing at the table in the middle of the room when Dorothy entered.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
patchnounUS /pætʃ/
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
having a point
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE HEAD DECIDES Miss Arden was writing at the table in the middle of the room when Dorothy entered.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “Sit there for a few minutes, Dorothy; I shall not be long before I am free to talk to you.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She looked up and motioned to a low chair near the window.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
be seated
From this reading “Sit there for a few minutes, Dorothy; I shall not be long before I am free to talk to you.”
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
not in physical motion
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
swayverbUS /sweɪ/
move back and forth or sideways
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading THE HEAD DECIDES Miss Arden was writing at the table in the middle of the room when Dorothy entered.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading “Sit there for a few minutes, Dorothy; I shall not be long before I am free to talk to you.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HEAD DECIDES Miss Arden was writing at the table in the middle of the room when Dorothy entered.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “Sit there for a few minutes, Dorothy; I shall not be long before I am free to talk to you.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She looked up and motioned to a low chair near the window.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She looked up and motioned to a low chair near the window.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE HEAD DECIDES Miss Arden was writing at the table in the middle of the room when Dorothy entered.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
at the time that
From this reading THE HEAD DECIDES Miss Arden was writing at the table in the middle of the room when Dorothy entered.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Dorothy sat down, and instinctively her glance went out to that bit of shining sea visible through the gap in the trees, which the Head had pointed out to her a week ago.
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 She looked up and motioned to a low chair near the window.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was an evening just like that one had been, with the sun shining on the water, and the trees so still that they did not sway across that little patch of brightness.
the act of creating written works
From this reading THE HEAD DECIDES Miss Arden was writing at the table in the middle of the room when Dorothy entered.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Sit there for a few minutes, Dorothy; I shall not be long before I am free to talk to you.”
