used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A HINT OF PINK Cecilia sat well forward in the parquet seats of an opera house in Boston.
anew
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A HINT OF PINK Cecilia sat well forward in the parquet seats of an opera house in Boston.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
From this reading A HINT OF PINK Cecilia sat well forward in the parquet seats of an opera house in Boston.
Cecilia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A HINT OF PINK Cecilia sat well forward in the parquet seats of an opera house in Boston.
curledadjectiveUS /kɜːrld/
(of hair) making curls or having been made to curl
From this reading Her small hand was curled up in the fat palm of a fat priest.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The curtain had not gone up.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading They were a good fifteen minutes early.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading Her small hand was curled up in the fat palm of a fat priest.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading They were a good fifteen minutes early.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading A HINT OF PINK Cecilia sat well forward in the parquet seats of an opera house in Boston.
a young female
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The curtain had not gone up.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading They were a good fifteen minutes early.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The curtain had not gone up.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Her small hand was curled up in the fat palm of a fat priest.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her small hand was curled up in the fat palm of a fat priest.
an indirect suggestion
From this reading A HINT OF PINK Cecilia sat well forward in the parquet seats of an opera house in Boston.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading A HINT OF PINK Cecilia sat well forward in the parquet seats of an opera house in Boston.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A HINT OF PINK Cecilia sat well forward in the parquet seats of an opera house in Boston.
indulgentlyadverb
in an indulgent manner
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading They were a good fifteen minutes early.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The curtain had not gone up.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A HINT OF PINK Cecilia sat well forward in the parquet seats of an opera house in Boston.
operanounUS /ˈɑːprə/
a drama set to music; consists of singing with orchestral accompaniment and an orchestral overture and interludes
From this reading A HINT OF PINK Cecilia sat well forward in the parquet seats of an opera house in Boston.
palmnounUS /pɑːm/
the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading Her small hand was curled up in the fat palm of a fat priest.
parquetnounUS /pɑːrˈkeɪ/
a floor made of parquetry
From this reading A HINT OF PINK Cecilia sat well forward in the parquet seats of an opera house in Boston.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
a light shade of red
From this reading A HINT OF PINK Cecilia sat well forward in the parquet seats of an opera house in Boston.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
From this reading Her small hand was curled up in the fat palm of a fat priest.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading A HINT OF PINK Cecilia sat well forward in the parquet seats of an opera house in Boston.
cut with a saw
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
seatsnounUS /siːts/
an area that includes places where several people can sit
From this reading A HINT OF PINK Cecilia sat well forward in the parquet seats of an opera house in Boston.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Her small hand was curled up in the fat palm of a fat priest.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A HINT OF PINK Cecilia sat well forward in the parquet seats of an opera house in Boston.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were a good fifteen minutes early.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Her small hand was curled up in the fat palm of a fat priest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her small hand was curled up in the fat palm of a fat priest.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading A HINT OF PINK Cecilia sat well forward in the parquet seats of an opera house in Boston.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were a good fifteen minutes early.
which person or people
From this reading The people who saw this smiled indulgently, then looked again; for the little girl was so pretty, and so happy, and the man's face was unusual.
