used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading In the room where three hours ago she had been left alone after lunch with Harbinger, her sister was seated in the window, looking decidedly upset.
in the past
From this reading In the room where three hours ago she had been left alone after lunch with Harbinger, her sister was seated in the window, looking decidedly upset.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She went straight back to Valleys House.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading There a German band was playing Delibes' Coppelia; and the murdered tune came haunting her, a very ghost of incongruity.
Barbara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
cakenounUS /keɪk/
a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There a German band was playing Delibes' Coppelia; and the murdered tune came haunting her, a very ghost of incongruity.
put or send forth
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
contemplatesverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪts/
third-person singular of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
Coppelia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There a German band was playing Delibes' Coppelia; and the murdered tune came haunting her, a very ghost of incongruity.
decidedlyadverbUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdədli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading In the room where three hours ago she had been left alone after lunch with Harbinger, her sister was seated in the window, looking decidedly upset.
Delibesnoun
French composer of operas (1836-1891)
From this reading There a German band was playing Delibes' Coppelia; and the murdered tune came haunting her, a very ghost of incongruity.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
femalesnounUS /ˈfiːmeɪlz/
plural of “female” — an animal that produces gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes
From this reading Then, paying one of the middle-aged females, she went out into the Square.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
a person of German nationality
From this reading There a German band was playing Delibes' Coppelia; and the murdered tune came haunting her, a very ghost of incongruity.
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading There a German band was playing Delibes' Coppelia; and the murdered tune came haunting her, a very ghost of incongruity.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
Gustard's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
HarbingernounUS /ˈhɑːrbɪndʒər/
something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone
From this reading In the room where three hours ago she had been left alone after lunch with Harbinger, her sister was seated in the window, looking decidedly upset.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
hauntingadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪŋ/
continually recurring to the mind
From this reading There a German band was playing Delibes' Coppelia; and the murdered tune came haunting her, a very ghost of incongruity.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading In the room where three hours ago she had been left alone after lunch with Harbinger, her sister was seated in the window, looking decidedly upset.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading She went straight back to Valleys House.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the room where three hours ago she had been left alone after lunch with Harbinger, her sister was seated in the window, looking decidedly upset.
incongruitynounUS /ˌɪŋkɔːŋˈruːɪti/
the quality of disagreeing; being unsuitable and inappropriate
From this reading There a German band was playing Delibes' Coppelia; and the murdered tune came haunting her, a very ghost of incongruity.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Then, paying one of the middle-aged females, she went out into the Square.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading In the room where three hours ago she had been left alone after lunch with Harbinger, her sister was seated in the window, looking decidedly upset.
take the midday meal
From this reading In the room where three hours ago she had been left alone after lunch with Harbinger, her sister was seated in the window, looking decidedly upset.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
mahoganynounUS /məˈhɑːɡəni/
wood of any of various mahogany trees; much used for cabinetwork and furniture
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
middle-agedadjectiveUS /ˈmɪdəleɪɡd/
being roughly between 45 and 65 years old
From this reading Then, paying one of the middle-aged females, she went out into the Square.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
murderedadjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrdərd/
killed unlawfully
From this reading There a German band was playing Delibes' Coppelia; and the murdered tune came haunting her, a very ghost of incongruity.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Then, paying one of the middle-aged females, she went out into the Square.
orange-flower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Then, paying one of the middle-aged females, she went out into the Square.
yielding a fair profit
From this reading Then, paying one of the middle-aged females, she went out into the Square.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading There a German band was playing Delibes' Coppelia; and the murdered tune came haunting her, a very ghost of incongruity.
preciselyadverbUS /prɪˈsaɪsli/
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In the room where three hours ago she had been left alone after lunch with Harbinger, her sister was seated in the window, looking decidedly upset.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
scentnounUS /sɛnt/
A distinctive smell or aroma.
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading In the room where three hours ago she had been left alone after lunch with Harbinger, her sister was seated in the window, looking decidedly upset.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading In the room where three hours ago she had been left alone after lunch with Harbinger, her sister was seated in the window, looking decidedly upset.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
make square
From this reading Then, paying one of the middle-aged females, she went out into the Square.
successive (without a break)
From this reading She went straight back to Valleys House.
tablesnounUS /ˈteɪbəlz/
plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, paying one of the middle-aged females, she went out into the Square.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There a German band was playing Delibes' Coppelia; and the murdered tune came haunting her, a very ghost of incongruity.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading In the room where three hours ago she had been left alone after lunch with Harbinger, her sister was seated in the window, looking decidedly upset.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She went straight back to Valleys House.
toynounUS /tɔɪ/
an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
tunenounUS /tuːn/
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading There a German band was playing Delibes' Coppelia; and the murdered tune came haunting her, a very ghost of incongruity.
upsetverbUS /əpˈset/
disturb the balance or stability of
From this reading In the room where three hours ago she had been left alone after lunch with Harbinger, her sister was seated in the window, looking decidedly upset.
ValleysnounUS /ˈvæliz/
plural of “valley” — a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading She went straight back to Valleys House.
precisely as stated
From this reading There a German band was playing Delibes' Coppelia; and the murdered tune came haunting her, a very ghost of incongruity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There a German band was playing Delibes' Coppelia; and the murdered tune came haunting her, a very ghost of incongruity.
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 Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Then, paying one of the middle-aged females, she went out into the Square.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
in or at the place that
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Left alone among the little mahogany tables of Gustard's, where the scent of cake and of orange-flower water made happy all the air, Barbara had sat for some minutes, her eyes cast down--as a child from whom a toy has been taken contemplates the ground, not knowing precisely what she is feeling.
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 In the room where three hours ago she had been left alone after lunch with Harbinger, her sister was seated in the window, looking decidedly upset.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the room where three hours ago she had been left alone after lunch with Harbinger, her sister was seated in the window, looking decidedly upset.
