used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
(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 All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of its being otherwise.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Zeena herself, from an oppressive reality, had faded into an insubstantial shade.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of its being otherwise.
apprehensionsnounUS /ˌæprɪˈhenʃənz/
plural of “apprehension” — fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading Of late, however, there had been no room in his thoughts for such vague apprehensions.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Of late, however, there had been no room in his thoughts for such vague apprehensions.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of its being otherwise.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
conceiveverbUS /kənˈsiːv/
have the idea for
From this reading All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of its being otherwise.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of its being otherwise.
dancersnounUS /ˈdænsərz/
plural of “dancer” — a performer who dances professionally
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
Denis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
disregardedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsrɪˈɡɑːrdɪd/
not noticed inadvertently
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
Eady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading Zeena herself, from an oppressive reality, had faded into an insubstantial shade.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
having the pinkish flush of health
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Of late, however, there had been no room in his thoughts for such vague apprehensions.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Zeena herself, from an oppressive reality, had faded into an insubstantial shade.
Frome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
grotesquelyadverbUS /ɡroʊˈteskli/
in a grotesque manner
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/
plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Of late, however, there had been no room in his thoughts for such vague apprehensions.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of its being otherwise.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Zeena herself, from an oppressive reality, had faded into an insubstantial shade.
hintsnounUS /hɪnts/
plural of “hint” — an indirect suggestion
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Of late, however, there had been no room in his thoughts for such vague apprehensions.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Of late, however, there had been no room in his thoughts for such vague apprehensions.
IInoun
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Of late, however, there had been no room in his thoughts for such vague apprehensions.
insubstantialadjectiveUS /ˌɪnsəbˈstænʃəl/
lacking material form or substance; unreal
From this reading Zeena herself, from an oppressive reality, had faded into an insubstantial shade.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Zeena herself, from an oppressive reality, had faded into an insubstantial shade.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of its being otherwise.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Of late, however, there had been no room in his thoughts for such vague apprehensions.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of its being otherwise.
provided with artificial light
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of its being otherwise.
for more time
From this reading All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of its being otherwise.
Mattie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of its being otherwise.
menacesnounUS /ˈmenəsɪz/
plural of “menace” — something that is a source of danger
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
in motion
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
not any; not one
From this reading Of late, however, there had been no room in his thoughts for such vague apprehensions.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of late, however, there had been no room in his thoughts for such vague apprehensions.
oppressiveadjectiveUS /əˈpresɪv/
weighing heavily on the senses or spirit
From this reading Zeena herself, from an oppressive reality, had faded into an insubstantial shade.
in other respects or ways
From this reading All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of its being otherwise.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
past form of “pour” — cause to run
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
projectingadjectiveUS /prəˈdʒektɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
raynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading Zeena herself, from an oppressive reality, had faded into an insubstantial shade.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Of late, however, there had been no room in his thoughts for such vague apprehensions.
cut with a saw
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
segregationnounUS /ˌseɡrəˈɡeɪʃən/
(genetics) the separation of paired alleles during meiosis so that members of each pair of alleles appear in different gametes
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading Zeena herself, from an oppressive reality, had faded into an insubstantial shade.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of its being otherwise.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of its being otherwise.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of its being otherwise.
spinningnounUS /ˈspɪnɪŋ/
creating thread
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
storm-door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Of late, however, there had been no room in his thoughts for such vague apprehensions.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of its being otherwise.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Of late, however, there had been no room in his thoughts for such vague apprehensions.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Of late, however, there had been no room in his thoughts for such vague apprehensions.
throngnounUS /θrɔːŋ/
a large gathering of people
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading Of late, however, there had been no room in his thoughts for such vague apprehensions.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All his life was lived in the sight and sound of Mattie Silver, and he could no longer conceive of its being otherwise.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading II As the dancers poured out of the hall Frome, drawing back behind the projecting storm-door, watched the segregation of the grotesquely muffled groups, in which a moving lantern ray now and then lit up a face flushed with food and dancing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
woveverbUS /woʊv/
inflected form of “weave” — interlace by or as if by weaving
From this reading But now, as he stood outside the church, and saw Mattie spinning down the floor with Denis Eady, a throng of disregarded hints and menaces wove their cloud about his brain....
Zeena
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zeena herself, from an oppressive reality, had faded into an insubstantial shade.
