used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The stupefied Mallory saw Marjorie in a startling imitation of herself at her sweetest; only now it was brazen mimicry, yet how like!
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She went forward as the shyest young thing in the world, pursed her lips into an ecstatic simper, and began on the unsuspecting official:
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
archnounUS /ɑːrtʃ/
a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The stupefied Mallory saw Marjorie in a startling imitation of herself at her sweetest; only now it was brazen mimicry, yet how like!
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She went forward as the shyest young thing in the world, pursed her lips into an ecstatic simper, and began on the unsuspecting official:
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
brazenadjectiveUS /ˈbreɪzən/
unrestrained by convention or propriety
From this reading The stupefied Mallory saw Marjorie in a startling imitation of herself at her sweetest; only now it was brazen mimicry, yet how like!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Isn't the country perfectly----" "Yes, but I'm getting used to it," the conductor growled, without looking up.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
CONDUCTORnounUS /kənˈdʌktər/
the person who leads a musical group
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
coquetting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading "Isn't the country perfectly----" "Yes, but I'm getting used to it," the conductor growled, without looking up.
DELILAHnounUS /dəˈlaɪlə/
(Old Testament) the Philistine mistress of Samson who betrayed him by cutting off his hair and so deprived him of his strength
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
ecstaticadjectiveUS /ekˈstætɪk/
feeling great rapture or delight
From this reading She went forward as the shyest young thing in the world, pursed her lips into an ecstatic simper, and began on the unsuspecting official:
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading She went forward as the shyest young thing in the world, pursed her lips into an ecstatic simper, and began on the unsuspecting official:
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading "Isn't the country perfectly----" "Yes, but I'm getting used to it," the conductor growled, without looking up.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
growledverbUS /ɡraʊld/
past form of “growl” — to utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds
From this reading "Isn't the country perfectly----" "Yes, but I'm getting used to it," the conductor growled, without looking up.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The stupefied Mallory saw Marjorie in a startling imitation of herself at her sweetest; only now it was brazen mimicry, yet how like!
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The stupefied Mallory saw Marjorie in a startling imitation of herself at her sweetest; only now it was brazen mimicry, yet how like!
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stupefied Mallory saw Marjorie in a startling imitation of herself at her sweetest; only now it was brazen mimicry, yet how like!
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Isn't the country perfectly----" "Yes, but I'm getting used to it," the conductor growled, without looking up.
imitationnounUS /ˌɪməˈteɪʃən/
the doctrine that representations of nature or human behavior should be accurate imitations
From this reading The stupefied Mallory saw Marjorie in a startling imitation of herself at her sweetest; only now it was brazen mimicry, yet how like!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The stupefied Mallory saw Marjorie in a startling imitation of herself at her sweetest; only now it was brazen mimicry, yet how like!
free from evil or guilt
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She went forward as the shyest young thing in the world, pursed her lips into an ecstatic simper, and began on the unsuspecting official:
Isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Isn't the country perfectly----" "Yes, but I'm getting used to it," the conductor growled, without looking up.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading She went forward as the shyest young thing in the world, pursed her lips into an ecstatic simper, and began on the unsuspecting official:
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "Isn't the country perfectly----" "Yes, but I'm getting used to it," the conductor growled, without looking up.
Mallory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stupefied Mallory saw Marjorie in a startling imitation of herself at her sweetest; only now it was brazen mimicry, yet how like!
Marjorie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
the force of workers available
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
mimicrynounUS /ˈmɪmɪkri/
the act of mimicking; imitative behavior
From this reading The stupefied Mallory saw Marjorie in a startling imitation of herself at her sweetest; only now it was brazen mimicry, yet how like!
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The stupefied Mallory saw Marjorie in a startling imitation of herself at her sweetest; only now it was brazen mimicry, yet how like!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
having official authority or sanction
From this reading She went forward as the shyest young thing in the world, pursed her lips into an ecstatic simper, and began on the unsuspecting official:
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
and nothing more
From this reading The stupefied Mallory saw Marjorie in a startling imitation of herself at her sweetest; only now it was brazen mimicry, yet how like!
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
pursedverbUS /pɜːrst/
past form of “purse” — contract one's lips into a rounded shape
From this reading She went forward as the shyest young thing in the world, pursed her lips into an ecstatic simper, and began on the unsuspecting official:
SamsonnounUS /ˈsæmsən/
(Old Testament) a judge of Israel who performed herculean feats of strength against the Philistines until he was betrayed to them by his mistress Delilah
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
cut with a saw
From this reading The stupefied Mallory saw Marjorie in a startling imitation of herself at her sweetest; only now it was brazen mimicry, yet how like!
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
shearsnounUS /ʃiːrz/
large scissors with strong blades
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
shyest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went forward as the shyest young thing in the world, pursed her lips into an ecstatic simper, and began on the unsuspecting official:
sidledverbUS /ˈsaɪdəld/
past form of “sidle” — move unobtrusively or furtively
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
simpernounUS /ˈsɪmpər/
a silly self-conscious smile
From this reading She went forward as the shyest young thing in the world, pursed her lips into an ecstatic simper, and began on the unsuspecting official:
snippingnoun
a small piece of anything (especially a piece that has been snipped off)
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
Sorek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading The stupefied Mallory saw Marjorie in a startling imitation of herself at her sweetest; only now it was brazen mimicry, yet how like!
stupefiedadjective
as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise
From this reading The stupefied Mallory saw Marjorie in a startling imitation of herself at her sweetest; only now it was brazen mimicry, yet how like!
sweetestadjectiveUS /ˈswiːtəst/
superlative of “sweet” — having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading The stupefied Mallory saw Marjorie in a startling imitation of herself at her sweetest; only now it was brazen mimicry, yet how like!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
a special situation
From this reading She went forward as the shyest young thing in the world, pursed her lips into an ecstatic simper, and began on the unsuspecting official:
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
unsuspectingadjectiveUS /ˌʌnsəˈspektɪŋ/
not suspicious
From this reading She went forward as the shyest young thing in the world, pursed her lips into an ecstatic simper, and began on the unsuspecting official:
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading "Isn't the country perfectly----" "Yes, but I'm getting used to it," the conductor growled, without looking up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She went forward as the shyest young thing in the world, pursed her lips into an ecstatic simper, and began on the unsuspecting official:
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She advanced on the innocent conductor, as the lady from Sorek must have sidled up to Samson, coquetting with one arch hand and snipping the shears with the other.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "Isn't the country perfectly----" "Yes, but I'm getting used to it," the conductor growled, without looking up.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading She went forward as the shyest young thing in the world, pursed her lips into an ecstatic simper, and began on the unsuspecting official:
the least favorable outcome
From this reading DELILAH AND THE CONDUCTOR Like the best of women and the worst of men, Marjorie was perfectly willing to do evil, that good might come of it.
an affirmative
From this reading "Isn't the country perfectly----" "Yes, but I'm getting used to it," the conductor growled, without looking up.
but in spite of that
From this reading The stupefied Mallory saw Marjorie in a startling imitation of herself at her sweetest; only now it was brazen mimicry, yet how like!
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading She went forward as the shyest young thing in the world, pursed her lips into an ecstatic simper, and began on the unsuspecting official:
