used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
aislenounUS /aɪl/
a long narrow passage (as in a cave or woods)
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Where did you get this?" he asked, his voice suddenly husky.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
Betty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reyburn looked, and found himself looking into Betty's eyes.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
criticallyadverbUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəli/
in a critical manner
From this reading "There!" she said, and then watched his face critically.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "Where did you get this?" he asked, his voice suddenly husky.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Reyburn looked, and found himself looking into Betty's eyes.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading "There!" she said, and then watched his face critically.
past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
set up or found
From this reading Reyburn looked, and found himself looking into Betty's eyes.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Where did you get this?" he asked, his voice suddenly husky.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
handbagnounUS /ˈhændbæɡ/
a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Where did you get this?" he asked, his voice suddenly husky.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Reyburn looked, and found himself looking into Betty's eyes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "There!" she said, and then watched his face critically.
huskyadjectiveUS /ˈhʌski/
muscular and heavily built
From this reading "Where did you get this?" he asked, his voice suddenly husky.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Reyburn looked, and found himself looking into Betty's eyes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
JANE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
held up in the air
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Reyburn looked, and found himself looking into Betty's eyes.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Reyburn looked, and found himself looking into Betty's eyes.
mournfuladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrnfəl/
expressing sorrow
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
and nothing more
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
Reyburn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reyburn looked, and found himself looking into Betty's eyes.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "There!" she said, and then watched his face critically.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "There!" she said, and then watched his face critically.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
spreadingnounUS /ˈspredɪŋ/
process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading "Where did you get this?" he asked, his voice suddenly husky.
moving very fast
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "There!" she said, and then watched his face critically.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "There!" she said, and then watched his face critically.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Where did you get this?" he asked, his voice suddenly husky.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading JANE opened a small shabby handbag, and took out a folded newspaper, opening it up and spreading it on the desk before him.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "Where did you get this?" he asked, his voice suddenly husky.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading "There!" she said, and then watched his face critically.
at the time that
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
in or at the place that
From this reading "Where did you get this?" he asked, his voice suddenly husky.
wonderfullyadverbUS /ˈwʌndərfəli/
(used as an intensifier) extremely well
From this reading Only a newspaper cut, and poor at that, but wonderfully real and mournful, as they had struck him when she lifted them for that swift glance before she sank in the church aisle.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Where did you get this?" he asked, his voice suddenly husky.
