used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
alongsideadverbUS /əˈlɔːŋˈsaɪd/
side by side
From this reading Grace came up alongside of her, trying to peer through the glass but the curtain shut out the view completely.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading As the form of a man appeared just a few feet outside of the window, the nurse stepped back and drew the curtain so as not to be seen.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the form of a man appeared just a few feet outside of the window, the nurse stepped back and drew the curtain so as not to be seen.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading As the form of a man appeared just a few feet outside of the window, the nurse stepped back and drew the curtain so as not to be seen.
backsnounUS /bæks/
plural of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As the form of a man appeared just a few feet outside of the window, the nurse stepped back and drew the curtain so as not to be seen.
beamsnounUS /biːmz/
plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
blue-blackadjective
of black tinged with blue
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
brightlyadverbUS /ˈbraɪtli/
with brightness
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Grace came up alongside of her, trying to peer through the glass but the curtain shut out the view completely.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Grace came up alongside of her, trying to peer through the glass but the curtain shut out the view completely.
castingnounUS /ˈkæstɪŋ/
object formed by a mold
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
cleaningnounUS /ˈkliːnɪŋ/
the act of making something clean
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
coloredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌlərd/
having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Grace came up alongside of her, trying to peer through the glass but the curtain shut out the view completely.
cottonnounUS /ˈkɑːtən/
soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
cretonnenoun
an unglazed heavy fabric; brightly printed; used for slipcovers and draperies
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
dingyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪndʒi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading As the form of a man appeared just a few feet outside of the window, the nurse stepped back and drew the curtain so as not to be seen.
Elinor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading As the form of a man appeared just a few feet outside of the window, the nurse stepped back and drew the curtain so as not to be seen.
feminineadjectiveUS /ˈfemənən/
associated with women and not with men
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading As the form of a man appeared just a few feet outside of the window, the nurse stepped back and drew the curtain so as not to be seen.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
habitableadjectiveUS /ˈhæbətəbəl/
fit for habitation
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
HayesnounUS /heɪz/
acclaimed actress of stage and screen (1900-1993)
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Grace came up alongside of her, trying to peer through the glass but the curtain shut out the view completely.
homeyadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊmi/
having a feeling of home; cozy and comfortable
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
temporary military shelter
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
and nothing more
From this reading As the form of a man appeared just a few feet outside of the window, the nurse stepped back and drew the curtain so as not to be seen.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading As the form of a man appeared just a few feet outside of the window, the nurse stepped back and drew the curtain so as not to be seen.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As the form of a man appeared just a few feet outside of the window, the nurse stepped back and drew the curtain so as not to be seen.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
one-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
ornamentsnounUS /ˈɔːrnəmənts/
plural of “ornament” — something used to beautify
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Grace came up alongside of her, trying to peer through the glass but the curtain shut out the view completely.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading As the form of a man appeared just a few feet outside of the window, the nurse stepped back and drew the curtain so as not to be seen.
peernounUS /pɪr/
a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
From this reading Grace came up alongside of her, trying to peer through the glass but the curtain shut out the view completely.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
pillowsnounUS /ˈpɪloʊz/
plural of “pillow” — a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
scrubbingnounUS /ˈskrʌbɪŋ/
the act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush and soap and water
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading As the form of a man appeared just a few feet outside of the window, the nurse stepped back and drew the curtain so as not to be seen.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading Grace came up alongside of her, trying to peer through the glass but the curtain shut out the view completely.
silveryadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlvəri/
resembling or reminiscent of silver
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading As the form of a man appeared just a few feet outside of the window, the nurse stepped back and drew the curtain so as not to be seen.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading As the form of a man appeared just a few feet outside of the window, the nurse stepped back and drew the curtain so as not to be seen.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As the form of a man appeared just a few feet outside of the window, the nurse stepped back and drew the curtain so as not to be seen.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading A blue cotton curtain, some pictures, a few ornaments, bought in town and some brightly colored cretonne pillows gave the little place a feminine touch and a homey atmosphere.
tropicaladjectiveUS /ˈtrɑːpɪkəl/
relating to or situated in or characteristic of the tropics (the region on either side of the equator)
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
hard to endure
From this reading Grace came up alongside of her, trying to peer through the glass but the curtain shut out the view completely.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Grace came up alongside of her, trying to peer through the glass but the curtain shut out the view completely.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The bright, full tropical moon shone through the glass, casting its silvery beams upon the girl’s thick, blue-black hair and large, dark eyes.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Grace came up alongside of her, trying to peer through the glass but the curtain shut out the view completely.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
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 Elinor stood by the narrow window in the dingy, one-room hut that she and Grace Hayes (another nurse) made habitable after an entire day of scrubbing and cleaning on their hands and knees until their backs were nearly broken.
