used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
(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 She was apparently lost in thought to all around her.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But an expression of bewildered and sorrowful surprise suddenly overspread his countenance.
from appearances alone
From this reading She was apparently lost in thought to all around her.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading She was apparently lost in thought to all around her.
elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
bewilderedadjectiveUS /bɪˈwɪldərd/
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading But an expression of bewildered and sorrowful surprise suddenly overspread his countenance.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But an expression of bewildered and sorrowful surprise suddenly overspread his countenance.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
chimney-corner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
the appearance conveyed by a person's face
From this reading But an expression of bewildered and sorrowful surprise suddenly overspread his countenance.
cushionedadjectiveUS /ˈkʊʃənd/
softened by the addition of cushions or padding
From this reading Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
degradationnounUS /ˌdeɡrəˈdeɪʃən/
changing to a lower state (a less respected state)
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
displaynounUS /dɪˈspleɪ/
something intended to communicate a particular impression
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
elbowsnounUS /ˈelboʊz/
plural of “elbow” — hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading But an expression of bewildered and sorrowful surprise suddenly overspread his countenance.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
hardenverbUS /ˈhɑːrdən/
become hard or harder
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
heavedverbUS /hiːvd/
past form of “heave” — utter a sound, as with obvious effort
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But an expression of bewildered and sorrowful surprise suddenly overspread his countenance.
impudentadjective
marked by casual disrespect
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was apparently lost in thought to all around her.
involuntaryadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlənteri/
not subject to the control of the will
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
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 Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading She was apparently lost in thought to all around her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
overspreadverb
spread across or over
From this reading But an expression of bewildered and sorrowful surprise suddenly overspread his countenance.
palmsnounUS /pɑːmz/
plural of “palm” — the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was apparently lost in thought to all around her.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
sorrowfuladjectiveUS /ˈsɑːroʊfəl/
experiencing or marked by or expressing sorrow especially that associated with irreparable loss
From this reading But an expression of bewildered and sorrowful surprise suddenly overspread his countenance.
stoolnounUS /stuːl/
a simple seat without a back or arms
From this reading Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
strivingnounUS /ˈstraɪvɪŋ/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading But an expression of bewildered and sorrowful surprise suddenly overspread his countenance.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading But an expression of bewildered and sorrowful surprise suddenly overspread his countenance.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading She was thinking--of what?
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She was apparently lost in thought to all around her.
thoughtfullyadverbUS /ˈθɔːtfəli/
in a thoughtful manner
From this reading Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She was thinking--of what?
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
womanhoodnounUS /ˈwʊmənhʊd/
the state of being an adult woman
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
wrecksnounUS /reks/
plural of “wreck” — something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation
From this reading Arthur heaved an involuntary sigh, as he gazed upon those sad wrecks of womanhood, striving to harden their sense of degradation by its impudent display.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Seated alone upon a cushioned stool, at the chimney-corner, was a young woman, her elbows resting upon her knees, and her face bent thoughtfully upon her palms.
