used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Mr. Glynde jerked his newspaper up and read an advertisement of steamships about to depart to the West Coast of Africa.
advertisementnounUS /ædˈvɜːrtəzmənt/
a public promotion of some product or service
From this reading Mr. Glynde jerked his newspaper up and read an advertisement of steamships about to depart to the West Coast of Africa.
AfricanounUS /ˈæfrəkɑː/
the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean
From this reading Mr. Glynde jerked his newspaper up and read an advertisement of steamships about to depart to the West Coast of Africa.
(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 TWO MOTIVES Making vain pretence Of gladness, with an awful sense Of one mute shadow watching all.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading TWO MOTIVES Making vain pretence Of gladness, with an awful sense Of one mute shadow watching all.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr. Glynde jerked his newspaper up and read an advertisement of steamships about to depart to the West Coast of Africa.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She looked at the back of her husband's head, where the hair was getting a little thin, and said nothing.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading TWO MOTIVES Making vain pretence Of gladness, with an awful sense Of one mute shadow watching all.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She looked at the back of her husband's head, where the hair was getting a little thin, and said nothing.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading Mr. Glynde jerked his newspaper up and read an advertisement of steamships about to depart to the West Coast of Africa.
cuttingnounUS /ˈkʌtɪŋ/
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
departverbUS /dɪˈpɑːrt/
move away from a place into another direction
From this reading Mr. Glynde jerked his newspaper up and read an advertisement of steamships about to depart to the West Coast of Africa.
diminutiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/
very small
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading “Pooh! the girl is happy enough!”
flannelnounUS /ˈflænəl/
a soft light woolen fabric; used for clothing
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
garmentnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənt/
an article of clothing
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading She looked at the back of her husband's head, where the hair was getting a little thin, and said nothing.
a young female
From this reading “Pooh! the girl is happy enough!”
gladnessnoun
experiencing joy and pleasure
From this reading TWO MOTIVES Making vain pretence Of gladness, with an awful sense Of one mute shadow watching all.
Glynde
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Glynde jerked his newspaper up and read an advertisement of steamships about to depart to the West Coast of Africa.
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 She looked at the back of her husband's head, where the hair was getting a little thin, and said nothing.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading “Pooh! the girl is happy enough!”
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She looked at the back of her husband's head, where the hair was getting a little thin, and said nothing.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Glynde jerked his newspaper up and read an advertisement of steamships about to depart to the West Coast of Africa.
husband'snounUS /ˈhʌzbəndz/
possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading She looked at the back of her husband's head, where the hair was getting a little thin, and said nothing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Pooh! the girl is happy enough!”
jerkedverbUS /dʒɜːrkt/
past form of “jerk” — pull, or move with a sudden movement
From this reading Mr. Glynde jerked his newspaper up and read an advertisement of steamships about to depart to the West Coast of Africa.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She looked at the back of her husband's head, where the hair was getting a little thin, and said nothing.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She looked at the back of her husband's head, where the hair was getting a little thin, and said nothing.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading TWO MOTIVES Making vain pretence Of gladness, with an awful sense Of one mute shadow watching all.
MOTIVESnounUS /ˈmoʊtɪvz/
plural of “motive” — the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading TWO MOTIVES Making vain pretence Of gladness, with an awful sense Of one mute shadow watching all.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Glynde jerked his newspaper up and read an advertisement of steamships about to depart to the West Coast of Africa.
muteadjectiveUS /mjuːt/
expressed without speech
From this reading TWO MOTIVES Making vain pretence Of gladness, with an awful sense Of one mute shadow watching all.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading Mr. Glynde jerked his newspaper up and read an advertisement of steamships about to depart to the West Coast of Africa.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading She looked at the back of her husband's head, where the hair was getting a little thin, and said nothing.
occupationnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TWO MOTIVES Making vain pretence Of gladness, with an awful sense Of one mute shadow watching all.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading TWO MOTIVES Making vain pretence Of gladness, with an awful sense Of one mute shadow watching all.
operationnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən/
the state of being in effect or being operative
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
performingnounUS /pərˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
the performance of a part or role in a drama
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
Pooh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Pooh! the girl is happy enough!”
pretencenoun
a false or unsupportable quality
From this reading TWO MOTIVES Making vain pretence Of gladness, with an awful sense Of one mute shadow watching all.
proportionsnounUS /prəˈpɔːrʃənz/
plural of “proportion” — the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Mr. Glynde jerked his newspaper up and read an advertisement of steamships about to depart to the West Coast of Africa.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading She looked at the back of her husband's head, where the hair was getting a little thin, and said nothing.
scarletnounUS /ˈskɑːrlət/
a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading TWO MOTIVES Making vain pretence Of gladness, with an awful sense Of one mute shadow watching all.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading TWO MOTIVES Making vain pretence Of gladness, with an awful sense Of one mute shadow watching all.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
snipsnounUS /snɪps/
(plural) hand shears for cutting sheet metal
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
steamships
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Glynde jerked his newspaper up and read an advertisement of steamships about to depart to the West Coast of Africa.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Pooh! the girl is happy enough!”
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading She looked at the back of her husband's head, where the hair was getting a little thin, and said nothing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mr. Glynde jerked his newspaper up and read an advertisement of steamships about to depart to the West Coast of Africa.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading TWO MOTIVES Making vain pretence Of gladness, with an awful sense Of one mute shadow watching all.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Mr. Glynde jerked his newspaper up and read an advertisement of steamships about to depart to the West Coast of Africa.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading TWO MOTIVES Making vain pretence Of gladness, with an awful sense Of one mute shadow watching all.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She looked at the back of her husband's head, where the hair was getting a little thin, and said nothing.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading TWO MOTIVES Making vain pretence Of gladness, with an awful sense Of one mute shadow watching all.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading Mr. Glynde jerked his newspaper up and read an advertisement of steamships about to depart to the West Coast of Africa.
in or at the place that
From this reading She looked at the back of her husband's head, where the hair was getting a little thin, and said nothing.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading His wife--engaged in cutting out a scarlet flannel garment of diminutive proportions (an operation which she made a point of performing on the study table)--gave two gentle snips and ceased her occupation.
in the company of; together with
From this reading TWO MOTIVES Making vain pretence Of gladness, with an awful sense Of one mute shadow watching all.
