used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A dark little girl with thin cheeks, about eleven years of age, clasping a battered doll in her arms, looked full up at her.
how long something has existed
From this reading A dark little girl with thin cheeks, about eleven years of age, clasping a battered doll in her arms, looked full up at her.
(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 The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “And how is she to-day, Nan?” said the kindly voice of Mrs. Richmond.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading A dark little girl with thin cheeks, about eleven years of age, clasping a battered doll in her arms, looked full up at her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A dark little girl with thin cheeks, about eleven years of age, clasping a battered doll in her arms, looked full up at her.
batteredadjectiveUS /ˈbætərd/
damaged by blows or hard usage
From this reading A dark little girl with thin cheeks, about eleven years of age, clasping a battered doll in her arms, looked full up at her.
beamsnounUS /biːmz/
plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading A dark little girl with thin cheeks, about eleven years of age, clasping a battered doll in her arms, looked full up at her.
clasping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dark little girl with thin cheeks, about eleven years of age, clasping a battered doll in her arms, looked full up at her.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
dismaladjectiveUS /ˈdɪzməl/
causing dejection
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
dollnounUS /dɑːl/
a small replica of a person; used as a toy
From this reading A dark little girl with thin cheeks, about eleven years of age, clasping a battered doll in her arms, looked full up at her.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The time was early spring.
being one more than ten
From this reading A dark little girl with thin cheeks, about eleven years of age, clasping a battered doll in her arms, looked full up at her.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading A dark little girl with thin cheeks, about eleven years of age, clasping a battered doll in her arms, looked full up at her.
fursnounUS /fɜːrz/
plural of “fur” — the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
a young female
From this reading A dark little girl with thin cheeks, about eleven years of age, clasping a battered doll in her arms, looked full up at her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And how is she to-day, Nan?” said the kindly voice of Mrs. Richmond.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I PROMISE.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “And how is she to-day, Nan?” said the kindly voice of Mrs. Richmond.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading “And how is she to-day, Nan?” said the kindly voice of Mrs. Richmond.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A dark little girl with thin cheeks, about eleven years of age, clasping a battered doll in her arms, looked full up at her.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading A dark little girl with thin cheeks, about eleven years of age, clasping a battered doll in her arms, looked full up at her.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading “And how is she to-day, Nan?” said the kindly voice of Mrs. Richmond.
NannounUS /næn/
your grandmother
From this reading “And how is she to-day, Nan?” said the kindly voice of Mrs. Richmond.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “And how is she to-day, Nan?” said the kindly voice of Mrs. Richmond.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading “I PROMISE.”
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
richlyadverbUS /ˈrɪtʃli/
to an ample degree or in an ample manner
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
RichmondnounUS /ˈrɪtʃmənd/
capital of the state of Virginia located in the east central part of the state; was capital of the Confederacy during the American Civil War
From this reading “And how is she to-day, Nan?” said the kindly voice of Mrs. Richmond.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “And how is she to-day, Nan?” said the kindly voice of Mrs. Richmond.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “And how is she to-day, Nan?” said the kindly voice of Mrs. Richmond.
smilesnounUS /smaɪlz/
plural of “smile” — a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
the season of growth
From this reading The time was early spring.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “And how is she to-day, Nan?” said the kindly voice of Mrs. Richmond.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading A dark little girl with thin cheeks, about eleven years of age, clasping a battered doll in her arms, looked full up at her.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The time was early spring.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And how is she to-day, Nan?” said the kindly voice of Mrs. Richmond.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A dark little girl with thin cheeks, about eleven years of age, clasping a battered doll in her arms, looked full up at her.
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “And how is she to-day, Nan?” said the kindly voice of Mrs. Richmond.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The time was early spring.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A dark little girl with thin cheeks, about eleven years of age, clasping a battered doll in her arms, looked full up at her.
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading The lady in question had come into a dark and somewhat dismal room; she herself was richly wrapped in furs and velvet; her large, smooth face was all beams and smiles.
a late time of life
From this reading A dark little girl with thin cheeks, about eleven years of age, clasping a battered doll in her arms, looked full up at her.
