used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “How came this lady here, Maya, and what does she seek!” the señor asked.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “How came this lady here, Maya, and what does she seek!” the señor asked.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “How came this lady here, Maya, and what does she seek!” the señor asked.
cradlenounUS /ˈkreɪdəl/
a baby bed with sides and rockers
From this reading Presently they fell upon the cradle, and, lifting the knife, she took a step towards it.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “I do not know how she came,” gasped his wife.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “How came this lady here, Maya, and what does she seek!” the señor asked.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
opinion or judgment
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Presently they fell upon the cradle, and, lifting the knife, she took a step towards it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
past form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading “I do not know how she came,” gasped his wife.
destroyed or killed
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
grippedverbUS /ɡrɪpt/
inflected form of “grip” — hold fast or firmly
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “How came this lady here, Maya, and what does she seek!” the señor asked.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “I do not know how she came,” gasped his wife.
the act of retaining something
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How came this lady here, Maya, and what does she seek!” the señor asked.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I do not know how she came,” gasped his wife.
Ignatio
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Presently they fell upon the cradle, and, lifting the knife, she took a step towards it.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “I do not know how she came,” gasped his wife.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading “How came this lady here, Maya, and what does she seek!” the señor asked.
liftingverbUS /ˈlɪftɪŋ/
-ing form of “lift” — raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading Presently they fell upon the cradle, and, lifting the knife, she took a step towards it.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
MayanounUS /ˈmaɪə/
a member of an American Indian people of Yucatan and Belize and Guatemala who had a culture (which reached its peak between AD 300 and 900) characterized by outstanding architecture and pottery and astronomy
From this reading “How came this lady here, Maya, and what does she seek!” the señor asked.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/
completely unclothed
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I do not know how she came,” gasped his wife.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
prepareverbUS /priˈper/
make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
in the near future
From this reading Presently they fell upon the cradle, and, lifting the knife, she took a step towards it.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
cut with a saw
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
try to get or reach
From this reading “How came this lady here, Maya, and what does she seek!” the señor asked.
señor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How came this lady here, Maya, and what does she seek!” the señor asked.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “How came this lady here, Maya, and what does she seek!” the señor asked.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
a male human offspring
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Presently they fell upon the cradle, and, lifting the knife, she took a step towards it.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “How came this lady here, Maya, and what does she seek!” the señor asked.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Presently they fell upon the cradle, and, lifting the knife, she took a step towards it.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “How came this lady here, Maya, and what does she seek!” the señor asked.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Presently they fell upon the cradle, and, lifting the knife, she took a step towards it.
in the direction of
From this reading Presently they fell upon the cradle, and, lifting the knife, she took a step towards it.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Presently they fell upon the cradle, and, lifting the knife, she took a step towards it.
waiting-women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “How came this lady here, Maya, and what does she seek!” the señor asked.
at the time that
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading “I do not know how she came,” gasped his wife.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Then I turned and gripped her, holding her as well as I was able; but she was too strong for me and dragged me forward, so that had it not been for Ignatio here, by now she would have made an end of our son.”
distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)
From this reading “My waiting-women were gone, and I had begun to prepare myself for sleep, when, looking into yonder mirror, I saw her behind me, having in her hand a naked knife, and searching the room with her eyes.
