Chapter III · Chapter 3

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Kirsty had an unusual power of sitting still, even with nothing for her hands to do.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading DOG-STEENIE She sat for some time at the foot of the hill, motionless as itself, save for her hands.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading DOG-STEENIE She sat for some time at the foot of the hill, motionless as itself, save for her hands.

any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

next to; at the side of

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

plural of “bluebell” — sometimes placed in genus Scilla

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

lacking funds

From this reading At last she broke her ‘worset,’ drew the end of it through the final loop, and, drawing it, rose and scanned the side of the hill.

a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading On the present occasion, however, her hands and fingers went faster than usual--not entirely from eagerness to finish her stocking, but partly from her displeasure with Francis.

plural of “butterfly” — diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed antennae and broad colorful wings

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

the feeling of being displeased or annoyed or dissatisfied with someone or something

From this reading On the present occasion, however, her hands and fingers went faster than usual--not entirely from eagerness to finish her stocking, but partly from her displeasure with Francis.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Kirsty had an unusual power of sitting still, even with nothing for her hands to do.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading DOG-STEENIE She sat for some time at the foot of the hill, motionless as itself, save for her hands.

an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper

From this reading At last she broke her ‘worset,’ drew the end of it through the final loop, and, drawing it, rose and scanned the side of the hill.

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading At last she broke her ‘worset,’ drew the end of it through the final loop, and, drawing it, rose and scanned the side of the hill.

a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something

From this reading On the present occasion, however, her hands and fingers went faster than usual--not entirely from eagerness to finish her stocking, but partly from her displeasure with Francis.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading At last she broke her ‘worset,’ drew the end of it through the final loop, and, drawing it, rose and scanned the side of the hill.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading On the present occasion, however, her hands and fingers went faster than usual--not entirely from eagerness to finish her stocking, but partly from her displeasure with Francis.

divisible by two

From this reading Kirsty had an unusual power of sitting still, even with nothing for her hands to do.

more quickly

From this reading On the present occasion, however, her hands and fingers went faster than usual--not entirely from eagerness to finish her stocking, but partly from her displeasure with Francis.

occurring at or forming an end or termination

From this reading At last she broke her ‘worset,’ drew the end of it through the final loop, and, drawing it, rose and scanned the side of the hill.

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading On the present occasion, however, her hands and fingers went faster than usual--not entirely from eagerness to finish her stocking, but partly from her displeasure with Francis.

come or bring to a finish or an end

From this reading On the present occasion, however, her hands and fingers went faster than usual--not entirely from eagerness to finish her stocking, but partly from her displeasure with Francis.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading DOG-STEENIE She sat for some time at the foot of the hill, motionless as itself, save for her hands.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading DOG-STEENIE She sat for some time at the foot of the hill, motionless as itself, save for her hands.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the present occasion, however, her hands and fingers went faster than usual--not entirely from eagerness to finish her stocking, but partly from her displeasure with Francis.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading On the present occasion, however, her hands and fingers went faster than usual--not entirely from eagerness to finish her stocking, but partly from her displeasure with Francis.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Kirsty had an unusual power of sitting still, even with nothing for her hands to do.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading DOG-STEENIE She sat for some time at the foot of the hill, motionless as itself, save for her hands.

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading DOG-STEENIE She sat for some time at the foot of the hill, motionless as itself, save for her hands.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading DOG-STEENIE She sat for some time at the foot of the hill, motionless as itself, save for her hands.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading On the present occasion, however, her hands and fingers went faster than usual--not entirely from eagerness to finish her stocking, but partly from her displeasure with Francis.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading At last she broke her ‘worset,’ drew the end of it through the final loop, and, drawing it, rose and scanned the side of the hill.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading DOG-STEENIE She sat for some time at the foot of the hill, motionless as itself, save for her hands.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Kirsty had an unusual power of sitting still, even with nothing for her hands to do.

immediately past

From this reading At last she broke her ‘worset,’ drew the end of it through the final loop, and, drawing it, rose and scanned the side of the hill.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

move in loops

From this reading At last she broke her ‘worset,’ drew the end of it through the final loop, and, drawing it, rose and scanned the side of the hill.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

not in physical motion

From this reading DOG-STEENIE She sat for some time at the foot of the hill, motionless as itself, save for her hands.

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

not any; not one

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading On the present occasion, however, her hands and fingers went faster than usual--not entirely from eagerness to finish her stocking, but partly from her displeasure with Francis.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Kirsty had an unusual power of sitting still, even with nothing for her hands to do.

an event that occurs at a critical time

From this reading On the present occasion, however, her hands and fingers went faster than usual--not entirely from eagerness to finish her stocking, but partly from her displeasure with Francis.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading DOG-STEENIE She sat for some time at the foot of the hill, motionless as itself, save for her hands.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

and nothing more

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

very light colored; highly diluted with white

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

to some extent; in some degree; not wholly

From this reading On the present occasion, however, her hands and fingers went faster than usual--not entirely from eagerness to finish her stocking, but partly from her displeasure with Francis.

by chance

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

give pleasure to or be pleasing to

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

possession of controlling influence

From this reading Kirsty had an unusual power of sitting still, even with nothing for her hands to do.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading On the present occasion, however, her hands and fingers went faster than usual--not entirely from eagerness to finish her stocking, but partly from her displeasure with Francis.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading At last she broke her ‘worset,’ drew the end of it through the final loop, and, drawing it, rose and scanned the side of the hill.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading DOG-STEENIE She sat for some time at the foot of the hill, motionless as itself, save for her hands.

except for; apart from

From this reading DOG-STEENIE She sat for some time at the foot of the hill, motionless as itself, save for her hands.

inflected form of “scan” — examine minutely or intensely

From this reading At last she broke her ‘worset,’ drew the end of it through the final loop, and, drawing it, rose and scanned the side of the hill.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading DOG-STEENIE She sat for some time at the foot of the hill, motionless as itself, save for her hands.

inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading At last she broke her ‘worset,’ drew the end of it through the final loop, and, drawing it, rose and scanned the side of the hill.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading Kirsty had an unusual power of sitting still, even with nothing for her hands to do.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading DOG-STEENIE She sat for some time at the foot of the hill, motionless as itself, save for her hands.

not in physical motion

From this reading Kirsty had an unusual power of sitting still, even with nothing for her hands to do.

close-fitting hosiery to cover the foot and leg; come in matched pairs (usually used in the plural)

From this reading On the present occasion, however, her hands and fingers went faster than usual--not entirely from eagerness to finish her stocking, but partly from her displeasure with Francis.

move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading On the present occasion, however, her hands and fingers went faster than usual--not entirely from eagerness to finish her stocking, but partly from her displeasure with Francis.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading DOG-STEENIE She sat for some time at the foot of the hill, motionless as itself, save for her hands.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading At last she broke her ‘worset,’ drew the end of it through the final loop, and, drawing it, rose and scanned the side of the hill.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading DOG-STEENIE She sat for some time at the foot of the hill, motionless as itself, save for her hands.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

not usual or common or ordinary

From this reading Kirsty had an unusual power of sitting still, even with nothing for her hands to do.

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading On the present occasion, however, her hands and fingers went faster than usual--not entirely from eagerness to finish her stocking, but partly from her displeasure with Francis.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading On the present occasion, however, her hands and fingers went faster than usual--not entirely from eagerness to finish her stocking, but partly from her displeasure with Francis.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The sun shone on in silence, and the blue butterflies which haunted the little bush of bluebells, that is harebells, beside her, made no noise; only a stray bee, happy in the pale heat, made a little music to please itself--and perhaps the butterflies.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Kirsty had an unusual power of sitting still, even with nothing for her hands to do.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading At last she broke her ‘worset,’ drew the end of it through the final loop, and, drawing it, rose and scanned the side of the hill.