used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For she was gliding swiftly and surely over the broad, black bosom of the river toward the bright white light hung up in the masts of the _Merrimac_.
a flexible container with a single opening
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading For she was gliding swiftly and surely over the broad, black bosom of the river toward the bright white light hung up in the masts of the _Merrimac_.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading She was in a small puffing craft of sable blackness; her light gown was in damaging proximity to the lumps of coal, yet she was blissfully happy.
blissfullyadverbUS /ˈblɪsfəli/
in a blissful manner
From this reading She was in a small puffing craft of sable blackness; her light gown was in damaging proximity to the lumps of coal, yet she was blissfully happy.
inflected form of “bear” — have
From this reading “MUCH HAVE I BORNE SINCE DAWN OF MORN.”
the chest considered as the place where secret thoughts are kept
From this reading For she was gliding swiftly and surely over the broad, black bosom of the river toward the bright white light hung up in the masts of the _Merrimac_.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading For she was gliding swiftly and surely over the broad, black bosom of the river toward the bright white light hung up in the masts of the _Merrimac_.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading For she was gliding swiftly and surely over the broad, black bosom of the river toward the bright white light hung up in the masts of the _Merrimac_.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But now she changed her mind in the speediest manner possible.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading But now she changed her mind in the speediest manner possible.
coalnounUS /koʊl/
fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading She was in a small puffing craft of sable blackness; her light gown was in damaging proximity to the lumps of coal, yet she was blissfully happy.
damagingadjectiveUS /ˈdæmɪdʒɪŋ/
(sometimes followed by “to”) causing harm or injury
From this reading She was in a small puffing craft of sable blackness; her light gown was in damaging proximity to the lumps of coal, yet she was blissfully happy.
the first light of day
From this reading “MUCH HAVE I BORNE SINCE DAWN OF MORN.”
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For she was gliding swiftly and surely over the broad, black bosom of the river toward the bright white light hung up in the masts of the _Merrimac_.
glidingnounUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of flying a glider
From this reading For she was gliding swiftly and surely over the broad, black bosom of the river toward the bright white light hung up in the masts of the _Merrimac_.
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading She was in a small puffing craft of sable blackness; her light gown was in damaging proximity to the lumps of coal, yet she was blissfully happy.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading She was in a small puffing craft of sable blackness; her light gown was in damaging proximity to the lumps of coal, yet she was blissfully happy.
HAVEauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “MUCH HAVE I BORNE SINCE DAWN OF MORN.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading For she was gliding swiftly and surely over the broad, black bosom of the river toward the bright white light hung up in the masts of the _Merrimac_.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “MUCH HAVE I BORNE SINCE DAWN OF MORN.”
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading She was in a small puffing craft of sable blackness; her light gown was in damaging proximity to the lumps of coal, yet she was blissfully happy.
lumpsnounUS /lʌmps/
plural of “lump” — a compact mass
From this reading She was in a small puffing craft of sable blackness; her light gown was in damaging proximity to the lumps of coal, yet she was blissfully happy.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But now she changed her mind in the speediest manner possible.
mastsnounUS /mæsts/
plural of “mast” — a vertical spar for supporting sails
From this reading For she was gliding swiftly and surely over the broad, black bosom of the river toward the bright white light hung up in the masts of the _Merrimac_.
MerrimacnounUS /ˈmerɪmæk/
an ironclad vessel built by the Confederate forces in the hope of breaking the blockade imposed by the North
From this reading For she was gliding swiftly and surely over the broad, black bosom of the river toward the bright white light hung up in the masts of the _Merrimac_.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading But now she changed her mind in the speediest manner possible.
MORNnounUS /mɔːrn/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading “MUCH HAVE I BORNE SINCE DAWN OF MORN.”
to a great degree or extent
From this reading “MUCH HAVE I BORNE SINCE DAWN OF MORN.”
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
Nina's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But now she changed her mind in the speediest manner possible.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “MUCH HAVE I BORNE SINCE DAWN OF MORN.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading For she was gliding swiftly and surely over the broad, black bosom of the river toward the bright white light hung up in the masts of the _Merrimac_.
paradisenounUS /ˈperədaɪs/
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading But now she changed her mind in the speediest manner possible.
proximitynounUS /prɑːkˈsɪməti/
the property of being close together
From this reading She was in a small puffing craft of sable blackness; her light gown was in damaging proximity to the lumps of coal, yet she was blissfully happy.
puffingnounUS /ˈpʌfɪŋ/
blowing tobacco smoke out into the air
From this reading She was in a small puffing craft of sable blackness; her light gown was in damaging proximity to the lumps of coal, yet she was blissfully happy.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading For she was gliding swiftly and surely over the broad, black bosom of the river toward the bright white light hung up in the masts of the _Merrimac_.
sablenounUS /ˈseɪbəl/
an artist's brush made of sable hairs
From this reading She was in a small puffing craft of sable blackness; her light gown was in damaging proximity to the lumps of coal, yet she was blissfully happy.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But now she changed her mind in the speediest manner possible.
SINCEprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading “MUCH HAVE I BORNE SINCE DAWN OF MORN.”
be seated
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She was in a small puffing craft of sable blackness; her light gown was in damaging proximity to the lumps of coal, yet she was blissfully happy.
speediest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now she changed her mind in the speediest manner possible.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading For she was gliding swiftly and surely over the broad, black bosom of the river toward the bright white light hung up in the masts of the _Merrimac_.
in a swift manner
From this reading For she was gliding swiftly and surely over the broad, black bosom of the river toward the bright white light hung up in the masts of the _Merrimac_.
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But now she changed her mind in the speediest manner possible.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading For she was gliding swiftly and surely over the broad, black bosom of the river toward the bright white light hung up in the masts of the _Merrimac_.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was in a small puffing craft of sable blackness; her light gown was in damaging proximity to the lumps of coal, yet she was blissfully happy.
a Caucasian
From this reading For she was gliding swiftly and surely over the broad, black bosom of the river toward the bright white light hung up in the masts of the _Merrimac_.
in the company of; together with
From this reading To sit in a tender with her feet on a bag of coal had never up to this been Nina’s idea of paradise.
but in spite of that
From this reading She was in a small puffing craft of sable blackness; her light gown was in damaging proximity to the lumps of coal, yet she was blissfully happy.
