Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

a female actor

From this reading You would have been aware at once that she was an actress.

later than; following

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

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

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

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

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

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

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

on or to one side

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading You would have been aware at once that she was an actress.

A willingness to take bold risks; insolent and daring boldness that defies all authority.

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception

From this reading You would have been aware at once that she was an actress.

the hard woody stems of bamboo plants; used in construction and crafts and fishing poles

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

the past participle of “be”

From this reading You would have been aware at once that she was an actress.

a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

superlative of “cheap” — relatively low in price or charging low prices

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

placed crosswise

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

the boundary of a surface

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

opinion or judgment

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

small nut-bearing tree much grown in Europe

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

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

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

plural of “fold” — an angular or rounded shape made by folding

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

at or to or toward the front

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

in a graceful manner

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

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 entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading You would have been aware at once that she was an actress.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

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

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

indecision in speech or action

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

United States editor (1920-1993)

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

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

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

given to inquiry

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

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

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

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

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

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

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

not compact or dense in structure or arrangement

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

a change of position that does not entail a change of location

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading Oh, you _poor_ thing!"

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

on one occasion

From this reading You would have been aware at once that she was an actress.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

above and across; more than

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

be motionless, in suspension

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading "You poor thing!

a heavy curtain hung across a doorway

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

past form of “push” — move with force

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

with speed

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

being or feeling set or kept apart from others

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

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

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

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

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

an upholstered seat for more than one person

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

(music) marked by or composed of disconnected parts or sounds; cut short crisply

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

a step in walking or running

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading You would have been aware at once that she was an actress.

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

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

in or at that place or location

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

a special situation

From this reading "You poor thing!

push forcefully

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

create by training and teaching

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading She entered the room with a little stride, and then crossed it quickly, the train of her morning gown--it cried out of luxury with the cheapest voice--taking folds of great audacity, as she bent her face in its loose mass of hair over Laura Filbert, sitting on the edge of a bamboo sofa, and said--

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

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

which person or people

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Miss Howe pushed the portiere aside with a curved hand and gracefully separated fingers; it was a staccato movement, and her body followed it after an instant's poise of hesitation, head thrust a little forward, eyes inquiring, and a tentative smile, although she knew precisely who was there.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading You would have been aware at once that she was an actress.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You would have been aware at once that she was an actress.