used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE MOUNTAINEERS It was Madame’s birthday, a bright June day; it was also the feast of St. Zita.
equally
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
in addition
From this reading THE MOUNTAINEERS It was Madame’s birthday, a bright June day; it was also the feast of St. Zita.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading Every girl had presented her gift to Madame at breakfast, to the good lady’s unbounded astonishment.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
beadsnounUS /biːdz/
several beads threaded together on a string
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
benevolentadjectiveUS /bəˈnevələnt/
intending or showing kindness
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
birthdaynounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading THE MOUNTAINEERS It was Madame’s birthday, a bright June day; it was also the feast of St. Zita.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Every girl had presented her gift to Madame at breakfast, to the good lady’s unbounded astonishment.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading THE MOUNTAINEERS It was Madame’s birthday, a bright June day; it was also the feast of St. Zita.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
CatholicadjectiveUS /ˈkæθlɪk/
of or relating to or supporting Catholicism
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
climbingnounUS /ˈklaɪmɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
cracksnounUS /kræks/
plural of “crack” — a long narrow opening
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE MOUNTAINEERS It was Madame’s birthday, a bright June day; it was also the feast of St. Zita.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading THE MOUNTAINEERS It was Madame’s birthday, a bright June day; it was also the feast of St. Zita.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
something acquired without compensation
From this reading Every girl had presented her gift to Madame at breakfast, to the good lady’s unbounded astonishment.
giftsnounUS /ɡɪfts/
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
a young female
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Every girl had presented her gift to Madame at breakfast, to the good lady’s unbounded astonishment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Every girl had presented her gift to Madame at breakfast, to the good lady’s unbounded astonishment.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
Honor'snounUS /ˈɑːnərz/
possessive form of “honor” — a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE MOUNTAINEERS It was Madame’s birthday, a bright June day; it was also the feast of St. Zita.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading THE MOUNTAINEERS It was Madame’s birthday, a bright June day; it was also the feast of St. Zita.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
lady'snounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
possessive form of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading Every girl had presented her gift to Madame at breakfast, to the good lady’s unbounded astonishment.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading Every girl had presented her gift to Madame at breakfast, to the good lady’s unbounded astonishment.
Madame's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MOUNTAINEERS It was Madame’s birthday, a bright June day; it was also the feast of St. Zita.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
MOUNTAINEERSnounUS /ˈmaʊntɪnɪrz/
plural of “mountaineer” — someone who climbs mountains
From this reading THE MOUNTAINEERS It was Madame’s birthday, a bright June day; it was also the feast of St. Zita.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
needlenounUS /ˈniːdəl/
the leaf of a conifer
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
being perceived or observed
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MOUNTAINEERS It was Madame’s birthday, a bright June day; it was also the feast of St. Zita.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Every girl had presented her gift to Madame at breakfast, to the good lady’s unbounded astonishment.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
ProtestantnounUS /ˈprɑːtəstənt/
an adherent of Protestantism
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
rescuedadjectiveUS /ˈreskjuːd/
delivered from danger
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
Saint'snounUS /seɪnts/
possessive form of “saint” — a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
shrinenounUS /ʃraɪn/
a place of worship hallowed by association with some sacred thing or person
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
skilfuladjective
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
Soeur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MOUNTAINEERS It was Madame’s birthday, a bright June day; it was also the feast of St. Zita.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
a lightweight cord
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The steel beads of Honor’s neck chain (Honor was not skilful with her needle, but she could string beads with the best!) had flashed in sun and lamp light, had dropped on the floor and been rescued from corners and cracks; Madame never noticed.
Séraphine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MOUNTAINEERS It was Madame’s birthday, a bright June day; it was also the feast of St. Zita.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Every girl had presented her gift to Madame at breakfast, to the good lady’s unbounded astonishment.
unboundedadjectiveUS /ənˈbaʊndɪd/
seemingly boundless in amount, number, degree, or especially extent
From this reading Every girl had presented her gift to Madame at breakfast, to the good lady’s unbounded astonishment.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading They had been making the gifts under her benevolent nose for a month past, but she had seen nothing; Soeur Séraphine said so, and she ought to know.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE MOUNTAINEERS It was Madame’s birthday, a bright June day; it was also the feast of St. Zita.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading Every girl, Catholic and Protestant alike, had laid a flower on the Saint’s shrine, the pretty little marble shrine at the end of the garden, with the yellow roses climbing over it.
Zita
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MOUNTAINEERS It was Madame’s birthday, a bright June day; it was also the feast of St. Zita.
