used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The child was dressed in a quilted robe of bright flowered silk, the skirt flaring like a bed about the ankles, the sleeves extending down over the hands.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
AndrewsnounUS /ˈændruːz/
United States naturalist who contributed to paleontology and geology (1884-1960)
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
anklesnounUS /ˈæŋkəlz/
plural of “ankle” — a gliding joint between the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the proximal end of the talus
From this reading The child was dressed in a quilted robe of bright flowered silk, the skirt flaring like a bed about the ankles, the sleeves extending down over the hands.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading The child was dressed in a quilted robe of bright flowered silk, the skirt flaring like a bed about the ankles, the sleeves extending down over the hands.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Her shoes were high, of black cloth with paper soles.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The child was dressed in a quilted robe of bright flowered silk, the skirt flaring like a bed about the ankles, the sleeves extending down over the hands.
buttonsnounUS /ˈbʌtənz/
plural of “button” — a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholes
From this reading Over the robe she wore a golden yellow vest, shortsleeved, trimmed with ribbon and fastened with gilt buttons.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
a young person of either sex
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
ChinesenounUS /tʃaɪˈniːz/
any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system
From this reading A sober Chinese servant (Miss Means and Miss Andrews were not to know that he was a eunuch) followed at a more dignified pace.
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading Her shoes were high, of black cloth with paper soles.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
dignifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdɪɡnəfaɪd/
having or expressing dignity; especially formality or stateliness in bearing or appearance
From this reading A sober Chinese servant (Miss Means and Miss Andrews were not to know that he was a eunuch) followed at a more dignified pace.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The child was dressed in a quilted robe of bright flowered silk, the skirt flaring like a bed about the ankles, the sleeves extending down over the hands.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading The child was dressed in a quilted robe of bright flowered silk, the skirt flaring like a bed about the ankles, the sleeves extending down over the hands.
eunuchnounUS /ˈjuːnək/
a man who has been castrated and is incapable of reproduction
From this reading A sober Chinese servant (Miss Means and Miss Andrews were not to know that he was a eunuch) followed at a more dignified pace.
extendingverbUS /ɪkˈstendɪŋ/
-ing form of “extend” — extend in scope or range or area
From this reading The child was dressed in a quilted robe of bright flowered silk, the skirt flaring like a bed about the ankles, the sleeves extending down over the hands.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading Over the robe she wore a golden yellow vest, shortsleeved, trimmed with ribbon and fastened with gilt buttons.
flaringadjectiveUS /ˈflerɪŋ/
streaming or flapping or spreading wide as if in a current of air
From this reading The child was dressed in a quilted robe of bright flowered silk, the skirt flaring like a bed about the ankles, the sleeves extending down over the hands.
floweredadjectiveUS /ˈflaʊərd/
resembling or made of or suggestive of flowers
From this reading The child was dressed in a quilted robe of bright flowered silk, the skirt flaring like a bed about the ankles, the sleeves extending down over the hands.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading A sober Chinese servant (Miss Means and Miss Andrews were not to know that he was a eunuch) followed at a more dignified pace.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
giltadjectiveUS /ɡɪlt/
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading Over the robe she wore a golden yellow vest, shortsleeved, trimmed with ribbon and fastened with gilt buttons.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading Over the robe she wore a golden yellow vest, shortsleeved, trimmed with ribbon and fastened with gilt buttons.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The child was dressed in a quilted robe of bright flowered silk, the skirt flaring like a bed about the ankles, the sleeves extending down over the hands.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A sober Chinese servant (Miss Means and Miss Andrews were not to know that he was a eunuch) followed at a more dignified pace.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her shoes were high, of black cloth with paper soles.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Her shoes were high, of black cloth with paper soles.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading A sober Chinese servant (Miss Means and Miss Andrews were not to know that he was a eunuch) followed at a more dignified pace.
the sound of laughing
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The child was dressed in a quilted robe of bright flowered silk, the skirt flaring like a bed about the ankles, the sleeves extending down over the hands.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading A sober Chinese servant (Miss Means and Miss Andrews were not to know that he was a eunuch) followed at a more dignified pace.
NankingnounUS /ˈnæŋkɪŋ/
a city in eastern China on the Yangtze River; a former capital of China; the scene of a Japanese massacre in the 1930s
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
the middle of the day
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A sober Chinese servant (Miss Means and Miss Andrews were not to know that he was a eunuch) followed at a more dignified pace.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
outburstnounUS /ˈaʊtbɜːrst/
an unrestrained expression of emotion
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The child was dressed in a quilted robe of bright flowered silk, the skirt flaring like a bed about the ankles, the sleeves extending down over the hands.
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading A sober Chinese servant (Miss Means and Miss Andrews were not to know that he was a eunuch) followed at a more dignified pace.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Her shoes were high, of black cloth with paper soles.
quiltedadjectiveUS /ˈkwɪltɪd/
made of layers of fabric held together by patterned stitching
From this reading The child was dressed in a quilted robe of bright flowered silk, the skirt flaring like a bed about the ankles, the sleeves extending down over the hands.
ribbonnounUS /ˈrɪbən/
any long object resembling a thin line
From this reading Over the robe she wore a golden yellow vest, shortsleeved, trimmed with ribbon and fastened with gilt buttons.
robenounUS /roʊb/
any loose flowing garment
From this reading The child was dressed in a quilted robe of bright flowered silk, the skirt flaring like a bed about the ankles, the sleeves extending down over the hands.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
screennounUS /skriːn/
a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading A sober Chinese servant (Miss Means and Miss Andrews were not to know that he was a eunuch) followed at a more dignified pace.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Over the robe she wore a golden yellow vest, shortsleeved, trimmed with ribbon and fastened with gilt buttons.
a particular situation
From this reading Her shoes were high, of black cloth with paper soles.
shortsleeved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over the robe she wore a golden yellow vest, shortsleeved, trimmed with ribbon and fastened with gilt buttons.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading The child was dressed in a quilted robe of bright flowered silk, the skirt flaring like a bed about the ankles, the sleeves extending down over the hands.
skirtnounUS /skɜːrt/
cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading The child was dressed in a quilted robe of bright flowered silk, the skirt flaring like a bed about the ankles, the sleeves extending down over the hands.
sleevesnounUS /sliːvz/
plural of “sleeve” — the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
From this reading The child was dressed in a quilted robe of bright flowered silk, the skirt flaring like a bed about the ankles, the sleeves extending down over the hands.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading A sober Chinese servant (Miss Means and Miss Andrews were not to know that he was a eunuch) followed at a more dignified pace.
solesnounUS /soʊlz/
plural of “sol” — a colloid that has a continuous liquid phase in which a solid is suspended in a liquid
From this reading Her shoes were high, of black cloth with paper soles.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A sober Chinese servant (Miss Means and Miss Andrews were not to know that he was a eunuch) followed at a more dignified pace.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A sober Chinese servant (Miss Means and Miss Andrews were not to know that he was a eunuch) followed at a more dignified pace.
TOWARDprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
trimmedadjectiveUS /trɪmd/
made neat and tidy by trimming
From this reading Over the robe she wore a golden yellow vest, shortsleeved, trimmed with ribbon and fastened with gilt buttons.
vestverbUS /vest/
provide with power and authority
From this reading Over the robe she wore a golden yellow vest, shortsleeved, trimmed with ribbon and fastened with gilt buttons.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A sober Chinese servant (Miss Means and Miss Andrews were not to know that he was a eunuch) followed at a more dignified pace.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
wharfnounUS /wɔːrf/
a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
at the time that
From this reading |TOWARD noon Miss Means and Miss Andrews were in their chairs on deck, when a gay little outburst of laughter caught their attention, and around the canvas screen came running the child they had seen on the wharf at Nanking.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her shoes were high, of black cloth with paper soles.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading Over the robe she wore a golden yellow vest, shortsleeved, trimmed with ribbon and fastened with gilt buttons.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading Over the robe she wore a golden yellow vest, shortsleeved, trimmed with ribbon and fastened with gilt buttons.
