aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Miriam found her old prayer-book and scribbled her name on the flyleaf....
any person at all
From this reading _feeling_ something, privately, not knowing that anyone would see it....
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
Bella
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bella de Castro writing _from mother_ under her name in her bible ...
Bella's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sunlight pouring in on the thin bible page; the words written plumply with one of Bella's blunt uncared-for pencils.
the sacred writings of the Christian religions
From this reading Bella de Castro writing _from mother_ under her name in her bible ...
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 thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
bluntadjectiveUS /blʌnt/
having a broad or rounded end
From this reading The sunlight pouring in on the thin bible page; the words written plumply with one of Bella's blunt uncared-for pencils.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
CastronounUS /ˈkæstroʊ/
Cuban socialist leader who overthrew a dictator in 1959 and established a Marxist socialist state in Cuba (born in 1927)
From this reading Bella de Castro writing _from mother_ under her name in her bible ...
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading Bella de Castro writing _from mother_ under her name in her bible ...
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading _feeling_ something, privately, not knowing that anyone would see it....
flyleafnoun
a blank leaf in the front or back of a book
From this reading Miriam found her old prayer-book and scribbled her name on the flyleaf....
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
set up or found
From this reading Miriam found her old prayer-book and scribbled her name on the flyleaf....
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Bella de Castro writing _from mother_ under her name in her bible ...
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Miriam found her old prayer-book and scribbled her name on the flyleaf....
high-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
provoking horror
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
horsebacknounUS /ˈhɔːrsbæk/
the back of a horse
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Bella de Castro writing _from mother_ under her name in her bible ...
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _feeling_ something, privately, not knowing that anyone would see it....
a native or inhabitant of Italy
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
and nothing more
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading _feeling_ something, privately, not knowing that anyone would see it....
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
English businessman who created a retail chain (1888-1964)
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
Miriam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miriam found her old prayer-book and scribbled her name on the flyleaf....
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Bella de Castro writing _from mother_ under her name in her bible ...
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Miriam found her old prayer-book and scribbled her name on the flyleaf....
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading _feeling_ something, privately, not knowing that anyone would see it....
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sunlight pouring in on the thin bible page; the words written plumply with one of Bella's blunt uncared-for pencils.
oilyadjectiveUS /ˈɔɪli/
containing an unusual amount of grease or oil
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Miriam found her old prayer-book and scribbled her name on the flyleaf....
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Miriam found her old prayer-book and scribbled her name on the flyleaf....
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The sunlight pouring in on the thin bible page; the words written plumply with one of Bella's blunt uncared-for pencils.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading The sunlight pouring in on the thin bible page; the words written plumply with one of Bella's blunt uncared-for pencils.
pencilsnounUS /ˈpensəlz/
plural of “pencil” — a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood
From this reading The sunlight pouring in on the thin bible page; the words written plumply with one of Bella's blunt uncared-for pencils.
plaitnounUS /pleɪt/
a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
plumply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sunlight pouring in on the thin bible page; the words written plumply with one of Bella's blunt uncared-for pencils.
pouringadjectiveUS /ˈpɔːrɪŋ/
flowing profusely
From this reading The sunlight pouring in on the thin bible page; the words written plumply with one of Bella's blunt uncared-for pencils.
prayer-book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miriam found her old prayer-book and scribbled her name on the flyleaf....
privatelyadverbUS /ˈpraɪvətli/
kept private or confined to those intimately concerned
From this reading _feeling_ something, privately, not knowing that anyone would see it....
ropyadjective
of or resembling rope (or ropes) in being long and strong
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
schooldaysnoun
the time of life when you are going to school
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
scribbledverbUS /ˈskrɪbəld/
past form of “scribble” — write down quickly without much attention to detail
From this reading Miriam found her old prayer-book and scribbled her name on the flyleaf....
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading _feeling_ something, privately, not knowing that anyone would see it....
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading _feeling_ something, privately, not knowing that anyone would see it....
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
stubbedverbUS /stʌbd/
inflected form of “stub” — pull up (weeds) by their roots
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
sullenlyadverb
in a sullen manner
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
the rays of the sun
From this reading The sunlight pouring in on the thin bible page; the words written plumply with one of Bella's blunt uncared-for pencils.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _feeling_ something, privately, not knowing that anyone would see it....
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Miriam found her old prayer-book and scribbled her name on the flyleaf....
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The sunlight pouring in on the thin bible page; the words written plumply with one of Bella's blunt uncared-for pencils.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
uncared-foradjective
lacking needed care and attention
From this reading The sunlight pouring in on the thin bible page; the words written plumply with one of Bella's blunt uncared-for pencils.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Bella de Castro writing _from mother_ under her name in her bible ...
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
clean by virtue of having been washed in water
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
at the time that
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The sunlight pouring in on the thin bible page; the words written plumply with one of Bella's blunt uncared-for pencils.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The sunlight pouring in on the thin bible page; the words written plumply with one of Bella's blunt uncared-for pencils.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading _feeling_ something, privately, not knowing that anyone would see it....
wristsnounUS /rɪsts/
plural of “wrist” — a joint between the distal end of the radius and the proximal row of carpal bones
From this reading Her thick ropy black plait, brilliant oily Italian eyes in her long fat handsome face; staring out of the window sullenly waiting for schooldays to be at an end; her handsome horrible brother on horseback; just the same; the high-water marks above her wrists when she washed her hands, and then, from mother, stubbed carefully, _meaning_.
the act of creating written works
From this reading Bella de Castro writing _from mother_ under her name in her bible ...
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading The sunlight pouring in on the thin bible page; the words written plumply with one of Bella's blunt uncared-for pencils.
