used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IT was a very quiet, cold-faced girl who presently obeyed the summons to dinner.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I wish you knew her well; my pen pauses over an attempt to describe her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading I wish you knew her well; my pen pauses over an attempt to describe her.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
terminate
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
casingnounUS /ˈkeɪsɪŋ/
the housing or outer covering of something
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
cold-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was a very quiet, cold-faced girl who presently obeyed the summons to dinner.
recognizable; marked
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
give a description of
From this reading I wish you knew her well; my pen pauses over an attempt to describe her.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading IT was a very quiet, cold-faced girl who presently obeyed the summons to dinner.
droopverbUS /druːp/
droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
eyelidsnounUS /ˈaɪlɪdz/
plural of “eyelid” — either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
FosterverbUS /ˈfɑːstər/
promote the growth of
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
a young female
From this reading IT was a very quiet, cold-faced girl who presently obeyed the summons to dinner.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
only a very short time before
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
haughtyadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːti/
having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I wish you knew her well; my pen pauses over an attempt to describe her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IT was a very quiet, cold-faced girl who presently obeyed the summons to dinner.
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 I wish you knew her well; my pen pauses over an attempt to describe her.
held up in the air
From this reading LIFTED UP.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I wish you knew her well; my pen pauses over an attempt to describe her.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
past form of “obey” — be obedient to
From this reading IT was a very quiet, cold-faced girl who presently obeyed the summons to dinner.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I wish you knew her well; my pen pauses over an attempt to describe her.
pausesnounUS /ˈpɔːzəz/
plural of “pause” — a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading I wish you knew her well; my pen pauses over an attempt to describe her.
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading I wish you knew her well; my pen pauses over an attempt to describe her.
pitifuladjectiveUS /ˈpɪtəfəl/
inspiring mixed contempt and pity
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
in the near future
From this reading IT was a very quiet, cold-faced girl who presently obeyed the summons to dinner.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading IT was a very quiet, cold-faced girl who presently obeyed the summons to dinner.
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading A rare woman was Mrs. Foster.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
reservenounUS /rɪˈzɜːrv/
formality and propriety of manner
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
summonsnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
a request to be present
From this reading IT was a very quiet, cold-faced girl who presently obeyed the summons to dinner.
suspiciouslyadverbUS /səˈspɪʃəsli/
with suspicion
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
a person whose occupation is teaching
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IT was a very quiet, cold-faced girl who presently obeyed the summons to dinner.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IT was a very quiet, cold-faced girl who presently obeyed the summons to dinner.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading LIFTED UP.
past form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
precisely as stated
From this reading IT was a very quiet, cold-faced girl who presently obeyed the summons to dinner.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IT was a very quiet, cold-faced girl who presently obeyed the summons to dinner.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading I wish you knew her well; my pen pauses over an attempt to describe her.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
which person or people
From this reading IT was a very quiet, cold-faced girl who presently obeyed the summons to dinner.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading I wish you knew her well; my pen pauses over an attempt to describe her.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading A rare woman was Mrs. Foster.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
wrapverbUS /ræp/
arrange or fold as a cover or protection
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I wish you knew her well; my pen pauses over an attempt to describe her.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Had it not been for those suspiciously red eyes, and a certain pitiful droop of the eyelids, Mrs. Foster would hardly have ventured to break the casing of haughty reserve in which her young music teacher had decided to wrap herself.
