used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading PREPARATIONS JANET stood at her window thoughtfully tapping her lips with her forefinger.
atticnounUS /ˈætɪk/
floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Janet would never in the world have considered them if she had not sat behind Martha Summers the last time she went up to the city.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Janet would never in the world have considered them if she had not sat behind Martha Summers the last time she went up to the city.
confrontedverbUS /kənˈfrʌntəd/
past form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
carefully weighed
From this reading Janet would never in the world have considered them if she had not sat behind Martha Summers the last time she went up to the city.
couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
forefingernounUS /ˈfɔːrfɪŋɡər/
the finger next to the thumb
From this reading PREPARATIONS JANET stood at her window thoughtfully tapping her lips with her forefinger.
a state of high honor
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
great-grandmother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Janet would never in the world have considered them if she had not sat behind Martha Summers the last time she went up to the city.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading PREPARATIONS JANET stood at her window thoughtfully tapping her lips with her forefinger.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
home-made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Janet would never in the world have considered them if she had not sat behind Martha Summers the last time she went up to the city.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
JANET
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PREPARATIONS JANET stood at her window thoughtfully tapping her lips with her forefinger.
and nothing more
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
immediately past
From this reading Janet would never in the world have considered them if she had not sat behind Martha Summers the last time she went up to the city.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading PREPARATIONS JANET stood at her window thoughtfully tapping her lips with her forefinger.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
Martha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Janet would never in the world have considered them if she had not sat behind Martha Summers the last time she went up to the city.
meltingnounUS /ˈmeltɪŋ/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
mistyadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsti/
filled or abounding with fog or mist
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Janet would never in the world have considered them if she had not sat behind Martha Summers the last time she went up to the city.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
observantadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvənt/
paying close attention especially to details
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
packedadjectiveUS /pækt/
extremely crowed or filled to capacity
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
portierenoun
a heavy curtain hung across a doorway
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
PREPARATIONSnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading PREPARATIONS JANET stood at her window thoughtfully tapping her lips with her forefinger.
pridedverbUS /ˈpraɪdɪd/
past form of “pride” — be proud of
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
on the contrary
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
rememberingnounUS /rɪˈmembərɪŋ/
the cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
sailsnounUS /seɪlz/
plural of “sail” — a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Janet would never in the world have considered them if she had not sat behind Martha Summers the last time she went up to the city.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
spreadsnounUS /spredz/
plural of “spread” — process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading PREPARATIONS JANET stood at her window thoughtfully tapping her lips with her forefinger.
successfullyadverbUS /səkˈsesfəli/
with success; in a successful manner
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
SummersnounUS /ˈsʌmərz/
plural of “summer” — the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Janet would never in the world have considered them if she had not sat behind Martha Summers the last time she went up to the city.
tappingnounUS /ˈtæpɪŋ/
the sound of light blow or knock
From this reading PREPARATIONS JANET stood at her window thoughtfully tapping her lips with her forefinger.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Janet would never in the world have considered them if she had not sat behind Martha Summers the last time she went up to the city.
thoughtfullyadverbUS /ˈθɔːtfəli/
in a thoughtful manner
From this reading PREPARATIONS JANET stood at her window thoughtfully tapping her lips with her forefinger.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Janet would never in the world have considered them if she had not sat behind Martha Summers the last time she went up to the city.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Janet would never in the world have considered them if she had not sat behind Martha Summers the last time she went up to the city.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
unfaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
unperceptiveadjective
lacking perception
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Janet would never in the world have considered them if she had not sat behind Martha Summers the last time she went up to the city.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Janet would never in the world have considered them if she had not sat behind Martha Summers the last time she went up to the city.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She was not unperceptive; in fact she rather prided herself upon her love of the beautiful, but just now she was absorbed in a problem which was one of the many that had confronted her during the past few weeks.
a Caucasian
From this reading The window looked out upon the bay, but Janet was not observant of the white sails melting into the horizon, nor of the line of misty shore opposite.
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 PREPARATIONS JANET stood at her window thoughtfully tapping her lips with her forefinger.
in the company of; together with
From this reading PREPARATIONS JANET stood at her window thoughtfully tapping her lips with her forefinger.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Janet would never in the world have considered them if she had not sat behind Martha Summers the last time she went up to the city.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Janet would never in the world have considered them if she had not sat behind Martha Summers the last time she went up to the city.
wovenadjectiveUS /ˈwoʊvən/
made or constructed by interlacing threads or strips of material or other elements into a whole
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
a late time of life
From this reading The day before, she had successfully settled the question of a portiere and a couch cover by suddenly remembering the two home-made spreads woven by her great-grandmother, which, in their unfaded glory of blue and red, lay for years packed away in a chest in the attic.
