1880
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
having companions or an escort
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was of a helpless, fleshy build, with a frank, open countenance and an innocent, diffident manner.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Any one could see where the daughter behind her got the timidity and shamefacedness which now caused her to stand back and look indifferently away.
any thing at all
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading AUTHOR OF “SISTER CARRIE”, etc.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Any one could see where the daughter behind her got the timidity and shamefacedness which now caused her to stand back and look indifferently away.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Any one could see where the daughter behind her got the timidity and shamefacedness which now caused her to stand back and look indifferently away.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Any one could see where the daughter behind her got the timidity and shamefacedness which now caused her to stand back and look indifferently away.
make by combining materials and parts
From this reading She was of a helpless, fleshy build, with a frank, open countenance and an innocent, diffident manner.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
CARRIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AUTHOR OF “SISTER CARRIE”, etc.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading Any one could see where the daughter behind her got the timidity and shamefacedness which now caused her to stand back and look indifferently away.
clerk'snounUS /klɜːrks/
possessive form of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
ColumbusnounUS /kəˈlʌmbəs/
the state capital of Ohio; located in the center of the state; site of Ohio State University
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
the appearance conveyed by a person's face
From this reading She was of a helpless, fleshy build, with a frank, open countenance and an innocent, diffident manner.
countenancesnounUS /ˈkaʊntənənsɪz/
plural of “countenance” — the appearance conveyed by a person's face
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
a female human offspring
From this reading Any one could see where the daughter behind her got the timidity and shamefacedness which now caused her to stand back and look indifferently away.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
diffidentadjective
showing modest reserve
From this reading She was of a helpless, fleshy build, with a frank, open countenance and an innocent, diffident manner.
distraughtadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrɔːt/
deeply agitated especially from emotion
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
psychological suffering
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
dweltverbUS /dwelt/
inflected form of “dwell” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
being one more than seventeen
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
etc
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AUTHOR OF “SISTER CARRIE”, etc.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
fleshyadjectiveUS /ˈfleʃi/
usually describes a large person who is fat but has a large frame to carry it
From this reading She was of a helpless, fleshy build, with a frank, open countenance and an innocent, diffident manner.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading She was of a helpless, fleshy build, with a frank, open countenance and an innocent, diffident manner.
a young female
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Any one could see where the daughter behind her got the timidity and shamefacedness which now caused her to stand back and look indifferently away.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
lacking in or deprived of strength or power
From this reading She was of a helpless, fleshy build, with a frank, open countenance and an innocent, diffident manner.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
indifferentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfrəntli/
with indifference; in an indifferent manner
From this reading Any one could see where the daughter behind her got the timidity and shamefacedness which now caused her to stand back and look indifferently away.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading She was of a helpless, fleshy build, with a frank, open countenance and an innocent, diffident manner.
a search for knowledge
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Any one could see where the daughter behind her got the timidity and shamefacedness which now caused her to stand back and look indifferently away.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She was of a helpless, fleshy build, with a frank, open countenance and an innocent, diffident manner.
middle-agedadjectiveUS /ˈmɪdəleɪɡd/
being roughly between 45 and 65 years old
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Any one could see where the daughter behind her got the timidity and shamefacedness which now caused her to stand back and look indifferently away.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AUTHOR OF “SISTER CARRIE”, etc.
OhionounUS /oʊˈhaɪoʊ/
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
and nothing more
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading She was of a helpless, fleshy build, with a frank, open countenance and an innocent, diffident manner.
a person who requires medical care
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Any one could see where the daughter behind her got the timidity and shamefacedness which now caused her to stand back and look indifferently away.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
shamefacednessnoun
feeling embarrassed about yourself
From this reading Any one could see where the daughter behind her got the timidity and shamefacedness which now caused her to stand back and look indifferently away.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading AUTHOR OF “SISTER CARRIE”, etc.
be standing; be upright
From this reading Any one could see where the daughter behind her got the timidity and shamefacedness which now caused her to stand back and look indifferently away.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
sympatheticallyadverbUS /ˌsɪmpəˈθetɪkəli/
with respect to the sympathetic nervous system
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
in or at that place or location
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
timiditynounUS /təˈmɪdəti/
fear of the unknown or unfamiliar or fear of making decisions
From this reading Any one could see where the daughter behind her got the timidity and shamefacedness which now caused her to stand back and look indifferently away.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
in or at the place that
From this reading Any one could see where the daughter behind her got the timidity and shamefacedness which now caused her to stand back and look indifferently away.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Any one could see where the daughter behind her got the timidity and shamefacedness which now caused her to stand back and look indifferently away.
which person or people
From this reading Her eyes were large and patient, and in them dwelt such a shadow of distress as only those who have looked sympathetically into the countenances of the distraught and helpless poor know anything about.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She was of a helpless, fleshy build, with a frank, open countenance and an innocent, diffident manner.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading One morning, in the fall of 1880, a middle-aged woman, accompanied by a young girl of eighteen, presented herself at the clerk’s desk of the principal hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and made inquiry as to whether there was anything about the place that she could do.
