used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading ‘I beg your pardon,’ she said involuntarily.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
copyingnounUS /ˈkɑːpiɪŋ/
an act of copying
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
at any time
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
set up or found
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
guiltnounUS /ɡɪlt/
the state of having committed an offense
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘I beg your pardon,’ she said involuntarily.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
involuntarilyadverbUS /ˌɪnvoʊˈlʌntərɪli/
against your will
From this reading ‘I beg your pardon,’ she said involuntarily.
JoycenounUS /dʒɔɪs/
influential Irish writer noted for his many innovations (such as stream of consciousness writing) (1882-1941)
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
kneelingnounUS /ˈniːlɪŋ/
supporting yourself on your knees
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
morningsnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋz/
plural of “morning” — the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
not any; not one
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
accept an excuse for
From this reading ‘I beg your pardon,’ she said involuntarily.
patternnounUS /ˈpætərn/
a perceptual structure
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
pencilnounUS /ˈpensəl/
a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ‘I beg your pardon,’ she said involuntarily.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
stealthilyadverb
in a stealthy manner
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
a shaky motion
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
precisely as stated
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
at the time that
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
in the company of; together with
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘I beg your pardon,’ she said involuntarily.
