used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Certainly there was an air about her not common to the traveling agency people, but whether it were entirely due to her garments may be doubted.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
agencynounUS /ˈeɪdʒənsi/
an administrative unit of government
From this reading Certainly there was an air about her not common to the traveling agency people, but whether it were entirely due to her garments may be doubted.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Certainly there was an air about her not common to the traveling agency people, but whether it were entirely due to her garments may be doubted.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
AMONGprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading AMONG THE COTTAGES.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Certainly there was an air about her not common to the traveling agency people, but whether it were entirely due to her garments may be doubted.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading After considerable scurrying about inside, plainly distinguished through the thin planking, the door was gingerly opened a few inches and a touzled head appeared in the slit.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Certainly there was an air about her not common to the traveling agency people, but whether it were entirely due to her garments may be doubted.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Certainly there was an air about her not common to the traveling agency people, but whether it were entirely due to her garments may be doubted.
childishadjectiveUS /ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ/
indicating a lack of maturity
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
clothing in general
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading Certainly there was an air about her not common to the traveling agency people, but whether it were entirely due to her garments may be doubted.
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading After considerable scurrying about inside, plainly distinguished through the thin planking, the door was gingerly opened a few inches and a touzled head appeared in the slit.
COTTAGESnounUS /ˈkɑːtɪdʒɪz/
plural of “cottage” — a small house with a single story
From this reading AMONG THE COTTAGES.
cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
descriptiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈskrɪptɪv/
serving to describe or inform or characterized by description
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading After considerable scurrying about inside, plainly distinguished through the thin planking, the door was gingerly opened a few inches and a touzled head appeared in the slit.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading After considerable scurrying about inside, plainly distinguished through the thin planking, the door was gingerly opened a few inches and a touzled head appeared in the slit.
doubtedverbUS /ˈdaʊtɪd/
past form of “doubt” — consider unlikely or have doubts about
From this reading Certainly there was an air about her not common to the traveling agency people, but whether it were entirely due to her garments may be doubted.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading Certainly there was an air about her not common to the traveling agency people, but whether it were entirely due to her garments may be doubted.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Certainly there was an air about her not common to the traveling agency people, but whether it were entirely due to her garments may be doubted.
divisible by two
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading After considerable scurrying about inside, plainly distinguished through the thin planking, the door was gingerly opened a few inches and a touzled head appeared in the slit.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
garbnounUS /ɡɑːrb/
clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
garmentsnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənts/
plural of “garment” — an article of clothing
From this reading Certainly there was an air about her not common to the traveling agency people, but whether it were entirely due to her garments may be doubted.
gingerlyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɪndʒərli/
with extreme care or delicacy
From this reading After considerable scurrying about inside, plainly distinguished through the thin planking, the door was gingerly opened a few inches and a touzled head appeared in the slit.
a young female
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading After considerable scurrying about inside, plainly distinguished through the thin planking, the door was gingerly opened a few inches and a touzled head appeared in the slit.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
inchesnounUS /ˈɪntʃəz/
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading After considerable scurrying about inside, plainly distinguished through the thin planking, the door was gingerly opened a few inches and a touzled head appeared in the slit.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
JoycenounUS /dʒɔɪs/
influential Irish writer noted for his many innovations (such as stream of consciousness writing) (1882-1941)
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
manounUS /mɑː/
informal terms for a mother
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Certainly there was an air about her not common to the traveling agency people, but whether it were entirely due to her garments may be doubted.
not any; not one
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Certainly there was an air about her not common to the traveling agency people, but whether it were entirely due to her garments may be doubted.
held or filled or in use
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading After considerable scurrying about inside, plainly distinguished through the thin planking, the door was gingerly opened a few inches and a touzled head appeared in the slit.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Certainly there was an air about her not common to the traveling agency people, but whether it were entirely due to her garments may be doubted.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading After considerable scurrying about inside, plainly distinguished through the thin planking, the door was gingerly opened a few inches and a touzled head appeared in the slit.
plankingnounUS /ˈplæŋkɪŋ/
planks collectively; a quantity of planks
From this reading After considerable scurrying about inside, plainly distinguished through the thin planking, the door was gingerly opened a few inches and a touzled head appeared in the slit.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
randomadjectiveUS /ˈrændəm/
lacking any definite plan or order or purpose; governed by or depending on chance
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
express in words
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
scurryingadjectiveUS /ˈskɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading After considerable scurrying about inside, plainly distinguished through the thin planking, the door was gingerly opened a few inches and a touzled head appeared in the slit.
selectedadjectiveUS /səˈlektɪd/
chosen in preference to another
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
slitnounUS /slɪt/
a long narrow opening
From this reading After considerable scurrying about inside, plainly distinguished through the thin planking, the door was gingerly opened a few inches and a touzled head appeared in the slit.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
swellverbUS /swel/
increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AMONG THE COTTAGES.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Certainly there was an air about her not common to the traveling agency people, but whether it were entirely due to her garments may be doubted.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading After considerable scurrying about inside, plainly distinguished through the thin planking, the door was gingerly opened a few inches and a touzled head appeared in the slit.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading After considerable scurrying about inside, plainly distinguished through the thin planking, the door was gingerly opened a few inches and a touzled head appeared in the slit.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
touzled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After considerable scurrying about inside, plainly distinguished through the thin planking, the door was gingerly opened a few inches and a touzled head appeared in the slit.
travelingnounUS /ˈtrævəlɪŋ/
the act of going from one place to another
From this reading Certainly there was an air about her not common to the traveling agency people, but whether it were entirely due to her garments may be doubted.
trepidationnounUS /ˌtrepɪˈdeɪʃən/
a feeling of alarm or dread
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
trippedverbUS /trɪpt/
inflected form of “trip” — miss a step and fall or nearly fall
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Certainly there was an air about her not common to the traveling agency people, but whether it were entirely due to her garments may be doubted.
(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 She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She heard herself announced inside by a childish voice in descriptive fashion--"Say, ma, it's a girl in swell clothes--hurry!" and began to question if she were too well dressed, even in her plain black garb, for her part.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Certainly there was an air about her not common to the traveling agency people, but whether it were entirely due to her garments may be doubted.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading Joyce, laughing to herself, tripped across the ground occupied by the works, and, after a hurried glance along the first row of cottages, selected one at random and making straight for it, knocked with some trepidation, but no delay.
