used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He slowly twisted a bit of crayon between his fingers, as though to help his thoughts, and he looked at her critically.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading “That’s one of those delightful questions that sitters always ask,” answered the artist, smiling a little.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “That’s precisely what I’m asking myself--how in the world am I going to paint you?”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Crowdie stepped backward from her, as she laid her hat and veil upon her knee.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “That’s one of those delightful questions that sitters always ask,” answered the artist, smiling a little.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “How are you going to paint me?” she asked, regretting that she had spoken so very coldly a moment earlier.
a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
From this reading “That’s one of those delightful questions that sitters always ask,” answered the artist, smiling a little.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Crowdie stepped backward from her, as she laid her hat and veil upon her knee.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “That’s one of those delightful questions that sitters always ask,” answered the artist, smiling a little.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “How are you going to paint me?” she asked, regretting that she had spoken so very coldly a moment earlier.
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading “That’s precisely what I’m asking myself--how in the world am I going to paint you?”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He slowly twisted a bit of crayon between his fingers, as though to help his thoughts, and he looked at her critically.
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading Crowdie stepped backward from her, as she laid her hat and veil upon her knee.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He slowly twisted a bit of crayon between his fingers, as though to help his thoughts, and he looked at her critically.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading He slowly twisted a bit of crayon between his fingers, as though to help his thoughts, and he looked at her critically.
coldlyadverbUS /ˈkoʊldli/
lacking warmth of feeling; in a cold, unemotional manner
From this reading “How are you going to paint me?” she asked, regretting that she had spoken so very coldly a moment earlier.
crayonnounUS /ˈkreɪɑːn/
writing implement consisting of a colored stick of composition wax used for writing and drawing
From this reading He slowly twisted a bit of crayon between his fingers, as though to help his thoughts, and he looked at her critically.
criticallyadverbUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəli/
in a critical manner
From this reading He slowly twisted a bit of crayon between his fingers, as though to help his thoughts, and he looked at her critically.
Crowdie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Crowdie stepped backward from her, as she laid her hat and veil upon her knee.
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading “That’s one of those delightful questions that sitters always ask,” answered the artist, smiling a little.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading “How are you going to paint me?” she asked, regretting that she had spoken so very coldly a moment earlier.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading He slowly twisted a bit of crayon between his fingers, as though to help his thoughts, and he looked at her critically.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Crowdie stepped backward from her, as she laid her hat and veil upon her knee.
the act of departing
From this reading “How are you going to paint me?” she asked, regretting that she had spoken so very coldly a moment earlier.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “How are you going to paint me?” she asked, regretting that she had spoken so very coldly a moment earlier.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading Crowdie stepped backward from her, as she laid her hat and veil upon her knee.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He slowly twisted a bit of crayon between his fingers, as though to help his thoughts, and he looked at her critically.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading He slowly twisted a bit of crayon between his fingers, as though to help his thoughts, and he looked at her critically.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Crowdie stepped backward from her, as she laid her hat and veil upon her knee.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He slowly twisted a bit of crayon between his fingers, as though to help his thoughts, and he looked at her critically.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How are you going to paint me?” she asked, regretting that she had spoken so very coldly a moment earlier.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “That’s precisely what I’m asking myself--how in the world am I going to paint you?”
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That’s precisely what I’m asking myself--how in the world am I going to paint you?”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “That’s precisely what I’m asking myself--how in the world am I going to paint you?”
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Crowdie stepped backward from her, as she laid her hat and veil upon her knee.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Crowdie stepped backward from her, as she laid her hat and veil upon her knee.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “That’s one of those delightful questions that sitters always ask,” answered the artist, smiling a little.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He slowly twisted a bit of crayon between his fingers, as though to help his thoughts, and he looked at her critically.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “How are you going to paint me?” she asked, regretting that she had spoken so very coldly a moment earlier.
a particular point in time
From this reading “How are you going to paint me?” she asked, regretting that she had spoken so very coldly a moment earlier.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “That’s precisely what I’m asking myself--how in the world am I going to paint you?”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He slowly twisted a bit of crayon between his fingers, as though to help his thoughts, and he looked at her critically.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “That’s one of those delightful questions that sitters always ask,” answered the artist, smiling a little.
paintverbUS /peɪnt/
make a painting
From this reading “How are you going to paint me?” she asked, regretting that she had spoken so very coldly a moment earlier.
preciselyadverbUS /prɪˈsaɪsli/
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading “That’s precisely what I’m asking myself--how in the world am I going to paint you?”
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading “That’s one of those delightful questions that sitters always ask,” answered the artist, smiling a little.
regrettingverbUS /rɪˈɡretɪŋ/
inflected form of “regret” — feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading “How are you going to paint me?” she asked, regretting that she had spoken so very coldly a moment earlier.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Crowdie stepped backward from her, as she laid her hat and veil upon her knee.
sittersnounUS /ˈsɪtərz/
plural of “sitter” — Dutch astronomer who calculated the size of the universe and suggested that it is expanding (1872-1934)
From this reading “That’s one of those delightful questions that sitters always ask,” answered the artist, smiling a little.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading He slowly twisted a bit of crayon between his fingers, as though to help his thoughts, and he looked at her critically.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading “That’s one of those delightful questions that sitters always ask,” answered the artist, smiling a little.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “How are you going to paint me?” she asked, regretting that she had spoken so very coldly a moment earlier.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading “How are you going to paint me?” she asked, regretting that she had spoken so very coldly a moment earlier.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Crowdie stepped backward from her, as she laid her hat and veil upon her knee.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “How are you going to paint me?” she asked, regretting that she had spoken so very coldly a moment earlier.
That's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That’s one of those delightful questions that sitters always ask,” answered the artist, smiling a little.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “That’s one of those delightful questions that sitters always ask,” answered the artist, smiling a little.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “That’s one of those delightful questions that sitters always ask,” answered the artist, smiling a little.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He slowly twisted a bit of crayon between his fingers, as though to help his thoughts, and he looked at her critically.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He slowly twisted a bit of crayon between his fingers, as though to help his thoughts, and he looked at her critically.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He slowly twisted a bit of crayon between his fingers, as though to help his thoughts, and he looked at her critically.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading He slowly twisted a bit of crayon between his fingers, as though to help his thoughts, and he looked at her critically.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Crowdie stepped backward from her, as she laid her hat and veil upon her knee.
a garment that covers the head and face
From this reading Crowdie stepped backward from her, as she laid her hat and veil upon her knee.
precisely as stated
From this reading “How are you going to paint me?” she asked, regretting that she had spoken so very coldly a moment earlier.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “That’s precisely what I’m asking myself--how in the world am I going to paint you?”
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading “That’s precisely what I’m asking myself--how in the world am I going to paint you?”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “How are you going to paint me?” she asked, regretting that she had spoken so very coldly a moment earlier.
