used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But Anita wasn’t looking at me and she wasn’t crying.
Anita
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Anita wasn’t looking at me and she wasn’t crying.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But Anita wasn’t looking at me and she wasn’t crying.
break-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Anita wasn’t looking at me and she wasn’t crying.
carvedadjectiveUS /kɑːrvd/
made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
clock-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
clutch-clutch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
controlledadjectiveUS /kənˈtroʊld/
restrained or managed or kept within certain bounds
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
demanding attention
From this reading But Anita wasn’t looking at me and she wasn’t crying.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
opinion or judgment
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
flownounUS /floʊ/
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
good-naturedadjective
having an easygoing and cheerful disposition
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
Great-auntnoun
an aunt of your father or mother
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Yet, as she said herself, she was shaken.
HowenounUS /haʊ/
United States editor (1920-1993)
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
incessantadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsesənt/
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
jerkinessnoun
the quality of being spasmodic and irregular
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading But Anita wasn’t looking at me and she wasn’t crying.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But Anita wasn’t looking at me and she wasn’t crying.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
palmnounUS /pɑːm/
the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
red-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
recurring again and again
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Yet, as she said herself, she was shaken.
shakenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪkən/
disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock
From this reading Yet, as she said herself, she was shaken.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
sharpeningverbUS /ˈʃɑːrpənɪŋ/
-ing form of “sharpen” — make sharp or sharper
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But Anita wasn’t looking at me and she wasn’t crying.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
staccatoadjectiveUS /stəˈkɑːtoʊ/
(music) marked by or composed of disconnected parts or sounds; cut short crisply
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
express a supposition
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Anita wasn’t looking at me and she wasn’t crying.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
the words that are spoken
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet, as she said herself, she was shaken.
