used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading But what she saw--all she saw--was the Laura she knew with a knowledge that was at once so superficially close, and so little intimate.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Thus, for perhaps as long as half a minute, Laura thought herself alone.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The door of Mrs. Tropenell's long low drawing-room opened very quietly, and Laura Pavely came through into the room.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Thus, for perhaps as long as half a minute, Laura thought herself alone.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
brightlyadverbUS /ˈbraɪtli/
with brightness
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But what she saw--all she saw--was the Laura she knew with a knowledge that was at once so superficially close, and so little intimate.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The door of Mrs. Tropenell's long low drawing-room opened very quietly, and Laura Pavely came through into the room.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading But what she saw--all she saw--was the Laura she knew with a knowledge that was at once so superficially close, and so little intimate.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The door of Mrs. Tropenell's long low drawing-room opened very quietly, and Laura Pavely came through into the room.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of Mrs. Tropenell's long low drawing-room opened very quietly, and Laura Pavely came through into the room.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
at any time
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
opinion or judgment
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Thus, for perhaps as long as half a minute, Laura thought herself alone.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Thus, for perhaps as long as half a minute, Laura thought herself alone.
hostessnounUS /ˈhoʊstəs/
a woman host
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
illuminationnounUS /ˌɪluːməˈneɪʃən/
a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
intimateadjectiveUS /ˈɪntəmət/
marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
From this reading But what she saw--all she saw--was the Laura she knew with a knowledge that was at once so superficially close, and so little intimate.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The door of Mrs. Tropenell's long low drawing-room opened very quietly, and Laura Pavely came through into the room.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading But what she saw--all she saw--was the Laura she knew with a knowledge that was at once so superficially close, and so little intimate.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading But what she saw--all she saw--was the Laura she knew with a knowledge that was at once so superficially close, and so little intimate.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
Laura
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of Mrs. Tropenell's long low drawing-room opened very quietly, and Laura Pavely came through into the room.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
set afire or burning
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The door of Mrs. Tropenell's long low drawing-room opened very quietly, and Laura Pavely came through into the room.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The door of Mrs. Tropenell's long low drawing-room opened very quietly, and Laura Pavely came through into the room.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading Thus, for perhaps as long as half a minute, Laura thought herself alone.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The door of Mrs. Tropenell's long low drawing-room opened very quietly, and Laura Pavely came through into the room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The door of Mrs. Tropenell's long low drawing-room opened very quietly, and Laura Pavely came through into the room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
on one occasion
From this reading But what she saw--all she saw--was the Laura she knew with a knowledge that was at once so superficially close, and so little intimate.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
and nothing more
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The door of Mrs. Tropenell's long low drawing-room opened very quietly, and Laura Pavely came through into the room.
Pavely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of Mrs. Tropenell's long low drawing-room opened very quietly, and Laura Pavely came through into the room.
by chance
From this reading Thus, for perhaps as long as half a minute, Laura thought herself alone.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
with low volume
From this reading The door of Mrs. Tropenell's long low drawing-room opened very quietly, and Laura Pavely came through into the room.
radiatedverbUS /ˈreɪdieɪtɪd/
past form of “radiate” — send out rays or waves
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The door of Mrs. Tropenell's long low drawing-room opened very quietly, and Laura Pavely came through into the room.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
cut with a saw
From this reading But what she saw--all she saw--was the Laura she knew with a knowledge that was at once so superficially close, and so little intimate.
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
shadedadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪdɪd/
protected from heat and light with shade or shadow
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But what she saw--all she saw--was the Laura she knew with a knowledge that was at once so superficially close, and so little intimate.
having a supporting base
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
superficiallyadverbUS /ˈsuːpərfɪʃəli/
in a superficial manner
From this reading But what she saw--all she saw--was the Laura she knew with a knowledge that was at once so superficially close, and so little intimate.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The door of Mrs. Tropenell's long low drawing-room opened very quietly, and Laura Pavely came through into the room.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Thus, for perhaps as long as half a minute, Laura thought herself alone.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The door of Mrs. Tropenell's long low drawing-room opened very quietly, and Laura Pavely came through into the room.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Thus, for perhaps as long as half a minute, Laura thought herself alone.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
Tropenell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
Tropenell's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of Mrs. Tropenell's long low drawing-room opened very quietly, and Laura Pavely came through into the room.
precisely as stated
From this reading The door of Mrs. Tropenell's long low drawing-room opened very quietly, and Laura Pavely came through into the room.
someone who visits
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But what she saw--all she saw--was the Laura she knew with a knowledge that was at once so superficially close, and so little intimate.
(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 During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But what she saw--all she saw--was the Laura she knew with a knowledge that was at once so superficially close, and so little intimate.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She had left a brightly lighted hall for a room of which the only present illumination radiated from a shaded reading lamp standing on a little table behind which sat her hostess.
which person or people
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
in the company of; together with
From this reading During that half minute Mrs. Tropenell, with eyes well accustomed to the shaded light, gazed at her visitor with an eager, searching look, the look of one who wishes to see more, and to see further, than she has ever seen before.
