used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
in addition
From this reading He came and took her hands, but stood a little apart because of his wet clothes, and also because there was a sense of awe between them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading He came and took her hands, but stood a little apart because of his wet clothes, and also because there was a sense of awe between them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
awenounUS /ɑː/
an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration
From this reading He came and took her hands, but stood a little apart because of his wet clothes, and also because there was a sense of awe between them.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
Barbara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
beamsnounUS /biːmz/
plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
for the reason that
From this reading He came and took her hands, but stood a little apart because of his wet clothes, and also because there was a sense of awe between them.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He came and took her hands, but stood a little apart because of his wet clothes, and also because there was a sense of awe between them.
bricksnounUS /brɪks/
plural of “brick” — rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading She heard his footsteps on the path, and when she looked he was on the threshold, wet and travel-stained, but with eyes that were very bright.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He came and took her hands, but stood a little apart because of his wet clothes, and also because there was a sense of awe between them.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
clothing in general
From this reading He came and took her hands, but stood a little apart because of his wet clothes, and also because there was a sense of awe between them.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She heard his footsteps on the path, and when she looked he was on the threshold, wet and travel-stained, but with eyes that were very bright.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
inflected form of “flee” — run away quickly
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading She heard his footsteps on the path, and when she looked he was on the threshold, wet and travel-stained, but with eyes that were very bright.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
framedadjectiveUS /freɪmd/
provided with a frame
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He came and took her hands, but stood a little apart because of his wet clothes, and also because there was a sense of awe between them.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading She heard his footsteps on the path, and when she looked he was on the threshold, wet and travel-stained, but with eyes that were very bright.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
an instinctive motive
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He came and took her hands, but stood a little apart because of his wet clothes, and also because there was a sense of awe between them.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She heard his footsteps on the path, and when she looked he was on the threshold, wet and travel-stained, but with eyes that were very bright.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
a particular point in time
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She heard his footsteps on the path, and when she looked he was on the threshold, wet and travel-stained, but with eyes that were very bright.
panicnounUS /ˈpænɪk/
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
a course of conduct
From this reading She heard his footsteps on the path, and when she looked he was on the threshold, wet and travel-stained, but with eyes that were very bright.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading He came and took her hands, but stood a little apart because of his wet clothes, and also because there was a sense of awe between them.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
shyverbUS /ʃaɪ/
start suddenly, as from fright
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He came and took her hands, but stood a little apart because of his wet clothes, and also because there was a sense of awe between them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading She heard his footsteps on the path, and when she looked he was on the threshold, wet and travel-stained, but with eyes that were very bright.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
travel-stainedadjective
soiled from travel
From this reading She heard his footsteps on the path, and when she looked he was on the threshold, wet and travel-stained, but with eyes that were very bright.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
precisely as stated
From this reading She heard his footsteps on the path, and when she looked he was on the threshold, wet and travel-stained, but with eyes that were very bright.
wainscotingnoun
a wainscoted wall (or wainscoted walls collectively)
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She heard his footsteps on the path, and when she looked he was on the threshold, wet and travel-stained, but with eyes that were very bright.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading She heard his footsteps on the path, and when she looked he was on the threshold, wet and travel-stained, but with eyes that were very bright.
at the time that
From this reading She heard his footsteps on the path, and when she looked he was on the threshold, wet and travel-stained, but with eyes that were very bright.
whimnounUS /wɪm/
a sudden desire
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Barbara stood framed in the doorway with a warm light playing about her, and the brown wainscoting, the great beams in the ceiling, and the red bricks for a background.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading For there was something in the intense truth that almost made her afraid, and she might have fled away to her room but for the thought that he had seen her at the door and might not understand the whim of a woman.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet the impulse of the moment failed in her, and a shy panic took its place, so that she went and stood before the fire and turned her head away so as not to see his coming.
