used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A bell ringing at a distance roused her, and she looked again, and became convinced that what she looked on was no dream, and her eyes wandered about with a dazed expression.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
anew
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
Alison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
(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 And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A bell ringing at a distance roused her, and she looked again, and became convinced that what she looked on was no dream, and her eyes wandered about with a dazed expression.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading A bell ringing at a distance roused her, and she looked again, and became convinced that what she looked on was no dream, and her eyes wandered about with a dazed expression.
believingnounUS /bɪˈliːvɪŋ/
the cognitive process that leads to convictions
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
bewildermentnounUS /bɪˈwɪldərmənt/
confusion resulting from failure to understand
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading She was in a little room, with whitewashed walls, and a floor of plain polished wood, on which lay a tiny patch of faded carpet.
Cheyne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
a person who is in charge
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
persuaded of; very sure
From this reading A bell ringing at a distance roused her, and she looked again, and became convinced that what she looked on was no dream, and her eyes wandered about with a dazed expression.
dazedadjectiveUS /deɪzd/
in a state of mental numbness especially as resulting from shock
From this reading A bell ringing at a distance roused her, and she looked again, and became convinced that what she looked on was no dream, and her eyes wandered about with a dazed expression.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading A bell ringing at a distance roused her, and she looked again, and became convinced that what she looked on was no dream, and her eyes wandered about with a dazed expression.
dramatis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading A bell ringing at a distance roused her, and she looked again, and became convinced that what she looked on was no dream, and her eyes wandered about with a dazed expression.
dreamingnounUS /ˈdriːmɪŋ/
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading A bell ringing at a distance roused her, and she looked again, and became convinced that what she looked on was no dream, and her eyes wandered about with a dazed expression.
eyelidsnounUS /ˈaɪlɪdz/
plural of “eyelid” — either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
opinion or judgment
From this reading A bell ringing at a distance roused her, and she looked again, and became convinced that what she looked on was no dream, and her eyes wandered about with a dazed expression.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading She was in a little room, with whitewashed walls, and a floor of plain polished wood, on which lay a tiny patch of faded carpet.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading She was in a little room, with whitewashed walls, and a floor of plain polished wood, on which lay a tiny patch of faded carpet.
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
a quick, light movement or sound made by wings
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
graspingnounUS /ˈɡræspɪŋ/
understanding with difficulty
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She was in a little room, with whitewashed walls, and a floor of plain polished wood, on which lay a tiny patch of faded carpet.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
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 When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading THE LOST ONE.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
in such a manner as could not be otherwise
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
not any; not one
From this reading A bell ringing at a distance roused her, and she looked again, and became convinced that what she looked on was no dream, and her eyes wandered about with a dazed expression.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE LOST ONE.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
patchnounUS /pætʃ/
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading She was in a little room, with whitewashed walls, and a floor of plain polished wood, on which lay a tiny patch of faded carpet.
personæ
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading She was in a little room, with whitewashed walls, and a floor of plain polished wood, on which lay a tiny patch of faded carpet.
polishedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃt/
perfected or made shiny and smooth
From this reading She was in a little room, with whitewashed walls, and a floor of plain polished wood, on which lay a tiny patch of faded carpet.
porte-cochère
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
ringingnounUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/
the sound of a bell ringing
From this reading A bell ringing at a distance roused her, and she looked again, and became convinced that what she looked on was no dream, and her eyes wandered about with a dazed expression.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading She was in a little room, with whitewashed walls, and a floor of plain polished wood, on which lay a tiny patch of faded carpet.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
past form of “rouse” — become active
From this reading A bell ringing at a distance roused her, and she looked again, and became convinced that what she looked on was no dream, and her eyes wandered about with a dazed expression.
scaredadjectiveUS /skerd/
made afraid
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LOST ONE.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
very small
From this reading She was in a little room, with whitewashed walls, and a floor of plain polished wood, on which lay a tiny patch of faded carpet.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
unclosed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading She was in a little room, with whitewashed walls, and a floor of plain polished wood, on which lay a tiny patch of faded carpet.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading A bell ringing at a distance roused her, and she looked again, and became convinced that what she looked on was no dream, and her eyes wandered about with a dazed expression.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
at the time that
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
in or at the place that
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She was in a little room, with whitewashed walls, and a floor of plain polished wood, on which lay a tiny patch of faded carpet.
a Caucasian
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
whitewashedadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪtwɑːʃt/
coated with whitewash
From this reading She was in a little room, with whitewashed walls, and a floor of plain polished wood, on which lay a tiny patch of faded carpet.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And where all this time was Alison Cheyne, after whom--as the chief of our _dramatis personæ_--we must needs look now?
wildlyadverbUS /ˈwaɪldli/
to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree
From this reading When consciousness returned to her, after wildly grasping the bell in the porte-cochère of a large house on that night of snow and terror, and when, fluttering, her white eyelids unclosed, after what seemed a long sleep, she looked round her like a little scared bird, in utter bewilderment, and, believing that she was dreaming, closed them again.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A bell ringing at a distance roused her, and she looked again, and became convinced that what she looked on was no dream, and her eyes wandered about with a dazed expression.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading She was in a little room, with whitewashed walls, and a floor of plain polished wood, on which lay a tiny patch of faded carpet.
