used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But she never said a word about it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But she never said a word about it.
(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 All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
react verbally
From this reading Indeed, she seldom spoke at all except to answer some question.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Indeed, she seldom spoke at all except to answer some question.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Mrs. Brierly became strangely interested in her in spite of this silence, which piqued and disappointed Gracie.
Brierly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Brierly became strangely interested in her in spite of this silence, which piqued and disappointed Gracie.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she never said a word about it.
a young person of either sex
From this reading The child could not understand what the mother guessed at,--the sense of isolation which tormented Ruthy.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The child could not understand what the mother guessed at,--the sense of isolation which tormented Ruthy.
disappointingly unsuccessful
From this reading Mrs. Brierly became strangely interested in her in spite of this silence, which piqued and disappointed Gracie.
apart from; not including
From this reading Indeed, she seldom spoke at all except to answer some question.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
GracienounUS /ˈɡreɪsi/
United States comedienne remembered as the confused but imperturbable partner of her husband, George Burns (1906-1964)
From this reading Mrs. Brierly became strangely interested in her in spite of this silence, which piqued and disappointed Gracie.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading The child could not understand what the mother guessed at,--the sense of isolation which tormented Ruthy.
healingnounUS /ˈhiːlɪŋ/
the natural process by which the body repairs itself
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
be the source of pain
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, she seldom spoke at all except to answer some question.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading Mrs. Brierly became strangely interested in her in spite of this silence, which piqued and disappointed Gracie.
isolationnounUS /ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃən/
a state of separation between persons or groups
From this reading The child could not understand what the mother guessed at,--the sense of isolation which tormented Ruthy.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
landscapenounUS /ˈlændskeɪp/
an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading The child could not understand what the mother guessed at,--the sense of isolation which tormented Ruthy.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Brierly became strangely interested in her in spite of this silence, which piqued and disappointed Gracie.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading But she never said a word about it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The child could not understand what the mother guessed at,--the sense of isolation which tormented Ruthy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Brierly became strangely interested in her in spite of this silence, which piqued and disappointed Gracie.
coated with paint
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
piquedverbUS /piːkt/
past form of “pique” — cause to feel resentment or indignation
From this reading Mrs. Brierly became strangely interested in her in spite of this silence, which piqued and disappointed Gracie.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Indeed, she seldom spoke at all except to answer some question.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
Ruthy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The child could not understand what the mother guessed at,--the sense of isolation which tormented Ruthy.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading But she never said a word about it.
not often
From this reading Indeed, she seldom spoke at all except to answer some question.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading The child could not understand what the mother guessed at,--the sense of isolation which tormented Ruthy.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Mrs. Brierly became strangely interested in her in spite of this silence, which piqued and disappointed Gracie.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Indeed, she seldom spoke at all except to answer some question.
hurting
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading Mrs. Brierly became strangely interested in her in spite of this silence, which piqued and disappointed Gracie.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Indeed, she seldom spoke at all except to answer some question.
in a strange manner
From this reading Mrs. Brierly became strangely interested in her in spite of this silence, which piqued and disappointed Gracie.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Brierly became strangely interested in her in spite of this silence, which piqued and disappointed Gracie.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
tormentedadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrmentɪd/
experiencing intense pain especially mental pain
From this reading The child could not understand what the mother guessed at,--the sense of isolation which tormented Ruthy.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading The child could not understand what the mother guessed at,--the sense of isolation which tormented Ruthy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The child could not understand what the mother guessed at,--the sense of isolation which tormented Ruthy.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading All through the quiet weeks in which her sore hurt was healing, she watched that painted landscape, and her longing to find it grew and grew.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading But she never said a word about it.
