used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading One of these was on “The Wonders of the Great West”; another was about “The Female Saints of America.”
in addition
From this reading There were vases and other ornamental bits of china and glass, also Victorian, looking as if they were meant to be continually washed or dusted by the worn, busy fingers of the female saints.
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
From this reading One of these was on “The Wonders of the Great West”; another was about “The Female Saints of America.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I took it down and glanced through it, but concluded that one had to be a female saint, or at least an aspirant, to appreciate it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading One of these was on “The Wonders of the Great West”; another was about “The Female Saints of America.”
appreciateverbUS /əˈpriːʃieɪt/
recognize with gratitude; be grateful for
From this reading I took it down and glanced through it, but concluded that one had to be a female saint, or at least an aspirant, to appreciate it.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There were vases and other ornamental bits of china and glass, also Victorian, looking as if they were meant to be continually washed or dusted by the worn, busy fingers of the female saints.
aspirantnounUS /ˈæspərənt/
an ambitious and aspiring young person
From this reading I took it down and glanced through it, but concluded that one had to be a female saint, or at least an aspirant, to appreciate it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I took it down and glanced through it, but concluded that one had to be a female saint, or at least an aspirant, to appreciate it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I took it down and glanced through it, but concluded that one had to be a female saint, or at least an aspirant, to appreciate it.
the sacred writings of the Christian religions
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
bitsnounUS /bɪts/
plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading There were vases and other ornamental bits of china and glass, also Victorian, looking as if they were meant to be continually washed or dusted by the worn, busy fingers of the female saints.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
confined by bonds
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading There were vases and other ornamental bits of china and glass, also Victorian, looking as if they were meant to be continually washed or dusted by the worn, busy fingers of the female saints.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I took it down and glanced through it, but concluded that one had to be a female saint, or at least an aspirant, to appreciate it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There were vases and other ornamental bits of china and glass, also Victorian, looking as if they were meant to be continually washed or dusted by the worn, busy fingers of the female saints.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
chinanounUS /ˈtʃaɪnə/
a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
From this reading There were vases and other ornamental bits of china and glass, also Victorian, looking as if they were meant to be continually washed or dusted by the worn, busy fingers of the female saints.
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading I took it down and glanced through it, but concluded that one had to be a female saint, or at least an aspirant, to appreciate it.
seemingly without interruption
From this reading There were vases and other ornamental bits of china and glass, also Victorian, looking as if they were meant to be continually washed or dusted by the worn, busy fingers of the female saints.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading I took it down and glanced through it, but concluded that one had to be a female saint, or at least an aspirant, to appreciate it.
driedadjectiveUS /draɪd/
not still wet
From this reading Then there were things made out of dried flowers, out of hair, out of shells, out of pine-cones.
dustedverbUS /ˈdʌstɪd/
past form of “dust” — remove the dust from
From this reading There were vases and other ornamental bits of china and glass, also Victorian, looking as if they were meant to be continually washed or dusted by the worn, busy fingers of the female saints.
elaboratelyadverbUS /ɪˈlæbrətli/
with elaboration
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
fancifulness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop
From this reading One of these was on “The Wonders of the Great West”; another was about “The Female Saints of America.”
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading There were vases and other ornamental bits of china and glass, also Victorian, looking as if they were meant to be continually washed or dusted by the worn, busy fingers of the female saints.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading Then there were things made out of dried flowers, out of hair, out of shells, out of pine-cones.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading I took it down and glanced through it, but concluded that one had to be a female saint, or at least an aspirant, to appreciate it.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading There were vases and other ornamental bits of china and glass, also Victorian, looking as if they were meant to be continually washed or dusted by the worn, busy fingers of the female saints.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading One of these was on “The Wonders of the Great West”; another was about “The Female Saints of America.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I took it down and glanced through it, but concluded that one had to be a female saint, or at least an aspirant, to appreciate it.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Then there were things made out of dried flowers, out of hair, out of shells, out of pine-cones.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I took it down and glanced through it, but concluded that one had to be a female saint, or at least an aspirant, to appreciate it.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading There were vases and other ornamental bits of china and glass, also Victorian, looking as if they were meant to be continually washed or dusted by the worn, busy fingers of the female saints.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I took it down and glanced through it, but concluded that one had to be a female saint, or at least an aspirant, to appreciate it.
the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading I took it down and glanced through it, but concluded that one had to be a female saint, or at least an aspirant, to appreciate it.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading There were vases and other ornamental bits of china and glass, also Victorian, looking as if they were meant to be continually washed or dusted by the worn, busy fingers of the female saints.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Then there were things made out of dried flowers, out of hair, out of shells, out of pine-cones.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading There were vases and other ornamental bits of china and glass, also Victorian, looking as if they were meant to be continually washed or dusted by the worn, busy fingers of the female saints.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One of these was on “The Wonders of the Great West”; another was about “The Female Saints of America.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One of these was on “The Wonders of the Great West”; another was about “The Female Saints of America.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of these was on “The Wonders of the Great West”; another was about “The Female Saints of America.”
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I took it down and glanced through it, but concluded that one had to be a female saint, or at least an aspirant, to appreciate it.
ornamentalnounUS /ˌɔːrnəˈmentəl/
any plant grown for its beauty or ornamental value
From this reading There were vases and other ornamental bits of china and glass, also Victorian, looking as if they were meant to be continually washed or dusted by the worn, busy fingers of the female saints.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Then there were things made out of dried flowers, out of hair, out of shells, out of pine-cones.
pine-cones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there were things made out of dried flowers, out of hair, out of shells, out of pine-cones.
prayer-books
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization
From this reading I took it down and glanced through it, but concluded that one had to be a female saint, or at least an aspirant, to appreciate it.
SaintsnounUS /seɪnts/
plural of “saint” — a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization
From this reading One of these was on “The Wonders of the Great West”; another was about “The Female Saints of America.”
shellsnounUS /ʃelz/
plural of “shell” — ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading Then there were things made out of dried flowers, out of hair, out of shells, out of pine-cones.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One of these was on “The Wonders of the Great West”; another was about “The Female Saints of America.”
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then there were things made out of dried flowers, out of hair, out of shells, out of pine-cones.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading One of these was on “The Wonders of the Great West”; another was about “The Female Saints of America.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were vases and other ornamental bits of china and glass, also Victorian, looking as if they were meant to be continually washed or dusted by the worn, busy fingers of the female saints.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Then there were things made out of dried flowers, out of hair, out of shells, out of pine-cones.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading I took it down and glanced through it, but concluded that one had to be a female saint, or at least an aspirant, to appreciate it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading I took it down and glanced through it, but concluded that one had to be a female saint, or at least an aspirant, to appreciate it.
vasesnounUS /ˈveɪsəz/
plural of “vas” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading There were vases and other ornamental bits of china and glass, also Victorian, looking as if they were meant to be continually washed or dusted by the worn, busy fingers of the female saints.
VictorianadjectiveUS /vɪkˈtɔːriən/
of or relating to Queen Victoria of Great Britain or to the age in which she ruled
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
washedadjectiveUS /wɑːʃt/
clean by virtue of having been washed in water
From this reading There were vases and other ornamental bits of china and glass, also Victorian, looking as if they were meant to be continually washed or dusted by the worn, busy fingers of the female saints.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Then there were things made out of dried flowers, out of hair, out of shells, out of pine-cones.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading One of these was on “The Wonders of the Great West”; another was about “The Female Saints of America.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was a big Bible, some prayer-books, and a few other books elaborately bound with that heavy fancifulness that we are learning to call Victorian.
WondersnounUS /ˈwʌndərz/
plural of “wonder” — the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading One of these was on “The Wonders of the Great West”; another was about “The Female Saints of America.”
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading There were vases and other ornamental bits of china and glass, also Victorian, looking as if they were meant to be continually washed or dusted by the worn, busy fingers of the female saints.
