used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She dried her shoes, put on a pair of slippers that had a faded splendor about them, and went up to her bedroom.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She dried her shoes, put on a pair of slippers that had a faded splendor about them, and went up to her bedroom.
abstractedlyadverb
in an absentminded or preoccupied manner
From this reading She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
in the past
From this reading Here she hesitated for some time between the sewing-machine and her knitting-needles, but finally settled upon the latter, and a pair of socks for her husband which she had begun a year ago.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading She dried her shoes, put on a pair of slippers that had a faded splendor about them, and went up to her bedroom.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Here she hesitated for some time between the sewing-machine and her knitting-needles, but finally settled upon the latter, and a pair of socks for her husband which she had begun a year ago.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Here she hesitated for some time between the sewing-machine and her knitting-needles, but finally settled upon the latter, and a pair of socks for her husband which she had begun a year ago.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mrs. Rylands knew this herself, but without vanity or coquettishness.
either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
coquettishness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Rylands knew this herself, but without vanity or coquettishness.
deepenedverbUS /ˈdiːpənd/
past form of “deepen” — make more intense, stronger, or more marked
From this reading She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
discontentnounUS /dɪskənˈtent/
a longing for something better than the present situation
From this reading She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
driedadjectiveUS /draɪd/
not still wet
From this reading She dried her shoes, put on a pair of slippers that had a faded splendor about them, and went up to her bedroom.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading She dried her shoes, put on a pair of slippers that had a faded splendor about them, and went up to her bedroom.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Here she hesitated for some time between the sewing-machine and her knitting-needles, but finally settled upon the latter, and a pair of socks for her husband which she had begun a year ago.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Here she hesitated for some time between the sewing-machine and her knitting-needles, but finally settled upon the latter, and a pair of socks for her husband which she had begun a year ago.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She dried her shoes, put on a pair of slippers that had a faded splendor about them, and went up to her bedroom.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Possibly that was why the other woman told her.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here she hesitated for some time between the sewing-machine and her knitting-needles, but finally settled upon the latter, and a pair of socks for her husband which she had begun a year ago.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Mrs. Rylands knew this herself, but without vanity or coquettishness.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading Here she hesitated for some time between the sewing-machine and her knitting-needles, but finally settled upon the latter, and a pair of socks for her husband which she had begun a year ago.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Here she hesitated for some time between the sewing-machine and her knitting-needles, but finally settled upon the latter, and a pair of socks for her husband which she had begun a year ago.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
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 Mrs. Rylands knew this herself, but without vanity or coquettishness.
knitting-needles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here she hesitated for some time between the sewing-machine and her knitting-needles, but finally settled upon the latter, and a pair of socks for her husband which she had begun a year ago.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading Here she hesitated for some time between the sewing-machine and her knitting-needles, but finally settled upon the latter, and a pair of socks for her husband which she had begun a year ago.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Rylands knew this herself, but without vanity or coquettishness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She dried her shoes, put on a pair of slippers that had a faded splendor about them, and went up to her bedroom.
and nothing more
From this reading She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Mrs. Rylands knew this herself, but without vanity or coquettishness.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Possibly that was why the other woman told her.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading She dried her shoes, put on a pair of slippers that had a faded splendor about them, and went up to her bedroom.
by chance
From this reading Possibly that was why the other woman told her.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She dried her shoes, put on a pair of slippers that had a faded splendor about them, and went up to her bedroom.
Rylands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Rylands knew this herself, but without vanity or coquettishness.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading Here she hesitated for some time between the sewing-machine and her knitting-needles, but finally settled upon the latter, and a pair of socks for her husband which she had begun a year ago.
sewing-machine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here she hesitated for some time between the sewing-machine and her knitting-needles, but finally settled upon the latter, and a pair of socks for her husband which she had begun a year ago.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
a particular situation
From this reading She dried her shoes, put on a pair of slippers that had a faded splendor about them, and went up to her bedroom.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
slippersnounUS /ˈslɪpərz/
plural of “slipper” — low footwear that can be slipped on and off easily; usually worn indoors
From this reading She dried her shoes, put on a pair of slippers that had a faded splendor about them, and went up to her bedroom.
socksnounUS /sɑːks/
plural of “sock” — hosiery consisting of a cloth covering for the foot; worn inside the shoe; reaches to between the ankle and the knee
From this reading Here she hesitated for some time between the sewing-machine and her knitting-needles, but finally settled upon the latter, and a pair of socks for her husband which she had begun a year ago.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Here she hesitated for some time between the sewing-machine and her knitting-needles, but finally settled upon the latter, and a pair of socks for her husband which she had begun a year ago.
splendornounUS /ˈsplen.dər/
Magnificent and splendid appearance; grandeur and brilliance.
From this reading She dried her shoes, put on a pair of slippers that had a faded splendor about them, and went up to her bedroom.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Possibly that was why the other woman told her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Possibly that was why the other woman told her.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She dried her shoes, put on a pair of slippers that had a faded splendor about them, and went up to her bedroom.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Rylands knew this herself, but without vanity or coquettishness.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Here she hesitated for some time between the sewing-machine and her knitting-needles, but finally settled upon the latter, and a pair of socks for her husband which she had begun a year ago.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She dried her shoes, put on a pair of slippers that had a faded splendor about them, and went up to her bedroom.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Possibly that was why the other woman told her.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She dried her shoes, put on a pair of slippers that had a faded splendor about them, and went up to her bedroom.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Here she hesitated for some time between the sewing-machine and her knitting-needles, but finally settled upon the latter, and a pair of socks for her husband which she had begun a year ago.
feelings of excessive pride
From this reading Mrs. Rylands knew this herself, but without vanity or coquettishness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Possibly that was why the other woman told her.
(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 She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She dried her shoes, put on a pair of slippers that had a faded splendor about them, and went up to her bedroom.
at the time that
From this reading She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Here she hesitated for some time between the sewing-machine and her knitting-needles, but finally settled upon the latter, and a pair of socks for her husband which she had begun a year ago.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Possibly that was why the other woman told her.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Mrs. Rylands knew this herself, but without vanity or coquettishness.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Possibly that was why the other woman told her.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Here she hesitated for some time between the sewing-machine and her knitting-needles, but finally settled upon the latter, and a pair of socks for her husband which she had begun a year ago.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading She only slightly deepened the lines of discontent in her cheek and said abstractedly, “Well, when he comes, YOU ask him.”
