used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NIGHT OF PORTENTS ALICE was combing Lady Betty’s hair late that night.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Her luxuriant hair falling about her almost hid her face, and her eyes were fixed pensively upon the fire.
ALICE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A NIGHT OF PORTENTS ALICE was combing Lady Betty’s hair late that night.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Her luxuriant hair falling about her almost hid her face, and her eyes were fixed pensively upon the fire.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading The two girls were in Betty’s bedroom, a solitary taper burning on the table.
Betty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A NIGHT OF PORTENTS ALICE was combing Lady Betty’s hair late that night.
the two together, not just one
From this reading In this rosy twilight both faces showed indistinctly.
the act of burning something
From this reading The two girls were in Betty’s bedroom, a solitary taper burning on the table.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
combingnounUS /ˈkoʊmɪŋ/
the act of drawing a comb through hair
From this reading A NIGHT OF PORTENTS ALICE was combing Lady Betty’s hair late that night.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Her luxuriant hair falling about her almost hid her face, and her eyes were fixed pensively upon the fire.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Her luxuriant hair falling about her almost hid her face, and her eyes were fixed pensively upon the fire.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading In this rosy twilight both faces showed indistinctly.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading Her luxuriant hair falling about her almost hid her face, and her eyes were fixed pensively upon the fire.
finerynounUS /ˈfaɪnəri/
elaborate or showy attire and accessories
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Her luxuriant hair falling about her almost hid her face, and her eyes were fixed pensively upon the fire.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading Her luxuriant hair falling about her almost hid her face, and her eyes were fixed pensively upon the fire.
flowingnounUS /ˈfloʊɪŋ/
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The two girls were in Betty’s bedroom, a solitary taper burning on the table.
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 A NIGHT OF PORTENTS ALICE was combing Lady Betty’s hair late that night.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading Her luxuriant hair falling about her almost hid her face, and her eyes were fixed pensively upon the fire.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The two girls were in Betty’s bedroom, a solitary taper burning on the table.
indistinctlyadverb
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading In this rosy twilight both faces showed indistinctly.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading A NIGHT OF PORTENTS ALICE was combing Lady Betty’s hair late that night.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading A NIGHT OF PORTENTS ALICE was combing Lady Betty’s hair late that night.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
luxuriantadjectiveUS /ləɡˈʒɜːriənt/
marked by complexity and richness of detail
From this reading Her luxuriant hair falling about her almost hid her face, and her eyes were fixed pensively upon the fire.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A NIGHT OF PORTENTS ALICE was combing Lady Betty’s hair late that night.
night-rail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A NIGHT OF PORTENTS ALICE was combing Lady Betty’s hair late that night.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The two girls were in Betty’s bedroom, a solitary taper burning on the table.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
and nothing more
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
pensivelyadverb
in a pensive manner
From this reading Her luxuriant hair falling about her almost hid her face, and her eyes were fixed pensively upon the fire.
PORTENTSnounUS /ˈpɔːrtents/
plural of “portent” — a sign of something about to happen
From this reading A NIGHT OF PORTENTS ALICE was combing Lady Betty’s hair late that night.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
robenounUS /roʊb/
any loose flowing garment
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
rosyadjectiveUS /ˈroʊzi/
reflecting optimism
From this reading In this rosy twilight both faces showed indistinctly.
rugnounUS /rʌɡ/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading In this rosy twilight both faces showed indistinctly.
slippernounUS /ˈslɪpər/
low footwear that can be slipped on and off easily; usually worn indoors
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading The two girls were in Betty’s bedroom, a solitary taper burning on the table.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The two girls were in Betty’s bedroom, a solitary taper burning on the table.
taperverbUS /ˈteɪpər/
diminish gradually
From this reading The two girls were in Betty’s bedroom, a solitary taper burning on the table.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A NIGHT OF PORTENTS ALICE was combing Lady Betty’s hair late that night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The two girls were in Betty’s bedroom, a solitary taper burning on the table.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In this rosy twilight both faces showed indistinctly.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading In this rosy twilight both faces showed indistinctly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two girls were in Betty’s bedroom, a solitary taper burning on the table.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A NIGHT OF PORTENTS ALICE was combing Lady Betty’s hair late that night.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The two girls were in Betty’s bedroom, a solitary taper burning on the table.
a Caucasian
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading Betty’s finery lay upon a chair near by; she wore only a flowing white robe over her night-rail, and one rosy foot, out of the slipper, rested on the rug.
