used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But there was an aspect about the family which was not usual.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
(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 Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But there was an aspect about the family which was not usual.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
a distinct feature or element in a problem
From this reading But there was an aspect about the family which was not usual.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
audibleadjectiveUS /ˈɑːdəbəl/
heard or perceptible by the ear
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
bazaarnounUS /bəˈzɑːr/
a shop where a variety of goods are sold
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
next to; at the side of
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there was an aspect about the family which was not usual.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
Clair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
dollsnounUS /dɑːlz/
plural of “doll” — a small replica of a person; used as a toy
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
dressingnounUS /ˈdresɪŋ/
savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
a social unit living together
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
General'snounUS /ˈdʒenərəlz/
possessive form of “general” — a general officer of the highest rank
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
homelikeadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊmlaɪk/
having a feeling of home; cozy and comfortable
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
knittingnounUS /ˈnɪtɪŋ/
needlework created by interlacing yarn in a series of connected loops using straight eyeless needles or by machine
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
lion-skin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But there was an aspect about the family which was not usual.
occupationsnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃənz/
plural of “occupation” — the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
odournounUS /ˈoʊdər/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
pacingnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪŋ/
(music) the speed at which a composition is to be played
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
peacefuladjectiveUS /ˈpiːsfəl/
not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
scissorsnounUS /ˈsɪzərz/
an edge tool having two crossed pivoting blades
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
scrapsnounUS /skræps/
food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
shawlnounUS /ʃɔːl/
cloak consisting of an oblong piece of cloth used to cover the head and shoulders
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
Sophia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
Sophy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
Stamford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But there was an aspect about the family which was not usual.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
tossedverbUS /tɔːst/
past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But there was an aspect about the family which was not usual.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
witheredadjectiveUS /ˈwɪðərd/
lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
the day immediately before today
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
but in spite of that
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
