used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
anew
From this reading There were long spells of silence, for such joy as theirs is shy of words; but now and again they talked.
in the past
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
(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 Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an enchanted world to these two.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were long spells of silence, for such joy as theirs is shy of words; but now and again they talked.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There were long spells of silence, for such joy as theirs is shy of words; but now and again they talked.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
caressnounUS /kərˈes/
a gentle affectionate stroking (or something resembling it)
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
detailnounUS /dɪˈteɪl/
an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
From this reading They had so much to tell each other, and each was greedy of even the smallest detail.
dove's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
DrakenounUS /dreɪk/
English explorer and admiral who was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe and who helped to defeat the Spanish Armada (1540-1596)
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading They had so much to tell each other, and each was greedy of even the smallest detail.
enchantedadjectiveUS /ɪnˈtʃæn.tɪd/
Filled with or placed under the influence of magical power or charm.
From this reading It was an enchanted world to these two.
divisible by two
From this reading They had so much to tell each other, and each was greedy of even the smallest detail.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
flashesnounUS /ˈflæʃɪz/
plural of “flash” — a sudden intense burst of radiant energy
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
flickeredverbUS /ˈflɪkərd/
past form of “flicker” — move back and forth very rapidly
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
greedyadjectiveUS /ˈɡriːdi/
immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth
From this reading They had so much to tell each other, and each was greedy of even the smallest detail.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had so much to tell each other, and each was greedy of even the smallest detail.
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 Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There were long spells of silence, for such joy as theirs is shy of words; but now and again they talked.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an enchanted world to these two.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading There were long spells of silence, for such joy as theirs is shy of words; but now and again they talked.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
without good reason
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading There were long spells of silence, for such joy as theirs is shy of words; but now and again they talked.
Maltbys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading They had so much to tell each other, and each was greedy of even the smallest detail.
Nell's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading There were long spells of silence, for such joy as theirs is shy of words; but now and again they talked.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were long spells of silence, for such joy as theirs is shy of words; but now and again they talked.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading They had so much to tell each other, and each was greedy of even the smallest detail.
the act of departing politely
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
on the contrary
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
shyverbUS /ʃaɪ/
start suddenly, as from fright
From this reading There were long spells of silence, for such joy as theirs is shy of words; but now and again they talked.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading There were long spells of silence, for such joy as theirs is shy of words; but now and again they talked.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
smallestadjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːləst/
superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They had so much to tell each other, and each was greedy of even the smallest detail.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They had so much to tell each other, and each was greedy of even the smallest detail.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
spellsnounUS /spelz/
plural of “spell” — a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation
From this reading There were long spells of silence, for such joy as theirs is shy of words; but now and again they talked.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading There were long spells of silence, for such joy as theirs is shy of words; but now and again they talked.
the rays of the sun
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading There were long spells of silence, for such joy as theirs is shy of words; but now and again they talked.
express in words
From this reading They had so much to tell each other, and each was greedy of even the smallest detail.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They had so much to tell each other, and each was greedy of even the smallest detail.
theirspronounUS /ðerz/
the one or ones belonging to them
From this reading There were long spells of silence, for such joy as theirs is shy of words; but now and again they talked.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were long spells of silence, for such joy as theirs is shy of words; but now and again they talked.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It was an enchanted world to these two.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was an enchanted world to these two.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
having come into contact
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading It was an enchanted world to these two.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading Drake wanted to hear of all that had happened to her since the terrible parting on the night of the Maltbys' ball--how long ago it seemed to them as they sat there in the sunshine that flickered through the leaves and touched Nell's hair with flashes of light.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was an enchanted world to these two.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were long spells of silence, for such joy as theirs is shy of words; but now and again they talked.
wingnounUS /wɪŋ/
a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For some time they sat side by side, or, rather, Drake sat at Nell's feet, her hand sometimes resting, lightly as a dove's wing, with a caress in its touch, upon his head.
the words that are spoken
From this reading There were long spells of silence, for such joy as theirs is shy of words; but now and again they talked.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading It was an enchanted world to these two.
