used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
accompanyingadjectiveUS /əˈkʌmpəniɪŋ/
occurring with or following as a consequence
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
how long something has existed
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading John Anderson's lips always moved when he worked.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
Anderson'snounUS /ˈændərsənz/
possessive form of “anderson” — United States author whose works were frequently autobiographical (1876-1941)
From this reading John Anderson's lips always moved when he worked.
any thing at all
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
bewilderingverbUS /bɪˈwɪldərɪŋ/
-ing form of “bewilder” — be a mystery or bewildering to
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
breathlesslyadverbUS /ˈbreθləsli/
in a breathless manner
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
lacking funds
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
caressnounUS /kərˈes/
a gentle affectionate stroking (or something resembling it)
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
clean-jointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
clip-clip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
a small house with a single story
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
dwellverbUS /dwel/
think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
emphaticadjectiveUS /emˈfætɪk/
spoken with emphasis
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
divisible by two
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
falteredverbUS /ˈfɑːltərd/
past form of “falter” — be unsure or weak
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
feebleadjectiveUS /ˈfiːbəl/
pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
a young female
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading John Anderson's lips always moved when he worked.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
intervalsnounUS /ˈɪntərvəlz/
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading John Anderson's lips always moved when he worked.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
lingeringnounUS /ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋ/
the act of tarrying
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
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 No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
Maynard's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
a particular point in time
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
monotonousadjectiveUS /məˈnɑːtənəs/
tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading John Anderson's lips always moved when he worked.
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
nimblenessnoun
intelligence as revealed by quickness and alertness of mind
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
not any; not one
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
nodverbUS /nɑːd/
express or signify by nodding
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
oil-lamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
one-sidedadjectiveUS /ˌwʌnˈsaɪdəd/
not reversible or capable of having either side out
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
and nothing more
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
pitifullyadverbUS /ˈpɪtɪfəli/
to a pitiful degree
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
recurringadjectiveUS /rɪˈkɜːrɪŋ/
coming back
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
regularlyadverbUS /ˈreɡjələrli/
in a regular manner
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
except for; apart from
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
searedadjectiveUS /sɪrd/
having the surface burned quickly with intense heat
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
shapingnounUS /ˈʃeɪpɪŋ/
any process serving to define the shape of something
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
shearsnounUS /ʃiːrz/
large scissors with strong blades
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
silvered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
sing-song
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
squatted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
staccatoadjectiveUS /stəˈkɑːtoʊ/
(music) marked by or composed of disconnected parts or sounds; cut short crisply
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
stoopedadjectiveUS /stuːpt/
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
in or at that place or location
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
tipsnounUS /tɪps/
plural of “tip” — the extreme end of something; especially something pointed
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
uncannyadjectiveUS /ənˈkæni/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
uncertainlyadverbUS /ənˈsɜːrtənli/
in an unsteady manner
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
except if; if not
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
vacantlyadverb
in a vacant manner
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was very quiet in the front room of the little cottage that squatted in the black shadow below Judge Maynard's huge house on the hill.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
at the time that
From this reading John Anderson's lips always moved when he worked.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
white-hairedadjective
showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
which person or people
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
womanishly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His fingers, strong and clean-jointed and almost womanishly smooth--the only part of the man not pitifully seared with age--flew with a bewildering nimbleness one moment, only to dwell the next with a lingering caress upon the shaping features before him; and for each caress of his finger tips there was an accompanying, vacantly gentle smile or an uncertainly emphatic nod of the silvered head which gave the one-sided conversation a touch of uncanny reality.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading No sound broke the heavy silence save the staccato clip-clip of the long shears in the fingers of the girl who was leaning almost breathlessly over the work spread out on the table beneath the feeble glow of the single oil-lamp, unless the faint, monotonous murmur which came in an endless sing-song from the lips of the stooped, white-haired old figure in the small back room beyond the door could be named anything so definite.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading John Anderson's lips always moved when he worked.
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet, at regularly recurring intervals, even his busy fingers faltered, while he sat head bent far over to one side as though he were listening for something, waiting for some reply.
