used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading But no one would have wasted time upon either arm or foot after a glance at her face.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It requires an artist, a Rembrandt or a Gainsborough, to describe it, no pen-and-ink work can do it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
From this reading It requires an artist, a Rembrandt or a Gainsborough, to describe it, no pen-and-ink work can do it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But no one would have wasted time upon either arm or foot after a glance at her face.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading To write it down simply and curtly, it was a beautiful face; but such a description is far too meager and insufficient.
breathlessadjectiveUS /ˈbreθləs/
not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But no one would have wasted time upon either arm or foot after a glance at her face.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading It requires an artist, a Rembrandt or a Gainsborough, to describe it, no pen-and-ink work can do it.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
cottonnounUS /ˈkɑːtən/
soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
curtlyadverbUS /ˈkɜːrtli/
in a curt, abrupt and discourteous manner
From this reading To write it down simply and curtly, it was a beautiful face; but such a description is far too meager and insufficient.
a female human offspring
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
give a description of
From this reading It requires an artist, a Rembrandt or a Gainsborough, to describe it, no pen-and-ink work can do it.
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading To write it down simply and curtly, it was a beautiful face; but such a description is far too meager and insufficient.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It requires an artist, a Rembrandt or a Gainsborough, to describe it, no pen-and-ink work can do it.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading To write it down simply and curtly, it was a beautiful face; but such a description is far too meager and insufficient.
put on clothes
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
one or the other of two
From this reading But no one would have wasted time upon either arm or foot after a glance at her face.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading To write it down simply and curtly, it was a beautiful face; but such a description is far too meager and insufficient.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
Gainsboroughnoun
English portrait and landscape painter (1727-1788)
From this reading It requires an artist, a Rembrandt or a Gainsborough, to describe it, no pen-and-ink work can do it.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading But no one would have wasted time upon either arm or foot after a glance at her face.
the act of departing
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But no one would have wasted time upon either arm or foot after a glance at her face.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
hoodnounUS /hʊd/
an aggressive and violent young criminal
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
insufficientadjectiveUS /ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/
of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement
From this reading To write it down simply and curtly, it was a beautiful face; but such a description is far too meager and insufficient.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To write it down simply and curtly, it was a beautiful face; but such a description is far too meager and insufficient.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To write it down simply and curtly, it was a beautiful face; but such a description is far too meager and insufficient.
meageradjectiveUS /ˈmiːɡər/
deficient in amount or quality or extent
From this reading To write it down simply and curtly, it was a beautiful face; but such a description is far too meager and insufficient.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
not any; not one
From this reading But no one would have wasted time upon either arm or foot after a glance at her face.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But no one would have wasted time upon either arm or foot after a glance at her face.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But no one would have wasted time upon either arm or foot after a glance at her face.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
pantingnounUS /ˈpæntɪŋ/
breathing heavily (as after exertion)
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
pen-and-inknoun
a drawing executed with pen and ink
From this reading It requires an artist, a Rembrandt or a Gainsborough, to describe it, no pen-and-ink work can do it.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
RembrandtnounUS /ˈrembrænt/
influential Dutch artist (1606-1669)
From this reading It requires an artist, a Rembrandt or a Gainsborough, to describe it, no pen-and-ink work can do it.
requiresverbUS /riˈkwaɪərz/
third-person singular of “require” — require as useful, just, or proper
From this reading It requires an artist, a Rembrandt or a Gainsborough, to describe it, no pen-and-ink work can do it.
revealverbUS /rɪˈviːl/
make visible
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
scantadjectiveUS /skænt/
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
shapelyadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪpli/
having a well-proportioned and pleasing shape
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
and nothing more
From this reading To write it down simply and curtly, it was a beautiful face; but such a description is far too meager and insufficient.
skirtnounUS /skɜːrt/
cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
sleevesnounUS /sliːvz/
plural of “sleeve” — the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading To write it down simply and curtly, it was a beautiful face; but such a description is far too meager and insufficient.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But no one would have wasted time upon either arm or foot after a glance at her face.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading To write it down simply and curtly, it was a beautiful face; but such a description is far too meager and insufficient.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But no one would have wasted time upon either arm or foot after a glance at her face.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
wastedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪstɪd/
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
From this reading But no one would have wasted time upon either arm or foot after a glance at her face.
be dressed in
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She had evidently run some distance, for she stood panting and breathless, the color coming and going on her face, which shone out of the hood which half covered her head.
a Caucasian
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
woodman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was dressed in a plain cotton dress which a woodman's daughter might wear, and which was short enough in the skirt to reveal a shapely foot, and scant enough in the sleeves to show a white, shapely arm.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading It requires an artist, a Rembrandt or a Gainsborough, to describe it, no pen-and-ink work can do it.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But no one would have wasted time upon either arm or foot after a glance at her face.
produce a literary work
From this reading To write it down simply and curtly, it was a beautiful face; but such a description is far too meager and insufficient.
