used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Never before had she known the cool, delightful feel of fine linen sheets, never before had her curly head reposed on a pillow of down.
(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 Shading a candle, they bent forward, and certainly their present view of the little face was all that was charming.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Peggy, notwithstanding the strangeness of her lot, slept softly and soundly in that delicious bed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She slept, and in her sleep Molly and Jessie stole softly into the room to look at her.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Peggy, notwithstanding the strangeness of her lot, slept softly and soundly in that delicious bed.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Never before had she known the cool, delightful feel of fine linen sheets, never before had her curly head reposed on a pillow of down.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading Shading a candle, they bent forward, and certainly their present view of the little face was all that was charming.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading Shading a candle, they bent forward, and certainly their present view of the little face was all that was charming.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Shading a candle, they bent forward, and certainly their present view of the little face was all that was charming.
pleasing or delighting
From this reading Shading a candle, they bent forward, and certainly their present view of the little face was all that was charming.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading Never before had she known the cool, delightful feel of fine linen sheets, never before had her curly head reposed on a pillow of down.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
curlyadjectiveUS /ˈkɜːrli/
(of hair) having curls or waves
From this reading Never before had she known the cool, delightful feel of fine linen sheets, never before had her curly head reposed on a pillow of down.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
deliciousadjectiveUS /dɪˈlɪʃəs/
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading Peggy, notwithstanding the strangeness of her lot, slept softly and soundly in that delicious bed.
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading Never before had she known the cool, delightful feel of fine linen sheets, never before had her curly head reposed on a pillow of down.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Never before had she known the cool, delightful feel of fine linen sheets, never before had her curly head reposed on a pillow of down.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Shading a candle, they bent forward, and certainly their present view of the little face was all that was charming.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading Never before had she known the cool, delightful feel of fine linen sheets, never before had her curly head reposed on a pillow of down.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Never before had she known the cool, delightful feel of fine linen sheets, never before had her curly head reposed on a pillow of down.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Shading a candle, they bent forward, and certainly their present view of the little face was all that was charming.
a young female
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Never before had she known the cool, delightful feel of fine linen sheets, never before had her curly head reposed on a pillow of down.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Never before had she known the cool, delightful feel of fine linen sheets, never before had her curly head reposed on a pillow of down.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Peggy, notwithstanding the strangeness of her lot, slept softly and soundly in that delicious bed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Peggy, notwithstanding the strangeness of her lot, slept softly and soundly in that delicious bed.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She slept, and in her sleep Molly and Jessie stole softly into the room to look at her.
people of Ireland or of Irish extraction
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
Jessie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She slept, and in her sleep Molly and Jessie stole softly into the room to look at her.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Never before had she known the cool, delightful feel of fine linen sheets, never before had her curly head reposed on a pillow of down.
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
lashesnounUS /ˈlæʃɪz/
plural of “lash” — any of the short curved hairs that grow from the edges of the eyelids
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
linennounUS /ˈlɪnən/
a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
From this reading Never before had she known the cool, delightful feel of fine linen sheets, never before had her curly head reposed on a pillow of down.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Shading a candle, they bent forward, and certainly their present view of the little face was all that was charming.
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 Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She slept, and in her sleep Molly and Jessie stole softly into the room to look at her.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading Peggy, notwithstanding the strangeness of her lot, slept softly and soundly in that delicious bed.
MollynounUS /ˈmɑːli/
popular aquarium fish
From this reading She slept, and in her sleep Molly and Jessie stole softly into the room to look at her.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Never before had she known the cool, delightful feel of fine linen sheets, never before had her curly head reposed on a pillow of down.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)
From this reading Peggy, notwithstanding the strangeness of her lot, slept softly and soundly in that delicious bed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Peggy, notwithstanding the strangeness of her lot, slept softly and soundly in that delicious bed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Never before had she known the cool, delightful feel of fine linen sheets, never before had her curly head reposed on a pillow of down.
Peggy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peggy, notwithstanding the strangeness of her lot, slept softly and soundly in that delicious bed.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
pillownounUS /ˈpɪloʊ/
a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading Never before had she known the cool, delightful feel of fine linen sheets, never before had her curly head reposed on a pillow of down.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Shading a candle, they bent forward, and certainly their present view of the little face was all that was charming.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
refinementnounUS /rəˈfaɪnmənt/
a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
reposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never before had she known the cool, delightful feel of fine linen sheets, never before had her curly head reposed on a pillow of down.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading She slept, and in her sleep Molly and Jessie stole softly into the room to look at her.
sensitiveadjectiveUS /ˈsensətɪv/
responsive to physical stimuli
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
ShadingnounUS /ˈʃeɪdɪŋ/
graded markings that indicate light or shaded areas in a drawing or painting
From this reading Shading a candle, they bent forward, and certainly their present view of the little face was all that was charming.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Never before had she known the cool, delightful feel of fine linen sheets, never before had her curly head reposed on a pillow of down.
sheetsnounUS /ʃiːts/
plural of “sheet” — any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading Never before had she known the cool, delightful feel of fine linen sheets, never before had her curly head reposed on a pillow of down.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading She slept, and in her sleep Molly and Jessie stole softly into the room to look at her.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading Peggy, notwithstanding the strangeness of her lot, slept softly and soundly in that delicious bed.
with low volume
From this reading Peggy, notwithstanding the strangeness of her lot, slept softly and soundly in that delicious bed.
soundlyadverbUS /ˈsaʊndli/
deeply or completely
From this reading Peggy, notwithstanding the strangeness of her lot, slept softly and soundly in that delicious bed.
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading She slept, and in her sleep Molly and Jessie stole softly into the room to look at her.
strangenessnounUS /ˈstreɪndʒnəs/
unusualness as a consequence of not being well known
From this reading Peggy, notwithstanding the strangeness of her lot, slept softly and soundly in that delicious bed.
symbolnounUS /ˈsɪmbəl/
an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Peggy, notwithstanding the strangeness of her lot, slept softly and soundly in that delicious bed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Peggy, notwithstanding the strangeness of her lot, slept softly and soundly in that delicious bed.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Shading a candle, they bent forward, and certainly their present view of the little face was all that was charming.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Shading a candle, they bent forward, and certainly their present view of the little face was all that was charming.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She slept, and in her sleep Molly and Jessie stole softly into the room to look at her.
a just detectable amount
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Shading a candle, they bent forward, and certainly their present view of the little face was all that was charming.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Shading a candle, they bent forward, and certainly their present view of the little face was all that was charming.
well-formedadjective
conforming to the rules of grammar or usage accepted by native speakers
From this reading Not a trace of lack of refinement could be perceived in those delicate features, those long, curly black lashes, the true symbol of an Irish girl, and the well-formed, sensitive little red mouth.
