used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A black ribbon was bound about her waist, and seemed only to emphasize the slenderness of her form.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Her brown hair was waved loosely above her brow; it was not much less abundant, though much less bright, than in her girlhood.
abundantadjectiveUS /əˈbʌndənt/
present in great quantity
From this reading Her brown hair was waved loosely above her brow; it was not much less abundant, though much less bright, than in her girlhood.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading A black ribbon was bound about her waist, and seemed only to emphasize the slenderness of her form.
confined by bonds
From this reading A black ribbon was bound about her waist, and seemed only to emphasize the slenderness of her form.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Her brown hair was waved loosely above her brow; it was not much less abundant, though much less bright, than in her girlhood.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading Her brown hair was waved loosely above her brow; it was not much less abundant, though much less bright, than in her girlhood.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading Her brown hair was waved loosely above her brow; it was not much less abundant, though much less bright, than in her girlhood.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Lady Mary came down the oak staircase singing.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
clear-cutadjectiveUS /ˈklɪrkʌt/
clearly or sharply defined to the mind
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
colouringnounUS /ˈkʌlərrɪŋ/
a digestible substance used to give color to food
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
dependedverbUS /dɪˈpendəd/
past form of “depend” — be contingent upon (something that is elided)
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Lady Mary came down the oak staircase singing.
draperiesnounUS /ˈdreɪpəriz/
plural of “drapery” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
emphasizeverbUS /ˈemfəsaɪz/
to stress, single out as important
From this reading A black ribbon was bound about her waist, and seemed only to emphasize the slenderness of her form.
at any time
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
exquisitelyadverbUS /ˌekˈskwɪzɪtli/
in a delicate manner
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading A black ribbon was bound about her waist, and seemed only to emphasize the slenderness of her form.
freshnessnounUS /ˈfreʃnəs/
the property of being pure and fresh (as if newly made); not stale or deteriorated
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
girlhoodnounUS /ˈɡɜːrlhʊd/
the childhood of a girl
From this reading Her brown hair was waved loosely above her brow; it was not much less abundant, though much less bright, than in her girlhood.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Her brown hair was waved loosely above her brow; it was not much less abundant, though much less bright, than in her girlhood.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Her brown hair was waved loosely above her brow; it was not much less abundant, though much less bright, than in her girlhood.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Lady Mary came down the oak staircase singing.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Her brown hair was waved loosely above her brow; it was not much less abundant, though much less bright, than in her girlhood.
looselyadverbUS /ˈluːsli/
in a relaxed manner; not rigid
From this reading Her brown hair was waved loosely above her brow; it was not much less abundant, though much less bright, than in her girlhood.
lovelinessnoun
the quality of being good looking and attractive
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Lady Mary came down the oak staircase singing.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Her brown hair was waved loosely above her brow; it was not much less abundant, though much less bright, than in her girlhood.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Her brown hair was waved loosely above her brow; it was not much less abundant, though much less bright, than in her girlhood.
oaknounUS /oʊk/
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading Lady Mary came down the oak staircase singing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
on one occasion
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
and nothing more
From this reading A black ribbon was bound about her waist, and seemed only to emphasize the slenderness of her form.
quantitynounUS /ˈkwɑːntəti/
how much there is or how many there are of something that you can quantify
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
radiantadjectiveUS /ˈreɪdiːənt/
radiating or as if radiating light
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
ribbonnounUS /ˈrɪbən/
any long object resembling a thin line
From this reading A black ribbon was bound about her waist, and seemed only to emphasize the slenderness of her form.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A black ribbon was bound about her waist, and seemed only to emphasize the slenderness of her form.
shapedadjectiveUS /ʃeɪpt/
shaped to fit by or as if by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort)
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading Lady Mary came down the oak staircase singing.
slendernessnoun
the quality of being slight or inadequate
From this reading A black ribbon was bound about her waist, and seemed only to emphasize the slenderness of her form.
with low volume
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading Lady Mary came down the oak staircase singing.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Her brown hair was waved loosely above her brow; it was not much less abundant, though much less bright, than in her girlhood.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Lady Mary came down the oak staircase singing.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Her brown hair was waved loosely above her brow; it was not much less abundant, though much less bright, than in her girlhood.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A black ribbon was bound about her waist, and seemed only to emphasize the slenderness of her form.
trailedverbUS /treɪld/
past form of “trail” — to lag or linger behind
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips
From this reading A black ribbon was bound about her waist, and seemed only to emphasize the slenderness of her form.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A black ribbon was bound about her waist, and seemed only to emphasize the slenderness of her form.
past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading Her brown hair was waved loosely above her brow; it was not much less abundant, though much less bright, than in her girlhood.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
a Caucasian
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The white draperies of her summer gown trailed softly on the wide steps, and in her hands she carried a quantity of roses.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading The freshness of youth had gone for ever; but her loveliness had depended less upon that radiant colouring which had once been hers than upon her clear-cut features, and exquisitely shaped head and throat.
