used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had cried passion out, and sobbed now for comfort.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
beamsnounUS /biːmz/
plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They touched the nut-brown hair to vivid threads of fire: but she lay faceless.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading She had cried passion out, and sobbed now for comfort.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading She had cried passion out, and sobbed now for comfort.
DahlianounUS /ˈdæljə/
any of several plants of or developed from the species Dahlia pinnata having tuberous roots and showy rayed variously colored flower heads; native to the mountains of Mexico and Central America and Colombia
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
deep-coloured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading Utter languor and the dread of looking at her eyelids in the glass kept her prostrate.
put on clothes
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
eyelidsnounUS /ˈaɪlɪdz/
plural of “eyelid” — either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading Utter languor and the dread of looking at her eyelids in the glass kept her prostrate.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
facelessadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪsləs/
without a face or identity
From this reading They touched the nut-brown hair to vivid threads of fire: but she lay faceless.
start firing a weapon
From this reading They touched the nut-brown hair to vivid threads of fire: but she lay faceless.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had cried passion out, and sobbed now for comfort.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading Utter languor and the dread of looking at her eyelids in the glass kept her prostrate.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had cried passion out, and sobbed now for comfort.
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 They touched the nut-brown hair to vivid threads of fire: but she lay faceless.
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
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 lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
joyfuladjectiveUS /ˈdʒɔɪfəl/
full of or producing joy
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Utter languor and the dread of looking at her eyelids in the glass kept her prostrate.
languornoun
a relaxed comfortable feeling
From this reading Utter languor and the dread of looking at her eyelids in the glass kept her prostrate.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Utter languor and the dread of looking at her eyelids in the glass kept her prostrate.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She had cried passion out, and sobbed now for comfort.
nut-brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They touched the nut-brown hair to vivid threads of fire: but she lay faceless.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She had cried passion out, and sobbed now for comfort.
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading She had cried passion out, and sobbed now for comfort.
perplexitynounUS /pərˈpleksəti/
trouble or confusion resulting from complexity
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
pleasantlyadverbUS /ˈplezəntli/
in a cheerful manner
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
prostrateverbUS /ˈprɑːstreɪt/
get into a prostrate position, as in submission
From this reading Utter languor and the dread of looking at her eyelids in the glass kept her prostrate.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
possessing material wealth
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
roundedadjectiveUS /ˈraʊndəd/
curving and somewhat round in shape rather than jagged
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had cried passion out, and sobbed now for comfort.
silkenadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlkən/
having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
sister'snounUS /ˈsɪstərz/
possessive form of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
sobbedverbUS /sɑːbd/
inflected form of “sob” — weep convulsively
From this reading She had cried passion out, and sobbed now for comfort.
sobbingnounUS /ˈsɑːbɪŋ/
convulsive gasp made while weeping
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They touched the nut-brown hair to vivid threads of fire: but she lay faceless.
threadsnounUS /θredz/
informal terms for clothing
From this reading They touched the nut-brown hair to vivid threads of fire: but she lay faceless.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
having come into contact
From this reading They touched the nut-brown hair to vivid threads of fire: but she lay faceless.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading Utter languor and the dread of looking at her eyelids in the glass kept her prostrate.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading They touched the nut-brown hair to vivid threads of fire: but she lay faceless.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Dahlia, the perplexity to her sister's heart, lay stretched at full length upon the sofa of a pleasantly furnished London drawing-room, sobbing to herself, with her handkerchief across her eyes.
wrecknounUS /rek/
something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation
From this reading She lay in her rich silken dress like the wreck of a joyful creature, while the large red Winter sun rounded to evening, and threw deep-coloured beams against the wall above her head.
