used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At the dread realisation that she was beholding the work of her own hands, a shrinking horror--a terrible fear of herself--filled her breast.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Trembling violently, she leant against the wall, scarcely able to stand, her hands pressing her cheeks, her eyes dilated and glancing around as if in apprehension.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Why, in very sooth, this looked like the doings of a madwoman, and she had known nothing of what she was about.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Trembling violently, she leant against the wall, scarcely able to stand, her hands pressing her cheeks, her eyes dilated and glancing around as if in apprehension.
aghastadjectiveUS /əˈɡæst/
struck with fear, dread, or consternation
From this reading OUT OF THE GILDED CAGE Instantly subdued by amazement, she stared aghast at the surrounding destruction.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading OUT OF THE GILDED CAGE Instantly subdued by amazement, she stared aghast at the surrounding destruction.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Why, in very sooth, this looked like the doings of a madwoman, and she had known nothing of what she was about.
apprehensionnounUS /ˌæprɪˈhenʃən/
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading Trembling violently, she leant against the wall, scarcely able to stand, her hands pressing her cheeks, her eyes dilated and glancing around as if in apprehension.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Trembling violently, she leant against the wall, scarcely able to stand, her hands pressing her cheeks, her eyes dilated and glancing around as if in apprehension.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Trembling violently, she leant against the wall, scarcely able to stand, her hands pressing her cheeks, her eyes dilated and glancing around as if in apprehension.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading OUT OF THE GILDED CAGE Instantly subdued by amazement, she stared aghast at the surrounding destruction.
beholdingnounUS /bɪˈhoʊldɪŋ/
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading At the dread realisation that she was beholding the work of her own hands, a shrinking horror--a terrible fear of herself--filled her breast.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading At the dread realisation that she was beholding the work of her own hands, a shrinking horror--a terrible fear of herself--filled her breast.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading OUT OF THE GILDED CAGE Instantly subdued by amazement, she stared aghast at the surrounding destruction.
CAGEnounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading OUT OF THE GILDED CAGE Instantly subdued by amazement, she stared aghast at the surrounding destruction.
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading Trembling violently, she leant against the wall, scarcely able to stand, her hands pressing her cheeks, her eyes dilated and glancing around as if in apprehension.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What could it portend?
the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
From this reading OUT OF THE GILDED CAGE Instantly subdued by amazement, she stared aghast at the surrounding destruction.
dilatedverbUS /ˌdaɪˈleɪtɪd/
past form of “dilate” — become wider
From this reading Trembling violently, she leant against the wall, scarcely able to stand, her hands pressing her cheeks, her eyes dilated and glancing around as if in apprehension.
doingsnounUS /ˈduːɪŋz/
manner of acting or controlling yourself
From this reading Why, in very sooth, this looked like the doings of a madwoman, and she had known nothing of what she was about.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading At the dread realisation that she was beholding the work of her own hands, a shrinking horror--a terrible fear of herself--filled her breast.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Trembling violently, she leant against the wall, scarcely able to stand, her hands pressing her cheeks, her eyes dilated and glancing around as if in apprehension.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading At the dread realisation that she was beholding the work of her own hands, a shrinking horror--a terrible fear of herself--filled her breast.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading At the dread realisation that she was beholding the work of her own hands, a shrinking horror--a terrible fear of herself--filled her breast.
GILDEDadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪldɪd/
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading OUT OF THE GILDED CAGE Instantly subdued by amazement, she stared aghast at the surrounding destruction.
-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Trembling violently, she leant against the wall, scarcely able to stand, her hands pressing her cheeks, her eyes dilated and glancing around as if in apprehension.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Why, in very sooth, this looked like the doings of a madwoman, and she had known nothing of what she was about.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading At the dread realisation that she was beholding the work of her own hands, a shrinking horror--a terrible fear of herself--filled her breast.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading At the dread realisation that she was beholding the work of her own hands, a shrinking horror--a terrible fear of herself--filled her breast.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading At the dread realisation that she was beholding the work of her own hands, a shrinking horror--a terrible fear of herself--filled her breast.
intense and profound fear
From this reading At the dread realisation that she was beholding the work of her own hands, a shrinking horror--a terrible fear of herself--filled her breast.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Trembling violently, she leant against the wall, scarcely able to stand, her hands pressing her cheeks, her eyes dilated and glancing around as if in apprehension.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Why, in very sooth, this looked like the doings of a madwoman, and she had known nothing of what she was about.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading OUT OF THE GILDED CAGE Instantly subdued by amazement, she stared aghast at the surrounding destruction.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading What could it portend?
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Why, in very sooth, this looked like the doings of a madwoman, and she had known nothing of what she was about.
leantverbUS /ˈliːənt/
inflected form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Trembling violently, she leant against the wall, scarcely able to stand, her hands pressing her cheeks, her eyes dilated and glancing around as if in apprehension.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Why, in very sooth, this looked like the doings of a madwoman, and she had known nothing of what she was about.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Why, in very sooth, this looked like the doings of a madwoman, and she had known nothing of what she was about.
madwomannoun
a woman lunatic
From this reading Why, in very sooth, this looked like the doings of a madwoman, and she had known nothing of what she was about.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Why, in very sooth, this looked like the doings of a madwoman, and she had known nothing of what she was about.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading OUT OF THE GILDED CAGE Instantly subdued by amazement, she stared aghast at the surrounding destruction.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading OUT OF THE GILDED CAGE Instantly subdued by amazement, she stared aghast at the surrounding destruction.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading At the dread realisation that she was beholding the work of her own hands, a shrinking horror--a terrible fear of herself--filled her breast.
portendverbUS /pɔːrˈtend/
indicate, as with a sign or an omen
From this reading What could it portend?
pressingnounUS /ˈpresɪŋ/
the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
From this reading Trembling violently, she leant against the wall, scarcely able to stand, her hands pressing her cheeks, her eyes dilated and glancing around as if in apprehension.
realisationnounUS /ˈriːləˈzeɪʃən/
a musical composition that has been completed or enriched by someone other than the composer
From this reading At the dread realisation that she was beholding the work of her own hands, a shrinking horror--a terrible fear of herself--filled her breast.
only a very short time before
From this reading Trembling violently, she leant against the wall, scarcely able to stand, her hands pressing her cheeks, her eyes dilated and glancing around as if in apprehension.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading OUT OF THE GILDED CAGE Instantly subdued by amazement, she stared aghast at the surrounding destruction.
shrinkingnounUS /ˈʃrɪŋkɪŋ/
process or result of becoming less or smaller
From this reading At the dread realisation that she was beholding the work of her own hands, a shrinking horror--a terrible fear of herself--filled her breast.
soothnoun
truth or reality
From this reading Why, in very sooth, this looked like the doings of a madwoman, and she had known nothing of what she was about.
be standing; be upright
From this reading Trembling violently, she leant against the wall, scarcely able to stand, her hands pressing her cheeks, her eyes dilated and glancing around as if in apprehension.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading OUT OF THE GILDED CAGE Instantly subdued by amazement, she stared aghast at the surrounding destruction.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading OUT OF THE GILDED CAGE Instantly subdued by amazement, she stared aghast at the surrounding destruction.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading OUT OF THE GILDED CAGE Instantly subdued by amazement, she stared aghast at the surrounding destruction.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading At the dread realisation that she was beholding the work of her own hands, a shrinking horror--a terrible fear of herself--filled her breast.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At the dread realisation that she was beholding the work of her own hands, a shrinking horror--a terrible fear of herself--filled her breast.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OUT OF THE GILDED CAGE Instantly subdued by amazement, she stared aghast at the surrounding destruction.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Why, in very sooth, this looked like the doings of a madwoman, and she had known nothing of what she was about.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Trembling violently, she leant against the wall, scarcely able to stand, her hands pressing her cheeks, her eyes dilated and glancing around as if in apprehension.
a shaky motion
From this reading Trembling violently, she leant against the wall, scarcely able to stand, her hands pressing her cheeks, her eyes dilated and glancing around as if in apprehension.
precisely as stated
From this reading Why, in very sooth, this looked like the doings of a madwoman, and she had known nothing of what she was about.
violentlyadverbUS /ˈvaɪələntli/
in a violent manner
From this reading Trembling violently, she leant against the wall, scarcely able to stand, her hands pressing her cheeks, her eyes dilated and glancing around as if in apprehension.
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 Trembling violently, she leant against the wall, scarcely able to stand, her hands pressing her cheeks, her eyes dilated and glancing around as if in apprehension.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At the dread realisation that she was beholding the work of her own hands, a shrinking horror--a terrible fear of herself--filled her breast.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Why, in very sooth, this looked like the doings of a madwoman, and she had known nothing of what she was about.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why, in very sooth, this looked like the doings of a madwoman, and she had known nothing of what she was about.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading At the dread realisation that she was beholding the work of her own hands, a shrinking horror--a terrible fear of herself--filled her breast.
