used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The two girls met no living soul on their way back to the rectory.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
the act of breaking something
From this reading They let themselves in noiselessly; they stole upstairs unheard--the breaking morning gave them what light they needed.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
calmedverbUS /kɑːmd/
past form of “calm” — make calm or still
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
enviableadjectiveUS /ˈenviəbəl/
causing envy
From this reading Perfect health was Shirley's enviable portion.
an old word for “before”
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading They let themselves in noiselessly; they stole upstairs unheard--the breaking morning gave them what light they needed.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The two girls met no living soul on their way back to the rectory.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading Perfect health was Shirley's enviable portion.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They let themselves in noiselessly; they stole upstairs unheard--the breaking morning gave them what light they needed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading They let themselves in noiselessly; they stole upstairs unheard--the breaking morning gave them what light they needed.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading They let themselves in noiselessly; they stole upstairs unheard--the breaking morning gave them what light they needed.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading The two girls met no living soul on their way back to the rectory.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading The two girls met no living soul on their way back to the rectory.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading They let themselves in noiselessly; they stole upstairs unheard--the breaking morning gave them what light they needed.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading They let themselves in noiselessly; they stole upstairs unheard--the breaking morning gave them what light they needed.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
not any; not one
From this reading The two girls met no living soul on their way back to the rectory.
noiselesslyadverb
without a sound
From this reading They let themselves in noiselessly; they stole upstairs unheard--the breaking morning gave them what light they needed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The two girls met no living soul on their way back to the rectory.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading Perfect health was Shirley's enviable portion.
pillownounUS /ˈpɪloʊ/
a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Perfect health was Shirley's enviable portion.
recentadjectiveUS /ˈriːsənt/
new
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
rectorynounUS /ˈrektəri/
an official residence provided by a church for its parson or vicar or rector
From this reading The two girls met no living soul on their way back to the rectory.
refreshingadjectiveUS /rɪˈfreʃɪŋ/
imparting vitality and energy
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
only a very short time before
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
plural of “sens” — street names for marijuana
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
Shirley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
Shirley's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perfect health was Shirley's enviable portion.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
that is looked for
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading The two girls met no living soul on their way back to the rectory.
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading They let themselves in noiselessly; they stole upstairs unheard--the breaking morning gave them what light they needed.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The two girls met no living soul on their way back to the rectory.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The two girls met no living soul on their way back to the rectory.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They let themselves in noiselessly; they stole upstairs unheard--the breaking morning gave them what light they needed.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading They let themselves in noiselessly; they stole upstairs unheard--the breaking morning gave them what light they needed.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They let themselves in noiselessly; they stole upstairs unheard--the breaking morning gave them what light they needed.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The two girls met no living soul on their way back to the rectory.
TO-MORROW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TO-MORROW.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two girls met no living soul on their way back to the rectory.
unheardadjectiveUS /ənˈhɜːrd/
not necessarily inaudible but not heard
From this reading They let themselves in noiselessly; they stole upstairs unheard--the breaking morning gave them what light they needed.
unparalleledadjectiveUS /ənˈperəleld/
radically distinctive and without equal
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
on a floor above
From this reading They let themselves in noiselessly; they stole upstairs unheard--the breaking morning gave them what light they needed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The two girls met no living soul on their way back to the rectory.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading They let themselves in noiselessly; they stole upstairs unheard--the breaking morning gave them what light they needed.
someone who sees an event and reports what happened
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
but in spite of that
From this reading Shirley sought her couch immediately; and though the room was strange--for she had never slept at the rectory before--and though the recent scene was one unparalleled for excitement and terror by any it had hitherto been her lot to witness, yet scarce was her head laid on the pillow ere a deep, refreshing sleep closed her eyes and calmed her senses.
