used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading None reached her, and after the lapse of a minute she breathed more freely.
Abbessnoun
the superior of a group of nuns
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading None reached her, and after the lapse of a minute she breathed more freely.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading She knew that her ears were her best sentinels; and motionless, scarcely breathing, in the middle of the floor, she strained them to the utmost to catch the first sounds of discovery and alarm.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She knew that her ears were her best sentinels; and motionless, scarcely breathing, in the middle of the floor, she strained them to the utmost to catch the first sounds of discovery and alarm.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But she did not move to the windows, nor make any attempt to look down.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading But she did not move to the windows, nor make any attempt to look down.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading She knew that her ears were her best sentinels; and motionless, scarcely breathing, in the middle of the floor, she strained them to the utmost to catch the first sounds of discovery and alarm.
uttered without voice
From this reading None reached her, and after the lapse of a minute she breathed more freely.
the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation
From this reading She knew that her ears were her best sentinels; and motionless, scarcely breathing, in the middle of the floor, she strained them to the utmost to catch the first sounds of discovery and alarm.
BRIDE'SnounUS /braɪdz/
possessive form of “bride” — a woman who has recently been married
From this reading THE BRIDE'S DOT.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she did not move to the windows, nor make any attempt to look down.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But she did not move to the windows, nor make any attempt to look down.
the act of discovering something
From this reading She knew that her ears were her best sentinels; and motionless, scarcely breathing, in the middle of the floor, she strained them to the utmost to catch the first sounds of discovery and alarm.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
DOTnounUS /dɑːt/
a very small circular shape
From this reading THE BRIDE'S DOT.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading But she did not move to the windows, nor make any attempt to look down.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading She knew that her ears were her best sentinels; and motionless, scarcely breathing, in the middle of the floor, she strained them to the utmost to catch the first sounds of discovery and alarm.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading She knew that her ears were her best sentinels; and motionless, scarcely breathing, in the middle of the floor, she strained them to the utmost to catch the first sounds of discovery and alarm.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading She knew that her ears were her best sentinels; and motionless, scarcely breathing, in the middle of the floor, she strained them to the utmost to catch the first sounds of discovery and alarm.
flutterverbUS /ˈflʌtər/
move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
moving swiftly
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
in a free manner
From this reading None reached her, and after the lapse of a minute she breathed more freely.
garden-chamber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
intentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtentli/
with strained or eager attention
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
and nothing more
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She knew that her ears were her best sentinels; and motionless, scarcely breathing, in the middle of the floor, she strained them to the utmost to catch the first sounds of discovery and alarm.
lapseverbUS /læps/
pass into a specified state or condition
From this reading None reached her, and after the lapse of a minute she breathed more freely.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading But she did not move to the windows, nor make any attempt to look down.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
engage in
From this reading But she did not move to the windows, nor make any attempt to look down.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading She knew that her ears were her best sentinels; and motionless, scarcely breathing, in the middle of the floor, she strained them to the utmost to catch the first sounds of discovery and alarm.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading None reached her, and after the lapse of a minute she breathed more freely.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading None reached her, and after the lapse of a minute she breathed more freely.
not in physical motion
From this reading She knew that her ears were her best sentinels; and motionless, scarcely breathing, in the middle of the floor, she strained them to the utmost to catch the first sounds of discovery and alarm.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But she did not move to the windows, nor make any attempt to look down.
not one, and not any
From this reading None reached her, and after the lapse of a minute she breathed more freely.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading But she did not move to the windows, nor make any attempt to look down.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But she did not move to the windows, nor make any attempt to look down.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading None reached her, and after the lapse of a minute she breathed more freely.
rivalverbUS /ˈraɪvəl/
be equal to in quality or ability
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
only a very short time before
From this reading She knew that her ears were her best sentinels; and motionless, scarcely breathing, in the middle of the floor, she strained them to the utmost to catch the first sounds of discovery and alarm.
sentinelsnounUS /ˈsentənəlz/
plural of “sentinel” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading She knew that her ears were her best sentinels; and motionless, scarcely breathing, in the middle of the floor, she strained them to the utmost to catch the first sounds of discovery and alarm.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
skirtsnounUS /skɜːrts/
plural of “skirt” — cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading She knew that her ears were her best sentinels; and motionless, scarcely breathing, in the middle of the floor, she strained them to the utmost to catch the first sounds of discovery and alarm.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading She knew that her ears were her best sentinels; and motionless, scarcely breathing, in the middle of the floor, she strained them to the utmost to catch the first sounds of discovery and alarm.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BRIDE'S DOT.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She knew that her ears were her best sentinels; and motionless, scarcely breathing, in the middle of the floor, she strained them to the utmost to catch the first sounds of discovery and alarm.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But she did not move to the windows, nor make any attempt to look down.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading She knew that her ears were her best sentinels; and motionless, scarcely breathing, in the middle of the floor, she strained them to the utmost to catch the first sounds of discovery and alarm.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She knew that her ears were her best sentinels; and motionless, scarcely breathing, in the middle of the floor, she strained them to the utmost to catch the first sounds of discovery and alarm.
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The Abbess left alone in the garden-chamber listened intently; looking now on the door which had closed on her rival, now on the windows, whence it was just possible that she might catch the flutter of the girl's flying skirts.
