used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
how long something has existed
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
bastardnounUS /ˈbæstərd/
insulting terms of address for people who are stupid or irritating or ridiculous
From this reading “Come hither, Pautôe,” said the missionary, speaking to the girl in the bastard Samoan dialect of the island.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
cladadjectiveUS /klæd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Come hither, Pautôe,” said the missionary, speaking to the girl in the bastard Samoan dialect of the island.
CopleynounUS /ˈkɑːpli/
American painter who did portraits of Paul Revere and John Hancock before fleeing to England to avoid the American Revolution (1738-1815)
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
deer-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
dialectnounUS /ˈdaɪəlekt/
the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people
From this reading “Come hither, Pautôe,” said the missionary, speaking to the girl in the bastard Samoan dialect of the island.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
dracaenanoun
an agave that is often cultivated for its decorative foliage
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
expectancynounUS /ɪkˈspektənsi/
an expectation
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Please, good White Man, wilt have me for _tavini_ (servant)?”
girdlenounUS /ˈɡɜːrdəl/
an encircling or ringlike structure
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
a young female
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
glossyadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɔːsi/
based on pretense; deceptively pleasing
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “Please, good White Man, wilt have me for _tavini_ (servant)?”
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 long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Please, good White Man, wilt have me for _tavini_ (servant)?”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
hilariouslyadverbUS /hɪˈleriəsli/
in a hilarious manner
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
an old word meaning “to this place”
From this reading “Come hither, Pautôe,” said the missionary, speaking to the girl in the bastard Samoan dialect of the island.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading “Come hither, Pautôe,” said the missionary, speaking to the girl in the bastard Samoan dialect of the island.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “Please, good White Man, wilt have me for _tavini_ (servant)?”
mantlenounUS /ˈmæntəl/
the cloak as a symbol of authority
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
many-hued
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
MarshnounUS /mɑːrʃ/
low-lying wet land with grassy vegetation; usually is a transition zone between land and water
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Please, good White Man, wilt have me for _tavini_ (servant)?”
missionarynounUS /ˈmɪʃəneri/
someone who attempts to convert others to a particular doctrine or program
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
Motumoe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
and nothing more
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
Pautôe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Come hither, Pautôe,” said the missionary, speaking to the girl in the bastard Samoan dialect of the island.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading “Please, good White Man, wilt have me for _tavini_ (servant)?”
red-brownadjective
of brown tinged with red
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
residentadjectiveUS /ˈrezɪdənt/
living in a particular place
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
ReverendnounUS /ˈrevərənd/
a member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of the Christian Church
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Come hither, Pautôe,” said the missionary, speaking to the girl in the bastard Samoan dialect of the island.
SamoannounUS /səˈmoʊən/
a native or inhabitant of the Samoan Islands
From this reading “Come hither, Pautôe,” said the missionary, speaking to the girl in the bastard Samoan dialect of the island.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading “Please, good White Man, wilt have me for _tavini_ (servant)?”
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
speakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/
someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading “Come hither, Pautôe,” said the missionary, speaking to the girl in the bastard Samoan dialect of the island.
having a supporting base
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
tavini
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Please, good White Man, wilt have me for _tavini_ (servant)?”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
thirteennounUS /ˈθɜːrˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of twelve and one
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Come hither, Pautôe,” said the missionary, speaking to the girl in the bastard Samoan dialect of the island.
tradernounUS /ˈtreɪdər/
someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold
From this reading Marsh, the trader, and the Reverend Harry Copley, the resident missionary on Motumoe, first looked at the speaker, then at each other, and then laughed hilariously.
trader'snounUS /ˈtreɪdərz/
possessive form of “trader” — someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
a Caucasian
From this reading “Please, good White Man, wilt have me for _tavini_ (servant)?”
an old form of “will”, used with “thou”
From this reading “Please, good White Man, wilt have me for _tavini_ (servant)?”
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her long, glossy black hair fell about her smooth red-brown shoulders like a mantle, and her big, deer-like eyes were filled with an eager expectancy.
a late time of life
From this reading A native girl, about thirteen years of age, was standing in the trader's doorway, clad only in a girdle of many-hued dracaena leaves.
