used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had been writing letters for more than an hour and had just seated herself in a big chair and closed her eyes.
AdamsnounUS /ˈædəmz/
American Revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the Boston Tea Party and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1722-1803)
From this reading Margaret Adams was in her private sitting room in her own home, an old-fashioned red brick house near Washington Square.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Margaret Adams was in her private sitting room in her own home, an old-fashioned red brick house near Washington Square.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had been writing letters for more than an hour and had just seated herself in a big chair and closed her eyes.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She looked very young and tiny at this instant to be such a great lady.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She looked very young and tiny at this instant to be such a great lady.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been writing letters for more than an hour and had just seated herself in a big chair and closed her eyes.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had been writing letters for more than an hour and had just seated herself in a big chair and closed her eyes.
bricknounUS /brɪk/
rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading Margaret Adams was in her private sitting room in her own home, an old-fashioned red brick house near Washington Square.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading She had been writing letters for more than an hour and had just seated herself in a big chair and closed her eyes.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading She had been writing letters for more than an hour and had just seated herself in a big chair and closed her eyes.
put on clothes
From this reading Her silk morning dress was only a shade lighter than the rose-colored chair.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She had been writing letters for more than an hour and had just seated herself in a big chair and closed her eyes.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Suddenly ten fingers were lightly laid over her eyes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had been writing letters for more than an hour and had just seated herself in a big chair and closed her eyes.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading She looked very young and tiny at this instant to be such a great lady.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had been writing letters for more than an hour and had just seated herself in a big chair and closed her eyes.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Margaret Adams was in her private sitting room in her own home, an old-fashioned red brick house near Washington Square.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She had been writing letters for more than an hour and had just seated herself in a big chair and closed her eyes.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Margaret Adams was in her private sitting room in her own home, an old-fashioned red brick house near Washington Square.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading She had been writing letters for more than an hour and had just seated herself in a big chair and closed her eyes.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Margaret Adams was in her private sitting room in her own home, an old-fashioned red brick house near Washington Square.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Margaret Adams was in her private sitting room in her own home, an old-fashioned red brick house near Washington Square.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading She looked very young and tiny at this instant to be such a great lady.
and nothing more
From this reading She had been writing letters for more than an hour and had just seated herself in a big chair and closed her eyes.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading She looked very young and tiny at this instant to be such a great lady.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Suddenly ten fingers were lightly laid over her eyes.
the literary culture
From this reading She had been writing letters for more than an hour and had just seated herself in a big chair and closed her eyes.
lighternounUS /ˈlaɪtər/
a substance used to ignite or kindle a fire
From this reading Her silk morning dress was only a shade lighter than the rose-colored chair.
without good reason
From this reading Suddenly ten fingers were lightly laid over her eyes.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She looked very young and tiny at this instant to be such a great lady.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Margaret Adams was in her private sitting room in her own home, an old-fashioned red brick house near Washington Square.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She had been writing letters for more than an hour and had just seated herself in a big chair and closed her eyes.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Her silk morning dress was only a shade lighter than the rose-colored chair.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Margaret Adams was in her private sitting room in her own home, an old-fashioned red brick house near Washington Square.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading Margaret Adams was in her private sitting room in her own home, an old-fashioned red brick house near Washington Square.
and nothing more
From this reading Her silk morning dress was only a shade lighter than the rose-colored chair.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Suddenly ten fingers were lightly laid over her eyes.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Margaret Adams was in her private sitting room in her own home, an old-fashioned red brick house near Washington Square.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading Margaret Adams was in her private sitting room in her own home, an old-fashioned red brick house near Washington Square.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Margaret Adams was in her private sitting room in her own home, an old-fashioned red brick house near Washington Square.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Margaret Adams was in her private sitting room in her own home, an old-fashioned red brick house near Washington Square.
rose-coloredadjective
reflecting optimism
From this reading Her silk morning dress was only a shade lighter than the rose-colored chair.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading She had been writing letters for more than an hour and had just seated herself in a big chair and closed her eyes.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading Her silk morning dress was only a shade lighter than the rose-colored chair.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had been writing letters for more than an hour and had just seated herself in a big chair and closed her eyes.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading Her silk morning dress was only a shade lighter than the rose-colored chair.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Margaret Adams was in her private sitting room in her own home, an old-fashioned red brick house near Washington Square.
make square
From this reading Margaret Adams was in her private sitting room in her own home, an old-fashioned red brick house near Washington Square.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading She looked very young and tiny at this instant to be such a great lady.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly ten fingers were lightly laid over her eyes.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Suddenly ten fingers were lightly laid over her eyes.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She had been writing letters for more than an hour and had just seated herself in a big chair and closed her eyes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Her silk morning dress was only a shade lighter than the rose-colored chair.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She looked very young and tiny at this instant to be such a great lady.
very small
From this reading She looked very young and tiny at this instant to be such a great lady.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She looked very young and tiny at this instant to be such a great lady.
precisely as stated
From this reading She looked very young and tiny at this instant to be such a great lady.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Margaret Adams was in her private sitting room in her own home, an old-fashioned red brick house near Washington Square.
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading Margaret Adams was in her private sitting room in her own home, an old-fashioned red brick house near Washington Square.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Suddenly ten fingers were lightly laid over her eyes.
the act of creating written works
From this reading She had been writing letters for more than an hour and had just seated herself in a big chair and closed her eyes.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading She looked very young and tiny at this instant to be such a great lady.
