used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
anew
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
Alixe's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
burstingverbUS /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/
-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading Laure’s hand crept up to her throat and held it tight, to keep the strain of repressed sobs from bursting her very flesh.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Laure’s hand crept up to her throat and held it tight, to keep the strain of repressed sobs from bursting her very flesh.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Her eyes roved round the old, familiar, twilight room; but just now she did not see.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Her eyes roved round the old, familiar, twilight room; but just now she did not see.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading Her eyes roved round the old, familiar, twilight room; but just now she did not see.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat
From this reading Laure’s hand crept up to her throat and held it tight, to keep the strain of repressed sobs from bursting her very flesh.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Laure’s hand crept up to her throat and held it tight, to keep the strain of repressed sobs from bursting her very flesh.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
a young female
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Laure’s hand crept up to her throat and held it tight, to keep the strain of repressed sobs from bursting her very flesh.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Laure’s hand crept up to her throat and held it tight, to keep the strain of repressed sobs from bursting her very flesh.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
and nothing more
From this reading Her eyes roved round the old, familiar, twilight room; but just now she did not see.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Laure’s hand crept up to her throat and held it tight, to keep the strain of repressed sobs from bursting her very flesh.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
Laure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
Laure's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laure’s hand crept up to her throat and held it tight, to keep the strain of repressed sobs from bursting her very flesh.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
loweredadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərd/
below the surround or below the normal position
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Her eyes roved round the old, familiar, twilight room; but just now she did not see.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Her eyes roved round the old, familiar, twilight room; but just now she did not see.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
repressedadjectiveUS /riˈprest/
characterized by or showing the suppression of impulses or emotions
From this reading Laure’s hand crept up to her throat and held it tight, to keep the strain of repressed sobs from bursting her very flesh.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Her eyes roved round the old, familiar, twilight room; but just now she did not see.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Her eyes roved round the old, familiar, twilight room; but just now she did not see.
roved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her eyes roved round the old, familiar, twilight room; but just now she did not see.
cut with a saw
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Her eyes roved round the old, familiar, twilight room; but just now she did not see.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
shutteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃʌtərd/
provided with shutters or shutters as specified; often used in combination
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading There was a silence.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
sobsnounUS /sɑːbz/
plural of “sob” — a dyspneic condition
From this reading Laure’s hand crept up to her throat and held it tight, to keep the strain of repressed sobs from bursting her very flesh.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
successive (without a break)
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading Laure’s hand crept up to her throat and held it tight, to keep the strain of repressed sobs from bursting her very flesh.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a silence.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading Laure’s hand crept up to her throat and held it tight, to keep the strain of repressed sobs from bursting her very flesh.
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading Laure’s hand crept up to her throat and held it tight, to keep the strain of repressed sobs from bursting her very flesh.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading Her eyes roved round the old, familiar, twilight room; but just now she did not see.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The girl looked straight before her into space; but she saw her mother’s head suddenly lowered, and she saw her mother’s hands go up before her face.
precisely as stated
From this reading Laure’s hand crept up to her throat and held it tight, to keep the strain of repressed sobs from bursting her very flesh.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
which person or people
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Then came Alixe’s knock at the door; and Laure went and opened it, took in the food, set it down on the bed, shut and fastened the door again, and returned to her mother, who was sitting now beside the shuttered window, her head lying on her arms, which rested on a table in front of her.
