used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If that life had been a hard one, such as must have befallen the waif, Anitra, her hands should show it.
abandonmentnounUS /əˈbændənmənt/
the act of giving something up
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
Anitra
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If that life had been a hard one, such as must have befallen the waif, Anitra, her hands should show it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If that life had been a hard one, such as must have befallen the waif, Anitra, her hands should show it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
befallenverbUS /bəˈfɑːlən/
inflected form of “befall” — become of; happen to
From this reading If that life had been a hard one, such as must have befallen the waif, Anitra, her hands should show it.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But her hands were covered.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading But her hands were covered.
Deo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading If that life had been a hard one, such as must have befallen the waif, Anitra, her hands should show it.
HarpernounUS /ˈhɑːrpər/
someone who plays the harp
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If that life had been a hard one, such as must have befallen the waif, Anitra, her hands should show it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
not accessible to view
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If that life had been a hard one, such as must have befallen the waif, Anitra, her hands should show it.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading "LOVE!"
a form of address for a man
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading If that life had been a hard one, such as must have befallen the waif, Anitra, her hands should show it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
RansomnounUS /ˈrænsəm/
money demanded for the return of a captured person
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
regrettedverbUS /rɪˈɡretɪd/
inflected form of “regret” — feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading If that life had been a hard one, such as must have befallen the waif, Anitra, her hands should show it.
the state of being asleep
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
slumbernounUS /ˈslʌmbər/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading If that life had been a hard one, such as must have befallen the waif, Anitra, her hands should show it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Both Mr. Harper and Mr. Ransom regretted this fact, for each instinctively felt that in her hands, if not in her sleeping face, they should be able to read the story of her life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
waifnounUS /weɪf/
a homeless child especially one forsaken or orphaned
From this reading If that life had been a hard one, such as must have befallen the waif, Anitra, her hands should show it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But her hands were covered.
a Caucasian
From this reading She lay in the abandonment of profound slumber, one hand under her cheek, the other hidden by the white spread Mrs. Deo had been careful to draw closely about her.
