used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading * * * * * And yet another character.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading * * * * * And yet another character.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading My astonishment was such that I walked deliberately up to her and asked: “What is the matter with you--are you hungry?”
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading My astonishment was such that I walked deliberately up to her and asked: “What is the matter with you--are you hungry?”
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading My astonishment was such that I walked deliberately up to her and asked: “What is the matter with you--are you hungry?”
BalzacnounUS /bɑːlˈzæk/
French novelist; he portrays the complexity of 19th century French society (1799-1850)
From this reading I had read of such things in Balzac, Hugo, Dickens--but where else?
betokened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
BrooklynnounUS /ˈbrʊklən/
a borough of New York City
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I had read of such things in Balzac, Hugo, Dickens--but where else?
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading * * * * * And yet another character.
conservativeadjectiveUS /kənˈsɜːrvətɪv/
resistant to change, particularly in relation to politics or religion
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
deliberatelyadverbUS /dɪˈlɪbərətli/
with intention; in an intentional manner
From this reading My astonishment was such that I walked deliberately up to her and asked: “What is the matter with you--are you hungry?”
DickensnounUS /ˈdɪkənz/
a word used in exclamations of confusion
From this reading I had read of such things in Balzac, Hugo, Dickens--but where else?
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had read of such things in Balzac, Hugo, Dickens--but where else?
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
furtivelyadverbUS /ˈfɜːrtɪvli/
in a furtive manner
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
garbagenounUS /ˈɡɑːrbɪdʒ/
food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had read of such things in Balzac, Hugo, Dickens--but where else?
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
HugonounUS /ˈhjuːɡoʊ/
French poet and novelist and dramatist; leader of the romantic movement in France (1802-1885)
From this reading I had read of such things in Balzac, Hugo, Dickens--but where else?
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading My astonishment was such that I walked deliberately up to her and asked: “What is the matter with you--are you hungry?”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My astonishment was such that I walked deliberately up to her and asked: “What is the matter with you--are you hungry?”
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading My astonishment was such that I walked deliberately up to her and asked: “What is the matter with you--are you hungry?”
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My astonishment was such that I walked deliberately up to her and asked: “What is the matter with you--are you hungry?”
neighborhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading I had read of such things in Balzac, Hugo, Dickens--but where else?
satisfactoryadjectiveUS /ˌsætəˈsfæktri/
giving satisfaction
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
cut with a saw
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
stressnounUS /stres/
the relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch)
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading I had read of such things in Balzac, Hugo, Dickens--but where else?
tensenounUS /tens/
a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading My astonishment was such that I walked deliberately up to her and asked: “What is the matter with you--are you hungry?”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading My astonishment was such that I walked deliberately up to her and asked: “What is the matter with you--are you hungry?”
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading I had read of such things in Balzac, Hugo, Dickens--but where else?
in spite of the fact that
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading My astonishment was such that I walked deliberately up to her and asked: “What is the matter with you--are you hungry?”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading My astonishment was such that I walked deliberately up to her and asked: “What is the matter with you--are you hungry?”
precisely as stated
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading My astonishment was such that I walked deliberately up to her and asked: “What is the matter with you--are you hungry?”
close enough to be walked to
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
at the time that
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
in or at the place that
From this reading I had read of such things in Balzac, Hugo, Dickens--but where else?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
in the company of; together with
From this reading My astonishment was such that I walked deliberately up to her and asked: “What is the matter with you--are you hungry?”
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading One day I was walking in Brooklyn in a very conservative neighborhood, when I saw what I fancied I never should see, in America, a woman furtively picking a piece of bread out of a garbage can.
wretchedlyadverbUS /ˈretʃɪdli/
in a wretched manner
From this reading And she was not absolutely wretchedly dressed, though her appearance was far from satisfactory, and she had a tense expression about her face which betokened stress of some kind.
but in spite of that
From this reading * * * * * And yet another character.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading My astonishment was such that I walked deliberately up to her and asked: “What is the matter with you--are you hungry?”
