alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Miss Mellicent fairly writhed and shuddered with nervousness.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “If you won’t ask me no more--yes, then! but he never dreamed o’ me!”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Haven’t you never looked at nobody in that way yourself?”
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading “If you won’t ask me no more--yes, then! but he never dreamed o’ me!”
EarlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading Miss Mellicent fairly writhed and shuddered with nervousness.
fly-spotted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
gildingnounUS /ˈɡɪldɪŋ/
a coating of gold or of something that looks like gold
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
Haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Haven’t you never looked at nobody in that way yourself?”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “If you won’t ask me no more--yes, then! but he never dreamed o’ me!”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading “Tell me now, upon your honor,” Mr. Popham pressed.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “If you won’t ask me no more--yes, then! but he never dreamed o’ me!”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Haven’t you never looked at nobody in that way yourself?”
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading “Haven’t you never looked at nobody in that way yourself?”
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
mantelshelf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Tell me now, upon your honor,” Mr. Popham pressed.
Mellicent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Mellicent fairly writhed and shuddered with nervousness.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Mellicent fairly writhed and shuddered with nervousness.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading “If you won’t ask me no more--yes, then! but he never dreamed o’ me!”
a form of address for a man
From this reading “Tell me now, upon your honor,” Mr. Popham pressed.
nervousnessnounUS /ˈnɜːrvəsnəs/
the anxious feeling you have when you have the jitters
From this reading Miss Mellicent fairly writhed and shuddered with nervousness.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “Haven’t you never looked at nobody in that way yourself?”
not any; not one
From this reading “If you won’t ask me no more--yes, then! but he never dreamed o’ me!”
no person; not anyone
From this reading “Haven’t you never looked at nobody in that way yourself?”
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Tell me now, upon your honor,” Mr. Popham pressed.
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading “If you won’t ask me no more--yes, then! but he never dreamed o’ me!”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
Popham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Tell me now, upon your honor,” Mr. Popham pressed.
Popham's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
compacted by ironing
From this reading “Tell me now, upon your honor,” Mr. Popham pressed.
profilenounUS /ˈproʊfaɪl/
an analysis (often in graphical form) representing the extent to which something exhibits various characteristics
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
shudderedverbUS /ˈʃʌdərd/
past form of “shudder” — shake, as from cold
From this reading Miss Mellicent fairly writhed and shuddered with nervousness.
express in words
From this reading “Tell me now, upon your honor,” Mr. Popham pressed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Haven’t you never looked at nobody in that way yourself?”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “If you won’t ask me no more--yes, then! but he never dreamed o’ me!”
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “Tell me now, upon your honor,” Mr. Popham pressed.
VictorianadjectiveUS /vɪkˈtɔːriən/
of or relating to Queen Victoria of Great Britain or to the age in which she ruled
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading “Haven’t you never looked at nobody in that way yourself?”
well-featured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
wistfuladjectiveUS /ˈwɪstfəl/
showing pensive sadness
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Miss Mellicent fairly writhed and shuddered with nervousness.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading But she laughed, looking away from Mr. Popham and into the old-fashioned but handsome glass over the mantelshelf, in which, within an Early Victorian frame of fly-spotted gilding, the reflection of Mr. Popham’s alert, well-featured, respectable profile and her own poor, wistful face appeared together.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If you won’t ask me no more--yes, then! but he never dreamed o’ me!”
writhedadjectiveUS /rɪθd/
twisted (especially as in pain or struggle)
From this reading Miss Mellicent fairly writhed and shuddered with nervousness.
an affirmative
From this reading “If you won’t ask me no more--yes, then! but he never dreamed o’ me!”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Haven’t you never looked at nobody in that way yourself?”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Tell me now, upon your honor,” Mr. Popham pressed.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading “Haven’t you never looked at nobody in that way yourself?”
