used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a sensation in the drawing-room over which Mrs. Chalmers presided.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
perfect or complete or pure
From this reading Carlita alone seemed to retain her absolute composure.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Carlita alone seemed to retain her absolute composure.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading Not a detail of the situation had escaped her, not even the angry compression of Leith Pierrepont's lips as Senor Meriaz turned his back and calmly sauntered to the other side of the room.
artificialadjectiveUS /ˌɑːrtəˈfɪʃəl/
contrived by art rather than nature
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Not a detail of the situation had escaped her, not even the angry compression of Leith Pierrepont's lips as Senor Meriaz turned his back and calmly sauntered to the other side of the room.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Young Beresford laughed constrainedly, feeling that something must be done to lighten the situation.
Beresford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Young Beresford laughed constrainedly, feeling that something must be done to lighten the situation.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
with self-possession (especially in times of stress)
From this reading Not a detail of the situation had escaped her, not even the angry compression of Leith Pierrepont's lips as Senor Meriaz turned his back and calmly sauntered to the other side of the room.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
Carlita
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Carlita alone seemed to retain her absolute composure.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
Chalmers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a sensation in the drawing-room over which Mrs. Chalmers presided.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
complexionnounUS /kəmˈplekʃən/
the coloring of a person's face
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
composurenounUS /kəmˈpoʊʒər/
steadiness of mind under stress
From this reading Carlita alone seemed to retain her absolute composure.
compressionnounUS /kəmˈpreʃən/
an increase in the density of something
From this reading Not a detail of the situation had escaped her, not even the angry compression of Leith Pierrepont's lips as Senor Meriaz turned his back and calmly sauntered to the other side of the room.
constrainedlyadverb
in a constrained manner
From this reading Young Beresford laughed constrainedly, feeling that something must be done to lighten the situation.
detailnounUS /dɪˈteɪl/
an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
From this reading Not a detail of the situation had escaped her, not even the angry compression of Leith Pierrepont's lips as Senor Meriaz turned his back and calmly sauntered to the other side of the room.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Young Beresford laughed constrainedly, feeling that something must be done to lighten the situation.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a sensation in the drawing-room over which Mrs. Chalmers presided.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading Not a detail of the situation had escaped her, not even the angry compression of Leith Pierrepont's lips as Senor Meriaz turned his back and calmly sauntered to the other side of the room.
divisible by two
From this reading Not a detail of the situation had escaped her, not even the angry compression of Leith Pierrepont's lips as Senor Meriaz turned his back and calmly sauntered to the other side of the room.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Young Beresford laughed constrainedly, feeling that something must be done to lighten the situation.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
gaspingverbUS /ˈɡæspɪŋ/
-ing form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Not a detail of the situation had escaped her, not even the angry compression of Leith Pierrepont's lips as Senor Meriaz turned his back and calmly sauntered to the other side of the room.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Not a detail of the situation had escaped her, not even the angry compression of Leith Pierrepont's lips as Senor Meriaz turned his back and calmly sauntered to the other side of the room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a sensation in the drawing-room over which Mrs. Chalmers presided.
interlacingadjective
linked or locked closely together as by dovetailing
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading Young Beresford laughed constrainedly, feeling that something must be done to lighten the situation.
Leith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a detail of the situation had escaped her, not even the angry compression of Leith Pierrepont's lips as Senor Meriaz turned his back and calmly sauntered to the other side of the room.
lightenverbUS /ˈlaɪtən/
make more cheerful
From this reading Young Beresford laughed constrainedly, feeling that something must be done to lighten the situation.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
Meriaz
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a detail of the situation had escaped her, not even the angry compression of Leith Pierrepont's lips as Senor Meriaz turned his back and calmly sauntered to the other side of the room.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading There was a sensation in the drawing-room over which Mrs. Chalmers presided.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Young Beresford laughed constrainedly, feeling that something must be done to lighten the situation.
easily agitated
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
being perceived or observed
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading There was a sensation in the drawing-room over which Mrs. Chalmers presided.
pallornoun
unnatural lack of color in the skin (as from bruising or sickness or emotional distress)
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
having a margin incised almost to the base so as to create distinct divisions or lobes
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
Pierrepont's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a detail of the situation had escaped her, not even the angry compression of Leith Pierrepont's lips as Senor Meriaz turned his back and calmly sauntered to the other side of the room.
presidedverbUS /prɪˈzaɪdɪd/
past form of “preside” — act as president
From this reading There was a sensation in the drawing-room over which Mrs. Chalmers presided.
retainverbUS /rɪˈteɪn/
hold back within
From this reading Carlita alone seemed to retain her absolute composure.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Not a detail of the situation had escaped her, not even the angry compression of Leith Pierrepont's lips as Senor Meriaz turned his back and calmly sauntered to the other side of the room.
sauntered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a detail of the situation had escaped her, not even the angry compression of Leith Pierrepont's lips as Senor Meriaz turned his back and calmly sauntered to the other side of the room.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Carlita alone seemed to retain her absolute composure.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
SenornounUS /ˌsiːˈnjɔːr/
a Spanish title or form of address for a man; similar to the English “Mr” or “sir”
From this reading Not a detail of the situation had escaped her, not even the angry compression of Leith Pierrepont's lips as Senor Meriaz turned his back and calmly sauntered to the other side of the room.
an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading There was a sensation in the drawing-room over which Mrs. Chalmers presided.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Not a detail of the situation had escaped her, not even the angry compression of Leith Pierrepont's lips as Senor Meriaz turned his back and calmly sauntered to the other side of the room.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading Not a detail of the situation had escaped her, not even the angry compression of Leith Pierrepont's lips as Senor Meriaz turned his back and calmly sauntered to the other side of the room.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Young Beresford laughed constrainedly, feeling that something must be done to lighten the situation.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a sensation in the drawing-room over which Mrs. Chalmers presided.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a sensation in the drawing-room over which Mrs. Chalmers presided.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Carlita alone seemed to retain her absolute composure.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Not a detail of the situation had escaped her, not even the angry compression of Leith Pierrepont's lips as Senor Meriaz turned his back and calmly sauntered to the other side of the room.
twinedverbUS /twaɪnd/
past form of “twine” — spin, wind, or twist together
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a sensation in the drawing-room over which Mrs. Chalmers presided.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a sensation in the drawing-room over which Mrs. Chalmers presided.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They were not looking at that lady, or they might have seen her pallor under all the artificial color of her complexion, and would certainly have noticed the nervous interlacing of her long fingers as they twined themselves about each other, and the little gasping breath that came through her parted lips.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Young Beresford laughed constrainedly, feeling that something must be done to lighten the situation.
