used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN AWAKENING.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
AWAKENINGnounUS /əˈweɪkənɪŋ/
the act of waking
From this reading AN AWAKENING.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading A sudden exclamation from her father caused her to look up.
correspondingadjectiveUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndɪŋ/
accompanying
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
distressingadjectiveUS /dɪˈstresɪŋ/
causing distress or worry or anxiety
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Judge Thorn sat looking over the evening paper.
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading A sudden exclamation from her father caused her to look up.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading A sudden exclamation from her father caused her to look up.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A sudden exclamation from her father caused her to look up.
guitarnounUS /ɡɪˈtɑːr/
a stringed instrument usually having six strings; played by strumming or plucking
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/
in an idle manner
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading Judge Thorn sat looking over the evening paper.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading A sudden exclamation from her father caused her to look up.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Judge Thorn sat looking over the evening paper.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
outlinesnounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪnz/
plural of “outline” — the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Judge Thorn sat looking over the evening paper.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
palmnounUS /pɑːm/
the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Judge Thorn sat looking over the evening paper.
pliantadjectiveUS /ˈplaɪənt/
capable of being influenced or formed
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
profilenounUS /ˈproʊfaɪl/
an analysis (often in graphical form) representing the extent to which something exhibits various characteristics
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
puzzlingadjectiveUS /ˈpʌzəlɪŋ/
not clear to the understanding
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Judge Thorn sat looking over the evening paper.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
strainsnounUS /streɪnz/
plural of “strain” — (physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading A sudden exclamation from her father caused her to look up.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Judge Thorn sat looking over the evening paper.
in or at that place or location
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
ThornnounUS /θɔːrn/
something that causes irritation and annoyance
From this reading Judge Thorn sat looking over the evening paper.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
thrumming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A sudden exclamation from her father caused her to look up.
understandsverbUS /ˌʌndərˈstændz/
third-person singular of “understand” — know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A sudden exclamation from her father caused her to look up.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
at the time that
From this reading His profile alone was visible to her, but there is an expression in outlines when one understands the subject, and she knew that something of an unusually puzzling or distressing nature engaged him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Lost in her own thoughts, Jean sat in the shadow of a palm idly thrumming a guitar, the soft pliant strains corresponding well with the expression of her face.
