used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was almost sealed to the side of the Cathedral, between two buttresses, like a wart which had pushed itself between the two toes of a Colossus.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The child remained with her eyes upturned, looking at the house mechanically.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading It was almost sealed to the side of the Cathedral, between two buttresses, like a wart which had pushed itself between the two toes of a Colossus.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading It was a narrow one, two stories in height, very old, and evidently built towards the end of the fifteenth century.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
buttressesnounUS /ˈbʌtrəsəz/
plural of “buttress” — a support usually of stone or brick; supports the wall of a building
From this reading It was almost sealed to the side of the Cathedral, between two buttresses, like a wart which had pushed itself between the two toes of a Colossus.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
CathedralnounUS /kəˈθiːdrəl/
any large and important church
From this reading It was almost sealed to the side of the Cathedral, between two buttresses, like a wart which had pushed itself between the two toes of a Colossus.
a period of 100 years
From this reading It was a narrow one, two stories in height, very old, and evidently built towards the end of the fifteenth century.
a young person of either sex
From this reading The child remained with her eyes upturned, looking at the house mechanically.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
ColossusnounUS /kəˈlɑːsəs/
someone or something that is abnormally large and powerful
From this reading It was almost sealed to the side of the Cathedral, between two buttresses, like a wart which had pushed itself between the two toes of a Colossus.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
droopingadjectiveUS /ˈdruːpɪŋ/
weak from exhaustion
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading It was a narrow one, two stories in height, very old, and evidently built towards the end of the fifteenth century.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading It was a narrow one, two stories in height, very old, and evidently built towards the end of the fifteenth century.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
fifteenthadjectiveUS /fɪfˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the fourteenth and just before the sixteenth in position
From this reading It was a narrow one, two stories in height, very old, and evidently built towards the end of the fifteenth century.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was almost sealed to the side of the Cathedral, between two buttresses, like a wart which had pushed itself between the two toes of a Colossus.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
head-covering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading It was a narrow one, two stories in height, very old, and evidently built towards the end of the fifteenth century.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The child remained with her eyes upturned, looking at the house mechanically.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a narrow one, two stories in height, very old, and evidently built towards the end of the fifteenth century.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a narrow one, two stories in height, very old, and evidently built towards the end of the fifteenth century.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was almost sealed to the side of the Cathedral, between two buttresses, like a wart which had pushed itself between the two toes of a Colossus.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It was almost sealed to the side of the Cathedral, between two buttresses, like a wart which had pushed itself between the two toes of a Colossus.
lilynounUS /ˈlɪli/
any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
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 The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading The child remained with her eyes upturned, looking at the house mechanically.
mechanicallyadverbUS /məˈkænɪkli/
in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism
From this reading The child remained with her eyes upturned, looking at the house mechanically.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading It was a narrow one, two stories in height, very old, and evidently built towards the end of the fifteenth century.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was a narrow one, two stories in height, very old, and evidently built towards the end of the fifteenth century.
and nothing more
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
ovalnounUS /ˈoʊvəl/
a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading It was almost sealed to the side of the Cathedral, between two buttresses, like a wart which had pushed itself between the two toes of a Colossus.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The child remained with her eyes upturned, looking at the house mechanically.
sealedadjectiveUS /siːld/
established irrevocably
From this reading It was almost sealed to the side of the Cathedral, between two buttresses, like a wart which had pushed itself between the two toes of a Colossus.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading It was almost sealed to the side of the Cathedral, between two buttresses, like a wart which had pushed itself between the two toes of a Colossus.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
not in physical motion
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
plural of “story” — 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 It was a narrow one, two stories in height, very old, and evidently built towards the end of the fifteenth century.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
a special situation
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was almost sealed to the side of the Cathedral, between two buttresses, like a wart which had pushed itself between the two toes of a Colossus.
toesnounUS /toʊz/
plural of “toe” — one of the digits of the foot
From this reading It was almost sealed to the side of the Cathedral, between two buttresses, like a wart which had pushed itself between the two toes of a Colossus.
in the direction of
From this reading It was a narrow one, two stories in height, very old, and evidently built towards the end of the fifteenth century.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading It was a narrow one, two stories in height, very old, and evidently built towards the end of the fifteenth century.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
upturnedadjective
having been turned so that the bottom is no longer the bottom
From this reading The child remained with her eyes upturned, looking at the house mechanically.
vapournoun
a visible suspension in the air of particles of some substance
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was a narrow one, two stories in height, very old, and evidently built towards the end of the fifteenth century.
violet-colouredadjective
having a violet color
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
a vivid mental image
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
wartnounUS /wɔːrt/
any small rounded protuberance (as on certain plants or animals)
From this reading It was almost sealed to the side of the Cathedral, between two buttresses, like a wart which had pushed itself between the two toes of a Colossus.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The face was oval, the neck long and slender as a lily, and the shoulders drooping; but she was blue from cold, her little hands and feet were half dead, and the only thing about her that still showed life was the slight vapour of her breath.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was almost sealed to the side of the Cathedral, between two buttresses, like a wart which had pushed itself between the two toes of a Colossus.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She carried with her the rapid vision of a fair little creature with violet-coloured eyes under a head-covering of an old silk handkerchief.
