used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Next she arrayed herself in a filmy breakfast thing, white with a copper-colored sash matching some of the tones in her hair and eyes, and simple with an angelic simplicity.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Taking off the blue-black tea-gown, she clasped it in her arms and kissed it.
angelicadjectiveUS /ˌænˈdʒelɪk/
marked by utter benignity; resembling or befitting an angel or saint
From this reading Next she arrayed herself in a filmy breakfast thing, white with a copper-colored sash matching some of the tones in her hair and eyes, and simple with an angelic simplicity.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Taking off the blue-black tea-gown, she clasped it in her arms and kissed it.
arrayedadjectiveUS /ərˈeɪd/
in ceremonial attire and paraphernalia
From this reading Next she arrayed herself in a filmy breakfast thing, white with a copper-colored sash matching some of the tones in her hair and eyes, and simple with an angelic simplicity.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
blue-blackadjective
of black tinged with blue
From this reading Taking off the blue-black tea-gown, she clasped it in her arms and kissed it.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Next she arrayed herself in a filmy breakfast thing, white with a copper-colored sash matching some of the tones in her hair and eyes, and simple with an angelic simplicity.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There were tears in her heart, but her eyes only smarted.
ceremonialnounUS /ˌserəˈmoʊniəl/
a formal event performed on a special occasion
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading Taking off the blue-black tea-gown, she clasped it in her arms and kissed it.
closetnounUS /ˈklɑːzət/
a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space
From this reading Then, on one of the padded silk hangers, she hung it far in the depths of the closet, where it wouldn't scorch her sight in the morning.
conductingnounUS /kənˈdʌktɪŋ/
the way of administering a business
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
copper-colored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next she arrayed herself in a filmy breakfast thing, white with a copper-colored sash matching some of the tones in her hair and eyes, and simple with an angelic simplicity.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading Then, on one of the padded silk hangers, she hung it far in the depths of the closet, where it wouldn't scorch her sight in the morning.
opinion or judgment
From this reading There were tears in her heart, but her eyes only smarted.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Then, on one of the padded silk hangers, she hung it far in the depths of the closet, where it wouldn't scorch her sight in the morning.
filmyadjective
so thin as to transmit light
From this reading Next she arrayed herself in a filmy breakfast thing, white with a copper-colored sash matching some of the tones in her hair and eyes, and simple with an angelic simplicity.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Next she arrayed herself in a filmy breakfast thing, white with a copper-colored sash matching some of the tones in her hair and eyes, and simple with an angelic simplicity.
hangersnounUS /ˈhæŋərz/
plural of “hanger” — a worker who hangs something
From this reading Then, on one of the padded silk hangers, she hung it far in the depths of the closet, where it wouldn't scorch her sight in the morning.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading There were tears in her heart, but her eyes only smarted.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There were tears in her heart, but her eyes only smarted.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Next she arrayed herself in a filmy breakfast thing, white with a copper-colored sash matching some of the tones in her hair and eyes, and simple with an angelic simplicity.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Then, on one of the padded silk hangers, she hung it far in the depths of the closet, where it wouldn't scorch her sight in the morning.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Taking off the blue-black tea-gown, she clasped it in her arms and kissed it.
past form of “kiss” — touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.
From this reading Taking off the blue-black tea-gown, she clasped it in her arms and kissed it.
Letty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
matchingadjectiveUS /ˈmætʃɪŋ/
being two identical
From this reading Next she arrayed herself in a filmy breakfast thing, white with a copper-colored sash matching some of the tones in her hair and eyes, and simple with an angelic simplicity.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Then, on one of the padded silk hangers, she hung it far in the depths of the closet, where it wouldn't scorch her sight in the morning.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Next she arrayed herself in a filmy breakfast thing, white with a copper-colored sash matching some of the tones in her hair and eyes, and simple with an angelic simplicity.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then, on one of the padded silk hangers, she hung it far in the depths of the closet, where it wouldn't scorch her sight in the morning.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Taking off the blue-black tea-gown, she clasped it in her arms and kissed it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then, on one of the padded silk hangers, she hung it far in the depths of the closet, where it wouldn't scorch her sight in the morning.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Then, on one of the padded silk hangers, she hung it far in the depths of the closet, where it wouldn't scorch her sight in the morning.
and nothing more
From this reading There were tears in her heart, but her eyes only smarted.
paddedadjectiveUS /ˈpædɪd/
softened by the addition of cushions or padding
From this reading Then, on one of the padded silk hangers, she hung it far in the depths of the closet, where it wouldn't scorch her sight in the morning.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
poignantadjectiveUS /ˈpɔɪnjənt/
arousing affect
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
sashnounUS /sæʃ/
a framework that holds the panes of a window in the window frame
From this reading Next she arrayed herself in a filmy breakfast thing, white with a copper-colored sash matching some of the tones in her hair and eyes, and simple with an angelic simplicity.
scorchverbUS /skɔːrtʃ/
make very hot and dry
From this reading Then, on one of the padded silk hangers, she hung it far in the depths of the closet, where it wouldn't scorch her sight in the morning.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Taking off the blue-black tea-gown, she clasped it in her arms and kissed it.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Then, on one of the padded silk hangers, she hung it far in the depths of the closet, where it wouldn't scorch her sight in the morning.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading Then, on one of the padded silk hangers, she hung it far in the depths of the closet, where it wouldn't scorch her sight in the morning.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading Next she arrayed herself in a filmy breakfast thing, white with a copper-colored sash matching some of the tones in her hair and eyes, and simple with an angelic simplicity.
simplicitynounUS /sɪmˈplɪsəti/
the quality of being simple or uncompounded
From this reading Next she arrayed herself in a filmy breakfast thing, white with a copper-colored sash matching some of the tones in her hair and eyes, and simple with an angelic simplicity.
smartedverbUS /ˈsmɑːrtɪd/
past form of “smart” — be the source of pain
From this reading There were tears in her heart, but her eyes only smarted.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Next she arrayed herself in a filmy breakfast thing, white with a copper-colored sash matching some of the tones in her hair and eyes, and simple with an angelic simplicity.
refrain from harming
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
tea-gown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Taking off the blue-black tea-gown, she clasped it in her arms and kissed it.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, on one of the padded silk hangers, she hung it far in the depths of the closet, where it wouldn't scorch her sight in the morning.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were tears in her heart, but her eyes only smarted.
a special situation
From this reading Next she arrayed herself in a filmy breakfast thing, white with a copper-colored sash matching some of the tones in her hair and eyes, and simple with an angelic simplicity.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading Next she arrayed herself in a filmy breakfast thing, white with a copper-colored sash matching some of the tones in her hair and eyes, and simple with an angelic simplicity.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were tears in her heart, but her eyes only smarted.
in or at the place that
From this reading Then, on one of the padded silk hangers, she hung it far in the depths of the closet, where it wouldn't scorch her sight in the morning.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While this conversation was taking place Letty, in the back spare room, was conducting a ceremonial too poignant for tears.
a Caucasian
From this reading Next she arrayed herself in a filmy breakfast thing, white with a copper-colored sash matching some of the tones in her hair and eyes, and simple with an angelic simplicity.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Next she arrayed herself in a filmy breakfast thing, white with a copper-colored sash matching some of the tones in her hair and eyes, and simple with an angelic simplicity.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, on one of the padded silk hangers, she hung it far in the depths of the closet, where it wouldn't scorch her sight in the morning.
