used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "If only she were a boy!"
absurdlyadverbUS /əbˈsɜːrdli/
in an absurd manner or to an absurd degree
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Mrs. Treharne almost moaned the words.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The maid, a thin-lipped young woman with a jutting jaw and an implacable eye, pantomimed her annoyance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
annoyancenounUS /əˈnɔɪəns/
the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed
From this reading The maid, a thin-lipped young woman with a jutting jaw and an implacable eye, pantomimed her annoyance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
attemptingverbUS /əˈtemptɪŋ/
-ing form of “attempt” — make an effort or attempt
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
boudoirnounUS /ˈbuːdɔɪr/
a lady's bedroom or private sitting room
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
a youthful male person
From this reading "If only she were a boy!"
braidverbUS /breɪd/
make by braiding or interlacing
From this reading Heloise, who was doing her hair, juggled and then dropped a flaming red coronet braid upon the rug.
coronetnounUS /ˈkɔːrəˈnet/
a small crown; usually indicates a high rank but below that of sovereign
From this reading Heloise, who was doing her hair, juggled and then dropped a flaming red coronet braid upon the rug.
diaphanousadjectiveUS /daɪˈæfənɪs/
so thin as to transmit light
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Heloise, who was doing her hair, juggled and then dropped a flaming red coronet braid upon the rug.
dressing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Heloise, who was doing her hair, juggled and then dropped a flaming red coronet braid upon the rug.
the organ of sight
From this reading The maid, a thin-lipped young woman with a jutting jaw and an implacable eye, pantomimed her annoyance.
fastenverbUS /ˈfæsən/
cause to be firmly attached
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
flamingadjectiveUS /ˈfleɪmɪŋ/
informal intensifiers
From this reading Heloise, who was doing her hair, juggled and then dropped a flaming red coronet braid upon the rug.
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
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 Heloise, who was doing her hair, juggled and then dropped a flaming red coronet braid upon the rug.
Heloisenoun
student and mistress and wife of Abelard (circa 1098-1164)
From this reading Heloise, who was doing her hair, juggled and then dropped a flaming red coronet braid upon the rug.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If only she were a boy!"
implacableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈplækəbəl/
incapable of being placated
From this reading The maid, a thin-lipped young woman with a jutting jaw and an implacable eye, pantomimed her annoyance.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
jacketnounUS /ˈdʒækət/
a short coat
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
jawverbUS /dʒɔː/
talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading The maid, a thin-lipped young woman with a jutting jaw and an implacable eye, pantomimed her annoyance.
juggledverbUS /ˈdʒʌɡəld/
past form of “juggle” — influence by slyness
From this reading Heloise, who was doing her hair, juggled and then dropped a flaming red coronet braid upon the rug.
juttingadjectiveUS /ˈdʒʌtɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading The maid, a thin-lipped young woman with a jutting jaw and an implacable eye, pantomimed her annoyance.
a female domestic
From this reading The maid, a thin-lipped young woman with a jutting jaw and an implacable eye, pantomimed her annoyance.
moanedverbUS /moʊnd/
past form of “moan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading Mrs. Treharne almost moaned the words.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Treharne almost moaned the words.
nervouslyadverbUS /ˈnɜːrvəsli/
in an anxiously nervous manner
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
and nothing more
From this reading "If only she were a boy!"
over-warm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
pantomimed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The maid, a thin-lipped young woman with a jutting jaw and an implacable eye, pantomimed her annoyance.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Heloise, who was doing her hair, juggled and then dropped a flaming red coronet braid upon the rug.
rugnounUS /rʌɡ/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading Heloise, who was doing her hair, juggled and then dropped a flaming red coronet braid upon the rug.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "If only she were a boy!"
shudderedverbUS /ˈʃʌdərd/
past form of “shudder” — shake, as from cold
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. Treharne almost moaned the words.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Heloise, who was doing her hair, juggled and then dropped a flaming red coronet braid upon the rug.
thin-lipped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The maid, a thin-lipped young woman with a jutting jaw and an implacable eye, pantomimed her annoyance.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
Treharne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Treharne almost moaned the words.
tuggedverbUS /tʌɡd/
inflected form of “tug” — pull hard
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
uncontrolledadjectiveUS /ˌʌnkənˈtroʊld/
not being under control; out of control
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Heloise, who was doing her hair, juggled and then dropped a flaming red coronet braid upon the rug.
vainlyadverbUS /ˈveɪnli/
to no avail
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "If only she were a boy!"
which person or people
From this reading Heloise, who was doing her hair, juggled and then dropped a flaming red coronet braid upon the rug.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She tugged nervously at her absurdly diaphanous boudoir jacket, vainly attempting to fasten it with fluttering, uncontrolled fingers; and she shuddered, though her dressing-room was over-warm.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The maid, a thin-lipped young woman with a jutting jaw and an implacable eye, pantomimed her annoyance.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Mrs. Treharne almost moaned the words.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The maid, a thin-lipped young woman with a jutting jaw and an implacable eye, pantomimed her annoyance.
