used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It had left an impression of character and a struggle with forces of which in his sheltered life he had had only a vague conception.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It had left an impression of character and a struggle with forces of which in his sheltered life he had had only a vague conception.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There had been something interesting and appealing in the spirited face of the girl, with her delicate features and wistful eyes.
appealingadjectiveUS /əˈpiːlɪŋ/
able to attract interest or draw favorable attention
From this reading There had been something interesting and appealing in the spirited face of the girl, with her delicate features and wistful eyes.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He could not seem to get away from it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been something interesting and appealing in the spirited face of the girl, with her delicate features and wistful eyes.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading It had left an impression of character and a struggle with forces of which in his sheltered life he had had only a vague conception.
conceptionnounUS /kənˈsepʃən/
an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
From this reading It had left an impression of character and a struggle with forces of which in his sheltered life he had had only a vague conception.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not seem to get away from it.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading There had been something interesting and appealing in the spirited face of the girl, with her delicate features and wistful eyes.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It had left him with the feeling that she was stronger in some ways than himself, and he did not exactly like the sensation of it.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
elevatornounUS /ˈeləveɪtər/
lifting device consisting of a platform or cage that is raised and lowered mechanically in a vertical shaft in order to move people from one floor to another in a building
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading It had left him with the feeling that she was stronger in some ways than himself, and he did not exactly like the sensation of it.
opinion or judgment
From this reading There had been something interesting and appealing in the spirited face of the girl, with her delicate features and wistful eyes.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading There had been something interesting and appealing in the spirited face of the girl, with her delicate features and wistful eyes.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading There had been something interesting and appealing in the spirited face of the girl, with her delicate features and wistful eyes.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading It had left him with the feeling that she was stronger in some ways than himself, and he did not exactly like the sensation of it.
plural of “force” — a powerful effect or influence
From this reading It had left an impression of character and a struggle with forces of which in his sheltered life he had had only a vague conception.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He could not seem to get away from it.
a young female
From this reading There had been something interesting and appealing in the spirited face of the girl, with her delicate features and wistful eyes.
glovesnounUS /ɡlʌvz/
plural of “glove” — the handwear used by fielders in playing baseball
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
GrahamnounUS /ˈɡreɪəm/
United States evangelical preacher famous as a mass evangelist (born in 1918)
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There had been something interesting and appealing in the spirited face of the girl, with her delicate features and wistful eyes.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It had left him with the feeling that she was stronger in some ways than himself, and he did not exactly like the sensation of it.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It had left him with the feeling that she was stronger in some ways than himself, and he did not exactly like the sensation of it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading It had left an impression of character and a struggle with forces of which in his sheltered life he had had only a vague conception.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There had been something interesting and appealing in the spirited face of the girl, with her delicate features and wistful eyes.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading There had been something interesting and appealing in the spirited face of the girl, with her delicate features and wistful eyes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He could not seem to get away from it.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading It had left an impression of character and a struggle with forces of which in his sheltered life he had had only a vague conception.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It had left an impression of character and a struggle with forces of which in his sheltered life he had had only a vague conception.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It had left him with the feeling that she was stronger in some ways than himself, and he did not exactly like the sensation of it.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
a form of address for a man
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not seem to get away from it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There had been something interesting and appealing in the spirited face of the girl, with her delicate features and wistful eyes.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
and nothing more
From this reading It had left an impression of character and a struggle with forces of which in his sheltered life he had had only a vague conception.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He could not seem to get away from it.
an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading It had left him with the feeling that she was stronger in some ways than himself, and he did not exactly like the sensation of it.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
shelteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃeltərd/
protected from danger or bad weather
From this reading It had left an impression of character and a struggle with forces of which in his sheltered life he had had only a vague conception.
Shirley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
SidneynounUS /ˈsɪdni/
English poet (1554-1586)
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It had left him with the feeling that she was stronger in some ways than himself, and he did not exactly like the sensation of it.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There had been something interesting and appealing in the spirited face of the girl, with her delicate features and wistful eyes.
spiritedadjectiveUS /ˈspɪrɪtɪd/
displaying animation, vigor, or liveliness
From this reading There had been something interesting and appealing in the spirited face of the girl, with her delicate features and wistful eyes.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
comparative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading It had left him with the feeling that she was stronger in some ways than himself, and he did not exactly like the sensation of it.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading It had left an impression of character and a struggle with forces of which in his sheltered life he had had only a vague conception.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It had left him with the feeling that she was stronger in some ways than himself, and he did not exactly like the sensation of it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It had left him with the feeling that she was stronger in some ways than himself, and he did not exactly like the sensation of it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There had been something interesting and appealing in the spirited face of the girl, with her delicate features and wistful eyes.
thoughtfullyadverbUS /ˈθɔːtfəli/
in a thoughtful manner
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading It had left an impression of character and a struggle with forces of which in his sheltered life he had had only a vague conception.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It had left him with the feeling that she was stronger in some ways than himself, and he did not exactly like the sensation of it.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading It had left him with the feeling that she was stronger in some ways than himself, and he did not exactly like the sensation of it.
at the time that
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
in or at the place that
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It had left an impression of character and a struggle with forces of which in his sheltered life he had had only a vague conception.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The afternoon before, when Mr. Sidney Graham had returned to his office from seeing Shirley to the elevator, he stood several minutes looking thoughtfully at the chair where she had sat, while he carefully drew on his gloves.
wistfuladjectiveUS /ˈwɪstfəl/
showing pensive sadness
From this reading There had been something interesting and appealing in the spirited face of the girl, with her delicate features and wistful eyes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There had been something interesting and appealing in the spirited face of the girl, with her delicate features and wistful eyes.
