used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After a moment, she wiped her eyes with her handkerchief and began to put on her hat.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a moment, she wiped her eyes with her handkerchief and began to put on her hat.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The voice ceased, the whirring of the instrument came to an end, and an invisible spirit seemed to fade into the air.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The voice ceased, the whirring of the instrument came to an end, and an invisible spirit seemed to fade into the air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The voice ceased, the whirring of the instrument came to an end, and an invisible spirit seemed to fade into the air.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading After a moment, she wiped her eyes with her handkerchief and began to put on her hat.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading The pattering of the rain had stopped, and there was the crackle of cab wheels on the pavement below.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Roma had dropped Rossi's hand, and was leaning forward on her knees with both hands over her face.
cabnounUS /kæb/
a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading The pattering of the rain had stopped, and there was the crackle of cab wheels on the pavement below.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The voice ceased, the whirring of the instrument came to an end, and an invisible spirit seemed to fade into the air.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading The voice ceased, the whirring of the instrument came to an end, and an invisible spirit seemed to fade into the air.
crackleverbUS /ˈkrækəl/
make a crackling sound
From this reading The pattering of the rain had stopped, and there was the crackle of cab wheels on the pavement below.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Roma had dropped Rossi's hand, and was leaning forward on her knees with both hands over her face.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The voice ceased, the whirring of the instrument came to an end, and an invisible spirit seemed to fade into the air.
opinion or judgment
From this reading After a moment, she wiped her eyes with her handkerchief and began to put on her hat.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Roma had dropped Rossi's hand, and was leaning forward on her knees with both hands over her face.
fadeverbUS /feɪd/
become less clearly visible or distinguishable; disappear gradually or seemingly
From this reading The voice ceased, the whirring of the instrument came to an end, and an invisible spirit seemed to fade into the air.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Roma had dropped Rossi's hand, and was leaning forward on her knees with both hands over her face.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The pattering of the rain had stopped, and there was the crackle of cab wheels on the pavement below.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Roma had dropped Rossi's hand, and was leaning forward on her knees with both hands over her face.
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
From this reading After a moment, she wiped her eyes with her handkerchief and began to put on her hat.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Roma had dropped Rossi's hand, and was leaning forward on her knees with both hands over her face.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading After a moment, she wiped her eyes with her handkerchief and began to put on her hat.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Roma had dropped Rossi's hand, and was leaning forward on her knees with both hands over her face.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How long is it since you received this message?" she said.
instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/
a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading The voice ceased, the whirring of the instrument came to an end, and an invisible spirit seemed to fade into the air.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The voice ceased, the whirring of the instrument came to an end, and an invisible spirit seemed to fade into the air.
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading The voice ceased, the whirring of the instrument came to an end, and an invisible spirit seemed to fade into the air.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "How long is it since you received this message?" she said.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "How long is it since you received this message?" she said.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Roma had dropped Rossi's hand, and was leaning forward on her knees with both hands over her face.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading Roma had dropped Rossi's hand, and was leaning forward on her knees with both hands over her face.
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 "How long is it since you received this message?" she said.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading "How long is it since you received this message?" she said.
a particular point in time
From this reading After a moment, she wiped her eyes with her handkerchief and began to put on her hat.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The voice ceased, the whirring of the instrument came to an end, and an invisible spirit seemed to fade into the air.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The pattering of the rain had stopped, and there was the crackle of cab wheels on the pavement below.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Roma had dropped Rossi's hand, and was leaning forward on her knees with both hands over her face.
pattering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pattering of the rain had stopped, and there was the crackle of cab wheels on the pavement below.
pavementnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənt/
the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading The pattering of the rain had stopped, and there was the crackle of cab wheels on the pavement below.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading After a moment, she wiped her eyes with her handkerchief and began to put on her hat.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The pattering of the rain had stopped, and there was the crackle of cab wheels on the pavement below.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading "How long is it since you received this message?" she said.
RomanounUS /ˈroʊmɑː/
a member of a people with dark skin and hair who speak Romany and who traditionally live by seasonal work and fortunetelling
From this reading Roma had dropped Rossi's hand, and was leaning forward on her knees with both hands over her face.
Rossi's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Roma had dropped Rossi's hand, and was leaning forward on her knees with both hands over her face.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "How long is it since you received this message?" she said.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The voice ceased, the whirring of the instrument came to an end, and an invisible spirit seemed to fade into the air.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After a moment, she wiped her eyes with her handkerchief and began to put on her hat.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading "How long is it since you received this message?" she said.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading The voice ceased, the whirring of the instrument came to an end, and an invisible spirit seemed to fade into the air.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading The pattering of the rain had stopped, and there was the crackle of cab wheels on the pavement below.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The voice ceased, the whirring of the instrument came to an end, and an invisible spirit seemed to fade into the air.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The pattering of the rain had stopped, and there was the crackle of cab wheels on the pavement below.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "How long is it since you received this message?" she said.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The voice ceased, the whirring of the instrument came to an end, and an invisible spirit seemed to fade into the air.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The voice ceased, the whirring of the instrument came to an end, and an invisible spirit seemed to fade into the air.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The pattering of the rain had stopped, and there was the crackle of cab wheels on the pavement below.
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/
plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
From this reading The pattering of the rain had stopped, and there was the crackle of cab wheels on the pavement below.
whirringnounUS /ˈwɜːrɪŋ/
sound of something in rapid motion
From this reading The voice ceased, the whirring of the instrument came to an end, and an invisible spirit seemed to fade into the air.
wipedverbUS /waɪpt/
past form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion
From this reading After a moment, she wiped her eyes with her handkerchief and began to put on her hat.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Roma had dropped Rossi's hand, and was leaning forward on her knees with both hands over her face.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "How long is it since you received this message?" she said.
