Chapter XI · Chapter 11

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous)

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

Having no one else present.

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

declared publicly; made widely known

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

being in a state of proper equilibrium

From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.

beaklike mouth of animals other than birds (e.g., turtles)

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.

an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

plural of “claw” — sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

reduced in size or pulled together

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

past form of “dilate” — become wider

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

-ing form of “discover” — discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Serena Lovegrove had opened the door suddenly.

the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.

refined and tasteful in appearance or behavior or style

From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.

opinion or judgment

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

having lost freshness or brilliance of color

From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.

a small plastic magnetic disk enclosed in a stiff envelope with a radial slit; used to store data or programs for a microcomputer

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Serena Lovegrove had opened the door suddenly.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.

past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

a woman host

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

an expression of greeting

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

Spanish singer noted for his ballads and love songs (born in 1943)

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.

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 Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Serena Lovegrove had opened the door suddenly.

with malice; in a malicious manner

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body

From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.

not one and not the other of two

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

held or filled or in use

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading Serena Lovegrove had opened the door suddenly.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

usually brightly colored zygodactyl tropical birds with short hooked beaks and the ability to mimic sounds

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

continue talking

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

plural of “pupil” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

perception by means of the eyes

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Serena Lovegrove had opened the door suddenly.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

walk stiffly

From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading Serena Lovegrove had opened the door suddenly.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

not brought to a conclusion; subject to further thought

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.

in a vertical position; not sloping

From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

during the time that

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

in the company of; together with

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.

a bluish-white lustrous metallic element; brittle at ordinary temperatures but malleable when heated; used in a wide variety of alloys and in galvanizing iron; it occurs naturally as zinc sulphide in zinc blende

From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.