used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She stood in the doorway, a patched and ragged Cinderella of the desert.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She stood in the doorway, a patched and ragged Cinderella of the desert.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A silent, sullen lass, one might have guessed, and the judgment would have been true as most first impressions.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A silent, sullen lass, one might have guessed, and the judgment would have been true as most first impressions.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
brogans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
cheapadjectiveUS /tʃiːp/
relatively low in price or charging low prices
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
CinderellanounUS /ˌsɪndərˈelə/
a woman whose merits were not been recognized but who then achieves sudden success and recognition
From this reading She stood in the doorway, a patched and ragged Cinderella of the desert.
coarseadjectiveUS /kɔːrs/
of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
curvedadjectiveUS /kɜːrvd/
having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
descendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsendɪŋ/
coming down or downward
From this reading Upon her slim, ill-poised figure the descending sun slanted a shaft of glory.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading She stood in the doorway, a patched and ragged Cinderella of the desert.
dingyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪndʒi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
discontentnounUS /dɪskənˈtent/
a longing for something better than the present situation
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
disfiguredadjectiveUS /dɪˈsfɪɡjərd/
having the appearance spoiled
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
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 She stood in the doorway, a patched and ragged Cinderella of the desert.
opinion or judgment
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Upon her slim, ill-poised figure the descending sun slanted a shaft of glory.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading A silent, sullen lass, one might have guessed, and the judgment would have been true as most first impressions.
the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
a state of high honor
From this reading Upon her slim, ill-poised figure the descending sun slanted a shaft of glory.
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading A silent, sullen lass, one might have guessed, and the judgment would have been true as most first impressions.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
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 It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A silent, sullen lass, one might have guessed, and the judgment would have been true as most first impressions.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Upon her slim, ill-poised figure the descending sun slanted a shaft of glory.
holesnounUS /hoʊlz/
plural of “hole” — an opening into or through something
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
ill-poised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Upon her slim, ill-poised figure the descending sun slanted a shaft of glory.
impressionsnounUS /ˌɪmˈpreʃənz/
plural of “impression” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading A silent, sullen lass, one might have guessed, and the judgment would have been true as most first impressions.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She stood in the doorway, a patched and ragged Cinderella of the desert.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
an opinion formed by judging something
From this reading A silent, sullen lass, one might have guessed, and the judgment would have been true as most first impressions.
lassnounUS /læs/
a girl or young woman who is unmarried
From this reading A silent, sullen lass, one might have guessed, and the judgment would have been true as most first impressions.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A silent, sullen lass, one might have guessed, and the judgment would have been true as most first impressions.
used to form the superlative
From this reading A silent, sullen lass, one might have guessed, and the judgment would have been true as most first impressions.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She stood in the doorway, a patched and ragged Cinderella of the desert.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A silent, sullen lass, one might have guessed, and the judgment would have been true as most first impressions.
having or expressing strong emotions
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
patchedadjectiveUS /pætʃt/
mended usually clumsily by covering a hole with a patch
From this reading She stood in the doorway, a patched and ragged Cinderella of the desert.
peepedverbUS /piːpt/
past form of “peep” — look furtively
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading She stood in the doorway, a patched and ragged Cinderella of the desert.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
resentfuladjectiveUS /rɪˈzentfəl/
full of or marked by resentment or indignant ill will
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
shaftnounUS /ʃæft/
a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
From this reading Upon her slim, ill-poised figure the descending sun slanted a shaft of glory.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She stood in the doorway, a patched and ragged Cinderella of the desert.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading A silent, sullen lass, one might have guessed, and the judgment would have been true as most first impressions.
slantedadjectiveUS /ˈslæntɪd/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading Upon her slim, ill-poised figure the descending sun slanted a shaft of glory.
slimadjectiveUS /slɪm/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading Upon her slim, ill-poised figure the descending sun slanted a shaft of glory.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
spotlightnounUS /ˈspɑːtlaɪt/
a focus of public attention
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
stockingsnounUS /ˈstɑːkɪŋz/
plural of “stocking” — close-fitting hosiery to cover the foot and leg; come in matched pairs (usually used in the plural)
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading She stood in the doorway, a patched and ragged Cinderella of the desert.
sullenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌlən/
showing a brooding ill humor
From this reading A silent, sullen lass, one might have guessed, and the judgment would have been true as most first impressions.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Upon her slim, ill-poised figure the descending sun slanted a shaft of glory.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She stood in the doorway, a patched and ragged Cinderella of the desert.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading A silent, sullen lass, one might have guessed, and the judgment would have been true as most first impressions.
UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Upon her slim, ill-poised figure the descending sun slanted a shaft of glory.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
a Caucasian
From this reading It caught in a spotlight the cheap, dingy gown, the coarse stockings through the holes of which white flesh peeped, the heavy, broken brogans that disfigured the feet.
wild-flying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A silent, sullen lass, one might have guessed, and the judgment would have been true as most first impressions.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading It beat upon a small head with a mass of black, wild-flying hair, on red lips curved with discontent, into dark eyes passionate and resentful at what fate had made of her young life.
