used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In a pretty room in a large country-house--a much larger and 'grander' house than the Towers, a lady, sweet and young, was lying on a sofa.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She fidgeted from one foot to the other, and frowned as she looked down, and her face was flushed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She had a bright expression usually, but just now she seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
basinnounUS /ˈbeɪsən/
a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading She had a bright expression usually, but just now she seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She had a bright expression usually, but just now she seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
country-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a pretty room in a large country-house--a much larger and 'grander' house than the Towers, a lady, sweet and young, was lying on a sofa.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading In front of her stood a little girl--a pretty little creature of eight or nine.
demanding attention
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She fidgeted from one foot to the other, and frowned as she looked down, and her face was flushed.
move gently or carefully
From this reading She had a bright expression usually, but just now she seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
being one more than seven
From this reading In front of her stood a little girl--a pretty little creature of eight or nine.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading She had a bright expression usually, but just now she seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She fidgeted from one foot to the other, and frowned as she looked down, and her face was flushed.
fidgeted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She fidgeted from one foot to the other, and frowned as she looked down, and her face was flushed.
having the pinkish flush of health
From this reading She fidgeted from one foot to the other, and frowned as she looked down, and her face was flushed.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading She fidgeted from one foot to the other, and frowned as she looked down, and her face was flushed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She fidgeted from one foot to the other, and frowned as she looked down, and her face was flushed.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading In front of her stood a little girl--a pretty little creature of eight or nine.
frownedverbUS /fraʊnd/
past form of “frown” — look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading She fidgeted from one foot to the other, and frowned as she looked down, and her face was flushed.
a young female
From this reading In front of her stood a little girl--a pretty little creature of eight or nine.
the act of departing
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
granderadjectiveUS /ˈɡrændər/
comparative of “grand” — of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading In a pretty room in a large country-house--a much larger and 'grander' house than the Towers, a lady, sweet and young, was lying on a sofa.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had a bright expression usually, but just now she seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading In a pretty room in a large country-house--a much larger and 'grander' house than the Towers, a lady, sweet and young, was lying on a sofa.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading She had a bright expression usually, but just now she seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a pretty room in a large country-house--a much larger and 'grander' house than the Towers, a lady, sweet and young, was lying on a sofa.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
and nothing more
From this reading She had a bright expression usually, but just now she seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading In a pretty room in a large country-house--a much larger and 'grander' house than the Towers, a lady, sweet and young, was lying on a sofa.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In a pretty room in a large country-house--a much larger and 'grander' house than the Towers, a lady, sweet and young, was lying on a sofa.
large or big relative to something else
From this reading In a pretty room in a large country-house--a much larger and 'grander' house than the Towers, a lady, sweet and young, was lying on a sofa.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She fidgeted from one foot to the other, and frowned as she looked down, and her face was flushed.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading In a pretty room in a large country-house--a much larger and 'grander' house than the Towers, a lady, sweet and young, was lying on a sofa.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading In a pretty room in a large country-house--a much larger and 'grander' house than the Towers, a lady, sweet and young, was lying on a sofa.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading In front of her stood a little girl--a pretty little creature of eight or nine.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She had a bright expression usually, but just now she seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In front of her stood a little girl--a pretty little creature of eight or nine.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She fidgeted from one foot to the other, and frowned as she looked down, and her face was flushed.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In front of her stood a little girl--a pretty little creature of eight or nine.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading She fidgeted from one foot to the other, and frowned as she looked down, and her face was flushed.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading In a pretty room in a large country-house--a much larger and 'grander' house than the Towers, a lady, sweet and young, was lying on a sofa.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In a pretty room in a large country-house--a much larger and 'grander' house than the Towers, a lady, sweet and young, was lying on a sofa.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She had a bright expression usually, but just now she seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
sofanounUS /ˈsoʊfə/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading In a pretty room in a large country-house--a much larger and 'grander' house than the Towers, a lady, sweet and young, was lying on a sofa.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading In front of her stood a little girl--a pretty little creature of eight or nine.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading In a pretty room in a large country-house--a much larger and 'grander' house than the Towers, a lady, sweet and young, was lying on a sofa.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In a pretty room in a large country-house--a much larger and 'grander' house than the Towers, a lady, sweet and young, was lying on a sofa.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She fidgeted from one foot to the other, and frowned as she looked down, and her face was flushed.
TowersnounUS /ˈtaʊərz/
plural of “tower” — a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading In a pretty room in a large country-house--a much larger and 'grander' house than the Towers, a lady, sweet and young, was lying on a sofa.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading She had a bright expression usually, but just now she seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
under normal conditions
From this reading She had a bright expression usually, but just now she seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
precisely as stated
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading In a pretty room in a large country-house--a much larger and 'grander' house than the Towers, a lady, sweet and young, was lying on a sofa.
