used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Dora was still bending over her work when a well-known tap at the door startled her meditations.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading 'What's the matter, Lucy?' said Dora, after a little pause.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Lucy put her head in, and, finding Dora alone, came in with a look of relief.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lucy put her head in, and, finding Dora alone, came in with a look of relief.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Dora was still bending over her work when a well-known tap at the door startled her meditations.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
bendingnounUS /ˈbendɪŋ/
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading Dora was still bending over her work when a well-known tap at the door startled her meditations.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Lucy put her head in, and, finding Dora alone, came in with a look of relief.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
coilsnounUS /kɔɪlz/
plural of “coil” — a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Dora was still bending over her work when a well-known tap at the door startled her meditations.
Dora
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dora was still bending over her work when a well-known tap at the door startled her meditations.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
feverishadjectiveUS /ˈfiːvərɪʃ/
marked by intense agitation or emotion
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading Lucy put her head in, and, finding Dora alone, came in with a look of relief.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
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 Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Lucy put her head in, and, finding Dora alone, came in with a look of relief.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Dora was still bending over her work when a well-known tap at the door startled her meditations.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lucy put her head in, and, finding Dora alone, came in with a look of relief.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
irritationnounUS /ˌɪrɪˈteɪʃən/
the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
jacketnounUS /ˈdʒækət/
a short coat
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Lucy put her head in, and, finding Dora alone, came in with a look of relief.
incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974
From this reading 'Why--Lucy!'
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading 'What's the matter, Lucy?' said Dora, after a little pause.
meditationsnounUS /ˌmedɪˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “meditation” — continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature
From this reading Dora was still bending over her work when a well-known tap at the door startled her meditations.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Lucy put her head in, and, finding Dora alone, came in with a look of relief.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Dora was still bending over her work when a well-known tap at the door startled her meditations.
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading 'What's the matter, Lucy?' said Dora, after a little pause.
pilotverbUS /ˈpaɪlət/
operate an airplane
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
pinnedverbUS /pɪnd/
inflected form of “pin” — to hold fast or prevent from moving
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Lucy put her head in, and, finding Dora alone, came in with a look of relief.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading Lucy put her head in, and, finding Dora alone, came in with a look of relief.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading 'What's the matter, Lucy?' said Dora, after a little pause.
SettlingnounUS /ˈsetəlɪŋ/
a gradual sinking to a lower level
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
smartadjectiveUS /smɑːrt/
showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
smoothedadjectiveUS /smuːðd/
made smooth by ironing
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Dora was still bending over her work when a well-known tap at the door startled her meditations.
not in physical motion
From this reading Dora was still bending over her work when a well-known tap at the door startled her meditations.
tapverbUS /tæp/
cut a female screw thread with a tap
From this reading Dora was still bending over her work when a well-known tap at the door startled her meditations.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dora was still bending over her work when a well-known tap at the door startled her meditations.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
having come into contact
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
unbuttonedadjectiveUS /ənˈbʌtənd/
not buttoned
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
vexedadjectiveUS /vekst/
troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Dora was still bending over her work when a well-known tap at the door startled her meditations.
well-knownadjectiveUS /ˈwelˈnoʊn/
widely or fully known
From this reading Dora was still bending over her work when a well-known tap at the door startled her meditations.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'What's the matter, Lucy?' said Dora, after a little pause.
at the time that
From this reading Dora was still bending over her work when a well-known tap at the door startled her meditations.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Settling herself in a chair opposite Dora, she took off her hat, smoothed the coils of hair to which it had been pinned, unbuttoned the smart little jacket of pilot cloth, and threw back the silk handkerchief inside; and all with a feverish haste and irritation as though everything she touched vexed her.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading 'Why--Lucy!'
in the company of; together with
From this reading Lucy put her head in, and, finding Dora alone, came in with a look of relief.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Dora was still bending over her work when a well-known tap at the door startled her meditations.
