used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
in actual fact
From this reading When the sound of wheels, followed by a loud ring at the bell, told her that he was actually at the door, she felt faint from the violence of her heart's beating.
(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 When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading When the sound of wheels, followed by a loud ring at the bell, told her that he was actually at the door, she felt faint from the violence of her heart's beating.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading When the sound of wheels, followed by a loud ring at the bell, told her that he was actually at the door, she felt faint from the violence of her heart's beating.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
confessionsnounUS /kənˈfeʃənz/
plural of “confession” — an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Dorothea danced into the hail, with a cry and a laugh which were stifled in her father's embrace.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
dancedverbUS /dænst/
past form of “dance” — move in a graceful and rhythmical way
From this reading Dorothea danced into the hail, with a cry and a laugh which were stifled in her father's embrace.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
Diane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading When the sound of wheels, followed by a loud ring at the bell, told her that he was actually at the door, she felt faint from the violence of her heart's beating.
Dorothea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
drawingrooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
embraceverbUS /emˈbreɪs/
include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory
From this reading Dorothea danced into the hail, with a cry and a laugh which were stifled in her father's embrace.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading When the sound of wheels, followed by a loud ring at the bell, told her that he was actually at the door, she felt faint from the violence of her heart's beating.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Dorothea danced into the hail, with a cry and a laugh which were stifled in her father's embrace.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading When the sound of wheels, followed by a loud ring at the bell, told her that he was actually at the door, she felt faint from the violence of her heart's beating.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading When the sound of wheels, followed by a loud ring at the bell, told her that he was actually at the door, she felt faint from the violence of her heart's beating.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
hailverbUS /heɪl/
praise vociferously
From this reading Dorothea danced into the hail, with a cry and a laugh which were stifled in her father's embrace.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
heart'snounUS /hɑːrts/
possessive form of “heart” — the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading When the sound of wheels, followed by a loud ring at the bell, told her that he was actually at the door, she felt faint from the violence of her heart's beating.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
inspectionnounUS /ˌɪnˈspekʃən/
a formal or official examination
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Dorothea danced into the hail, with a cry and a laugh which were stifled in her father's embrace.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
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 So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
immediately past
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
the sound of laughing
From this reading Dorothea danced into the hail, with a cry and a laugh which were stifled in her father's embrace.
lightingnounUS /ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
having abundant light or illumination
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
lord'snounUS /lɔːrdz/
possessive form of “lord” — terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading When the sound of wheels, followed by a loud ring at the bell, told her that he was actually at the door, she felt faint from the violence of her heart's beating.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
obscurest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
with speed
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
readinessnounUS /ˈredinəs/
the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
remotestadjectiveUS /rɪˈmoʊtəst/
superlative of “remote” — located far away spatially
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading When the sound of wheels, followed by a loud ring at the bell, told her that he was actually at the door, she felt faint from the violence of her heart's beating.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
shrinkingnounUS /ˈʃrɪŋkɪŋ/
process or result of becoming less or smaller
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading When the sound of wheels, followed by a loud ring at the bell, told her that he was actually at the door, she felt faint from the violence of her heart's beating.
stationedverbUS /ˈsteɪʃənd/
past form of “station” — assign to a station
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
stifledadjectiveUS /ˈstaɪfəld/
held in check with difficulty
From this reading Dorothea danced into the hail, with a cry and a laugh which were stifled in her father's embrace.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When the sound of wheels, followed by a loud ring at the bell, told her that he was actually at the door, she felt faint from the violence of her heart's beating.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading When the sound of wheels, followed by a loud ring at the bell, told her that he was actually at the door, she felt faint from the violence of her heart's beating.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)
From this reading When the sound of wheels, followed by a loud ring at the bell, told her that he was actually at the door, she felt faint from the violence of her heart's beating.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
accept gladly
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Dorothea danced into the hail, with a cry and a laugh which were stifled in her father's embrace.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
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 When the sound of wheels, followed by a loud ring at the bell, told her that he was actually at the door, she felt faint from the violence of her heart's beating.
at the time that
From this reading The last touch of welcome came when they passed from room to room, lighting up the big house in cheerful readiness for its lord's inspection.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Dorothea danced into the hail, with a cry and a laugh which were stifled in her father's embrace.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading So, in soft, whispered, broken confessions the evening slipped away more rapidly than the day had done, and by ten o'clock they knew he must be near.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When all was done Dorothea stationed herself at a window near the street; while Diane, with a curious shrinking from what she had to face, took her seat in the remotest and obscurest corner in the more distant of the two drawingrooms.
