used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A RECOVERY There was a moment of intense silence, only emphasized by the settling rustle of the girl’s dress.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
BeatricenounUS /ˈbiːətrəs/
the woman who guided Dante through Paradise in the Divine Comedy
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Ralph spoke first, swallowing once or twice in his throat before speaking, and trying to smile.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A RECOVERY There was a moment of intense silence, only emphasized by the settling rustle of the girl’s dress.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
dignifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdɪɡnəfaɪd/
having or expressing dignity; especially formality or stateliness in bearing or appearance
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
put on clothes
From this reading A RECOVERY There was a moment of intense silence, only emphasized by the settling rustle of the girl’s dress.
emphasizedadjectiveUS /ˈemfəsaɪzd/
spoken with emphasis
From this reading A RECOVERY There was a moment of intense silence, only emphasized by the settling rustle of the girl’s dress.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Ralph spoke first, swallowing once or twice in his throat before speaking, and trying to smile.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading A RECOVERY There was a moment of intense silence, only emphasized by the settling rustle of the girl’s dress.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “It is you then,” he said.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ralph spoke first, swallowing once or twice in his throat before speaking, and trying to smile.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading A RECOVERY There was a moment of intense silence, only emphasized by the settling rustle of the girl’s dress.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It is you then,” he said.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
a particular point in time
From this reading A RECOVERY There was a moment of intense silence, only emphasized by the settling rustle of the girl’s dress.
MorrisnounUS /ˈmɔːrəs/
United States suffragist in Wyoming (1814-1902)
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
a form of address for a man
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A RECOVERY There was a moment of intense silence, only emphasized by the settling rustle of the girl’s dress.
on one occasion
From this reading Ralph spoke first, swallowing once or twice in his throat before speaking, and trying to smile.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
and nothing more
From this reading A RECOVERY There was a moment of intense silence, only emphasized by the settling rustle of the girl’s dress.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Ralph spoke first, swallowing once or twice in his throat before speaking, and trying to smile.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph spoke first, swallowing once or twice in his throat before speaking, and trying to smile.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
RECOVERYnounUS /rɪˈkʌvri/
return to an original state
From this reading A RECOVERY There was a moment of intense silence, only emphasized by the settling rustle of the girl’s dress.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
rustleverbUS /ˈrʌsəl/
make a dry crackling sound
From this reading A RECOVERY There was a moment of intense silence, only emphasized by the settling rustle of the girl’s dress.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “It is you then,” he said.
settlingnounUS /ˈsetəlɪŋ/
a gradual sinking to a lower level
From this reading A RECOVERY There was a moment of intense silence, only emphasized by the settling rustle of the girl’s dress.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading A RECOVERY There was a moment of intense silence, only emphasized by the settling rustle of the girl’s dress.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Ralph spoke first, swallowing once or twice in his throat before speaking, and trying to smile.
with low volume
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading Ralph spoke first, swallowing once or twice in his throat before speaking, and trying to smile.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Ralph spoke first, swallowing once or twice in his throat before speaking, and trying to smile.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
swallowingverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊɪŋ/
-ing form of “swallow” — pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading Ralph spoke first, swallowing once or twice in his throat before speaking, and trying to smile.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A RECOVERY There was a moment of intense silence, only emphasized by the settling rustle of the girl’s dress.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “It is you then,” he said.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A RECOVERY There was a moment of intense silence, only emphasized by the settling rustle of the girl’s dress.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading Ralph spoke first, swallowing once or twice in his throat before speaking, and trying to smile.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
hard to endure
From this reading Ralph spoke first, swallowing once or twice in his throat before speaking, and trying to smile.
two times
From this reading Ralph spoke first, swallowing once or twice in his throat before speaking, and trying to smile.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
precisely as stated
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A RECOVERY There was a moment of intense silence, only emphasized by the settling rustle of the girl’s dress.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
which person or people
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
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 The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The door had closed softly, and Mr. Morris stood within, in the shadow by the window, ready to give help if it were needed.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Beatrice remained a yard inside the room, very upright and dignified, a little pale, looking from one to the other of the two brothers, who stared back at her as at a ghost.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “It is you then,” he said.
