used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SEEING THE SUN RISE What a delicate air there was in the garden!
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading SEEING THE SUN RISE What a delicate air there was in the garden!
(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 The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
in a state of sleep
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There had been a little rain in the night, but Valentia supposed it to be dew.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been a little rain in the night, but Valentia supposed it to be dew.
blindsnounUS /blaɪndz/
plural of “blind” — people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There had been a little rain in the night, but Valentia supposed it to be dew.
daintyadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪnti/
delicately beautiful
From this reading Every little sound seemed the softest music, to the sound of which little dainty things seemed to be dancing in the air.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading Every little sound seemed the softest music, to the sound of which little dainty things seemed to be dancing in the air.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading SEEING THE SUN RISE What a delicate air there was in the garden!
dewnounUS /duː/
water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air
From this reading There had been a little rain in the night, but Valentia supposed it to be dew.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every little sound seemed the softest music, to the sound of which little dainty things seemed to be dancing in the air.
apart from; not including
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
the organ of sight
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment she was a little frightened.
made afraid
From this reading For a moment she was a little frightened.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading SEEING THE SUN RISE What a delicate air there was in the garden!
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
GeorgiannounUS /ˈdʒɔːrdʒən/
a native or resident of the American state of Georgia
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
glamournounUS /ˈɡlæmər/
alluring beauty or charm (often with sex-appeal)
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There had been a little rain in the night, but Valentia supposed it to be dew.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SEEING THE SUN RISE What a delicate air there was in the garden!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There had been a little rain in the night, but Valentia supposed it to be dew.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There had been a little rain in the night, but Valentia supposed it to be dew.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment she was a little frightened.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading Every little sound seemed the softest music, to the sound of which little dainty things seemed to be dancing in the air.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading There had been a little rain in the night, but Valentia supposed it to be dew.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Every little sound seemed the softest music, to the sound of which little dainty things seemed to be dancing in the air.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading There had been a little rain in the night, but Valentia supposed it to be dew.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
move upward
From this reading SEEING THE SUN RISE What a delicate air there was in the garden!
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading SEEING THE SUN RISE What a delicate air there was in the garden!
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Every little sound seemed the softest music, to the sound of which little dainty things seemed to be dancing in the air.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For a moment she was a little frightened.
softestadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːftəst/
superlative of “soft” — yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading Every little sound seemed the softest music, to the sound of which little dainty things seemed to be dancing in the air.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Every little sound seemed the softest music, to the sound of which little dainty things seemed to be dancing in the air.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading SEEING THE SUN RISE What a delicate air there was in the garden!
required or under orders
From this reading There had been a little rain in the night, but Valentia supposed it to be dew.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SEEING THE SUN RISE What a delicate air there was in the garden!
in or at that place or location
From this reading SEEING THE SUN RISE What a delicate air there was in the garden!
a special situation
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Every little sound seemed the softest music, to the sound of which little dainty things seemed to be dancing in the air.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There had been a little rain in the night, but Valentia supposed it to be dew.
Valentia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a little rain in the night, but Valentia supposed it to be dew.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SEEING THE SUN RISE What a delicate air there was in the garden!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading SEEING THE SUN RISE What a delicate air there was in the garden!
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Every little sound seemed the softest music, to the sound of which little dainty things seemed to be dancing in the air.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Green Gate, a red Georgian house, seen in the early glamour with all its blinds down, except one, seemed like a thing half asleep with one eye open.
