used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
adjustingverbUS /əˈdʒʌstɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjust” — alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last he seemed to find what he was looking for--a drapery of soft gray material.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
past form of “betray” — reveal unintentionally
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
BurnettnounUS /bərˈnet/
United States writer (born in England) remembered for her novels for children (1849-1924)
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
put or send forth
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
chestsnounUS /tʃests/
plural of “chest” — the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
clatternounUS /ˈklætər/
a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)
From this reading There was a clatter of the old French knocker.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Several days passed.
draperiesnounUS /ˈdreɪpəriz/
plural of “drapery” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
draperynounUS /ˈdreɪpəri/
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading At last he seemed to find what he was looking for--a drapery of soft gray material.
drawersnounUS /drɔːrz/
underpants worn by men
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
easelnounUS /ˈiːzəl/
an upright tripod for displaying something (usually an artist's canvas)
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
opinion or judgment
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading At last he seemed to find what he was looking for--a drapery of soft gray material.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At last he seemed to find what he was looking for--a drapery of soft gray material.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading There was a clatter of the old French knocker.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading At last he seemed to find what he was looking for--a drapery of soft gray material.
half-closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At last he seemed to find what he was looking for--a drapery of soft gray material.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
knockernoun
(Yiddish) a big shot who knows it and acts that way; a boastful immoderate person
From this reading There was a clatter of the old French knocker.
immediately past
From this reading At last he seemed to find what he was looking for--a drapery of soft gray material.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading At last he seemed to find what he was looking for--a drapery of soft gray material.
loweringadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərɪŋ/
darkened by clouds
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests
From this reading At last he seemed to find what he was looking for--a drapery of soft gray material.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading There was a clatter of the old French knocker.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Several days passed.
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
the event of something being raised upward
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
RossnounUS /rɑːs/
Scottish explorer who led Arctic expeditions that yielded geographic discoveries while searching for the Northwest Passage (1777-1856)
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading At last he seemed to find what he was looking for--a drapery of soft gray material.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Several days passed.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading At last he seemed to find what he was looking for--a drapery of soft gray material.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
studionounUS /ˈstuːdioʊ/
workplace for the teaching or practice of an art
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a clatter of the old French knocker.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At last he seemed to find what he was looking for--a drapery of soft gray material.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At last he seemed to find what he was looking for--a drapery of soft gray material.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading At last he seemed to find what he was looking for--a drapery of soft gray material.
in or at the place that
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Ross Burnett moved about the studio adjusting a canvas upon an easel, bringing out draperies, raising and lowering curtains, and peering into drawers and chests in a manner which betrayed an uncertain state of mind.
in the company of; together with
From this reading This he cast over the back of the easel, walked back from it to the far side of the room where he put his head on one side and looked with half-closed eyes.
