used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a small room, poorly furnished, and, fretted by its limitations, the child became speedily fractious.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It surprised him, and left him vaguely disappointed.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading It was a small room, poorly furnished, and, fretted by its limitations, the child became speedily fractious.
next to; at the side of
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
terminate
From this reading To break off their interview thus sharply seemed to him motiveless.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was a small room, poorly furnished, and, fretted by its limitations, the child became speedily fractious.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
a young person of either sex
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
a small house with a single story
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could see no reason for it, and his gaze followed her receding figure with speculative regret.
disappointingly unsuccessful
From this reading It surprised him, and left him vaguely disappointed.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading He could see no reason for it, and his gaze followed her receding figure with speculative regret.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading He could see no reason for it, and his gaze followed her receding figure with speculative regret.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He could see no reason for it, and his gaze followed her receding figure with speculative regret.
fractiousadjectiveUS /ˈfrækʃəs/
stubbornly resistant to authority or control
From this reading It was a small room, poorly furnished, and, fretted by its limitations, the child became speedily fractious.
frettedadjectiveUS /ˈfretɪd/
having frets
From this reading It was a small room, poorly furnished, and, fretted by its limitations, the child became speedily fractious.
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading It was a small room, poorly furnished, and, fretted by its limitations, the child became speedily fractious.
a long fixed look
From this reading He could see no reason for it, and his gaze followed her receding figure with speculative regret.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could see no reason for it, and his gaze followed her receding figure with speculative regret.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He could see no reason for it, and his gaze followed her receding figure with speculative regret.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It surprised him, and left him vaguely disappointed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He could see no reason for it, and his gaze followed her receding figure with speculative regret.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading To break off their interview thus sharply seemed to him motiveless.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It surprised him, and left him vaguely disappointed.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was a small room, poorly furnished, and, fretted by its limitations, the child became speedily fractious.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading It surprised him, and left him vaguely disappointed.
limitationsnounUS /ˌlɪmɪˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “limitation” — a principle that limits the extent of something
From this reading It was a small room, poorly furnished, and, fretted by its limitations, the child became speedily fractious.
motivelessadjective
occurring without motivation or provocation
From this reading To break off their interview thus sharply seemed to him motiveless.
not any; not one
From this reading He could see no reason for it, and his gaze followed her receding figure with speculative regret.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading To break off their interview thus sharply seemed to him motiveless.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
parlournounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
poorlyadverbUS /ˈpuːrli/
(“ill” is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well
From this reading It was a small room, poorly furnished, and, fretted by its limitations, the child became speedily fractious.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading He could see no reason for it, and his gaze followed her receding figure with speculative regret.
recedingnounUS /rɪˈsiːdɪŋ/
a slow or gradual disappearance
From this reading He could see no reason for it, and his gaze followed her receding figure with speculative regret.
feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading He could see no reason for it, and his gaze followed her receding figure with speculative regret.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading It was a small room, poorly furnished, and, fretted by its limitations, the child became speedily fractious.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He could see no reason for it, and his gaze followed her receding figure with speculative regret.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading To break off their interview thus sharply seemed to him motiveless.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading To break off their interview thus sharply seemed to him motiveless.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was a small room, poorly furnished, and, fretted by its limitations, the child became speedily fractious.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
speculativeadjectiveUS /ˈspekjələtɪv/
not financially safe or secure
From this reading He could see no reason for it, and his gaze followed her receding figure with speculative regret.
speedilyadverbUS /ˈspiːdəli/
with speed
From this reading It was a small room, poorly furnished, and, fretted by its limitations, the child became speedily fractious.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading It surprised him, and left him vaguely disappointed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading To break off their interview thus sharply seemed to him motiveless.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading To break off their interview thus sharply seemed to him motiveless.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To break off their interview thus sharply seemed to him motiveless.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
vaguelyadverbUS /ˈveɪɡli/
in a vague way
From this reading It surprised him, and left him vaguely disappointed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
at the time that
From this reading When she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
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 she was out of sight he picked the child up, and, carrying him into the cottage parlour, sat down beside the open window, smoking, and thinking of her.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He could see no reason for it, and his gaze followed her receding figure with speculative regret.
