used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
amountedverbUS /əˈmaʊntɪd/
past form of “amount” — be tantamount or equivalent to
From this reading Everything was strange then, and her desire for strangeness, for unfamiliar impressions, had amounted to a passion.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
appealingadjectiveUS /əˈpiːlɪŋ/
able to attract interest or draw favorable attention
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
cagenounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
canarynounUS /kəˈneri/
someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
a small house with a single story
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading Everything was strange then, and her desire for strangeness, for unfamiliar impressions, had amounted to a passion.
diffusedadjectiveUS /dɪˈfjuːzd/
(of light rays) subjected to scattering by reflection from a rough surface or transmission through a translucent material
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
dominantadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːmənənt/
exercising influence or control
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
energiesnounUS /ˈenərdʒiz/
plural of “energy” — (physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Everything was strange then, and her desire for strangeness, for unfamiliar impressions, had amounted to a passion.
extinguishedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/
of a conditioned response; caused to die out because of the absence or withdrawal of reinforcement
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
set up or found
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
gaspnounUS /ɡæsp/
a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
Gay's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
glideverbUS /ɡlaɪd/
move smoothly and effortlessly
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
gownsnounUS /ɡaʊnz/
plural of “gown” — a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
impressionsnounUS /ˌɪmˈpreʃənz/
plural of “impression” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading Everything was strange then, and her desire for strangeness, for unfamiliar impressions, had amounted to a passion.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
a search for knowledge
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
Jordan'snounUS /ˈdʒɔːrdənz/
possessive form of “jordan” — a river in Palestine that empties into the Dead Sea; John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
landscapenounUS /ˈlændskeɪp/
an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
the act of departing
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
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 Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
loudlyadverbUS /ˈlaʊdli/
with relatively high volume
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
lurchverbUS /lɜːrtʃ/
walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
and nothing more
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
MOLLYnounUS /ˈmɑːli/
popular aquarium fish
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
oppressiveadjectiveUS /əˈpresɪv/
weighing heavily on the senses or spirit
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
overpoweringadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərˈpaʊrɪŋ/
so strong as to be irresistible
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
overseer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading Everything was strange then, and her desire for strangeness, for unfamiliar impressions, had amounted to a passion.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
personalitynounUS /ˌpɜːrsəˈnælɪti/
the complex of all the attributes--behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental--that characterize a unique individual
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
plush-covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
rackverbUS /ræk/
go at a rack
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
rattledadjectiveUS /ˈrætəld/
thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (“rattled” is an informal term)
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
RichmondnounUS /ˈrɪtʃmənd/
capital of the state of Virginia located in the east central part of the state; was capital of the Confederacy during the American Civil War
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
Identical; not different.
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
scentedadjectiveUS /ˈsentɪd/
having the sense of smell
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
SHAPINGnounUS /ˈʃeɪpɪŋ/
any process serving to define the shape of something
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
smotheredadjectiveUS /ˈsmʌðərd/
held in check with difficulty
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Everything was strange then, and her desire for strangeness, for unfamiliar impressions, had amounted to a passion.
strangenessnounUS /ˈstreɪndʒnəs/
unusualness as a consequence of not being well known
From this reading Everything was strange then, and her desire for strangeness, for unfamiliar impressions, had amounted to a passion.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
swansdown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
sweetnessnounUS /ˈswiːtnəs/
the taste experience when sugar dissolves in the mouth
From this reading For several months after leaving Old Church her education had absorbed her energies, and she had found time merely to gasp occasionally in the oppressive sweetness of the atmosphere which Mrs. Gay's personality diffused.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Everything was strange then, and her desire for strangeness, for unfamiliar impressions, had amounted to a passion.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
create by training and teaching
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
unfamiliaradjectiveUS /ˌʌnfəˈmɪljər/
not known or well known
From this reading Everything was strange then, and her desire for strangeness, for unfamiliar impressions, had amounted to a passion.
communicated in words
From this reading On her knees Mrs. Gay's canary, extinguished beneath the black silk cover to his cage, uttered from time to time a feeble pipe of inquiry, and on the rack above her head Mrs. Gay's tea basket rattled loudly in a sudden lurch of the train.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Everything was strange then, and her desire for strangeness, for unfamiliar impressions, had amounted to a passion.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
wistfullyadverbUS /ˈwɪstfəli/
in a wistful manner
From this reading THE SHAPING OF MOLLY Leaning back in the uncomfortable plush-covered chair in the train to Richmond, Molly watched the flat landscape glide past, while she thought a little wistfully of the morning she had made this same trip dressed in one of Mrs. Gay's gowns.
but in spite of that
From this reading Since the hour in which she had left the overseer's cottage and moved into the "big house" at Jordan's Journey, the appealing little lady had been the dominant influence in her life--an influence so soft and yet so overpowering that she had at times a sensation of being smothered in scented swansdown.
