used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
acknowledgedadjectiveUS /ækˈnɑːlɪdʒd/
recognized or made known or admitted
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
(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 old lodging house itself was all astir.
in addition
From this reading Mrs. Ruggles, her mother, was also on the balcony in a rolling chair, nodding her fine old head and smiling gravely down the street at an old friend.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mrs. Ruggles, her mother, was also on the balcony in a rolling chair, nodding her fine old head and smiling gravely down the street at an old friend.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
applausenounUS /əˈplɔːz/
a demonstration of approval by clapping the hands together
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
astiradjective
out of bed
From this reading The old lodging house itself was all astir.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mrs. Ruggles, her mother, was also on the balcony in a rolling chair, nodding her fine old head and smiling gravely down the street at an old friend.
audiencesnounUS /ˈɑːdiənsəz/
plural of “audience” — a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
balconynounUS /ˈbælkəni/
an upper floor projecting from the rear over the main floor in an auditorium
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Mrs. Ruggles, her mother, was also on the balcony in a rolling chair, nodding her fine old head and smiling gravely down the street at an old friend.
ChambersnounUS /ˈtʃeɪmbərz/
English architect (1723-1796)
From this reading There was some excitement in the street wherein stood Westminster Chambers.
CometnounUS /ˈkɑːmət/
(astronomy) a relatively small extraterrestrial body consisting of a frozen mass that travels around the sun in a highly elliptical orbit
From this reading The “Comet” was there.
CortinasnounUS /ˈkɔːrtinəz/
plural of “cortina” — a cobwebby partial veil consisting of silky fibrils
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
divinelyadverbUS /dɪˈvaɪnli/
by divine means
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Mrs. Ruggles, her mother, was also on the balcony in a rolling chair, nodding her fine old head and smiling gravely down the street at an old friend.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading There was some excitement in the street wherein stood Westminster Chambers.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Mrs. Ruggles, her mother, was also on the balcony in a rolling chair, nodding her fine old head and smiling gravely down the street at an old friend.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Mrs. Ruggles, her mother, was also on the balcony in a rolling chair, nodding her fine old head and smiling gravely down the street at an old friend.
in a grave and sober manner
From this reading Mrs. Ruggles, her mother, was also on the balcony in a rolling chair, nodding her fine old head and smiling gravely down the street at an old friend.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Mrs. Ruggles, her mother, was also on the balcony in a rolling chair, nodding her fine old head and smiling gravely down the street at an old friend.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Ruggles, her mother, was also on the balcony in a rolling chair, nodding her fine old head and smiling gravely down the street at an old friend.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The old lodging house itself was all astir.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was some excitement in the street wherein stood Westminster Chambers.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The old lodging house itself was all astir.
lodgingnounUS /ˈlɑːdʒɪŋ/
structures collectively in which people are housed
From this reading The old lodging house itself was all astir.
a dark region of considerable extent on the surface of the moon
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Mrs. Ruggles, her mother, was also on the balcony in a rolling chair, nodding her fine old head and smiling gravely down the street at an old friend.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Ruggles, her mother, was also on the balcony in a rolling chair, nodding her fine old head and smiling gravely down the street at an old friend.
noddingadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːdɪŋ/
having branches or flower heads that bend downward
From this reading Mrs. Ruggles, her mother, was also on the balcony in a rolling chair, nodding her fine old head and smiling gravely down the street at an old friend.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old lodging house itself was all astir.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
uttered with a trill
From this reading Mrs. Ruggles, her mother, was also on the balcony in a rolling chair, nodding her fine old head and smiling gravely down the street at an old friend.
Ruggles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Ruggles, her mother, was also on the balcony in a rolling chair, nodding her fine old head and smiling gravely down the street at an old friend.
scarfnounUS /skɑːrf/
a garment worn around the head or neck or shoulders for warmth or decoration
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There was some excitement in the street wherein stood Westminster Chambers.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading There was some excitement in the street wherein stood Westminster Chambers.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading There was some excitement in the street wherein stood Westminster Chambers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was some excitement in the street wherein stood Westminster Chambers.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was some excitement in the street wherein stood Westminster Chambers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was some excitement in the street wherein stood Westminster Chambers.
wavingnounUS /ˈweɪvɪŋ/
the act of signaling by a movement of the hand
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
WestminsternounUS /ˌwestˈmɪnstər/
a borough of Greater London on the Thames; contains Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey
From this reading There was some excitement in the street wherein stood Westminster Chambers.
at the time that
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
wherein
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was some excitement in the street wherein stood Westminster Chambers.
a Caucasian
From this reading Maria Cortinas stood on the balcony waving a white scarf and smiling as divinely as she smiled when she acknowledged the applause of great audiences.
