used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The smiling summer landscape showed not a sign next morning of the disturbances of the night before.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The rain-washed foliage glistened in the sunshine, and far below in the valley curled a ribbon of blue, hazy smoke.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
basinnounUS /ˈbeɪsən/
a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids
From this reading A few minutes later she reappeared with a small basin of hot water.
BeatricenounUS /ˈbiːətrəs/
the woman who guided Dante through Paradise in the Divine Comedy
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The smiling summer landscape showed not a sign next morning of the disturbances of the night before.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading The rain-washed foliage glistened in the sunshine, and far below in the valley curled a ribbon of blue, hazy smoke.
Billie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The rain-washed foliage glistened in the sunshine, and far below in the valley curled a ribbon of blue, hazy smoke.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
buttonnounUS /ˈbʌtən/
a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholes
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
curledadjectiveUS /kɜːrld/
(of hair) making curls or having been made to curl
From this reading The rain-washed foliage glistened in the sunshine, and far below in the valley curled a ribbon of blue, hazy smoke.
(often used in combination) having a specified direction
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
disturbancesnounUS /dɪˈstɜːrbənsəz/
plural of “disturbance” — activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption
From this reading The smiling summer landscape showed not a sign next morning of the disturbances of the night before.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The rain-washed foliage glistened in the sunshine, and far below in the valley curled a ribbon of blue, hazy smoke.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few minutes later she reappeared with a small basin of hot water.
foliagenounUS /ˈfoʊlɪdʒ/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The rain-washed foliage glistened in the sunshine, and far below in the valley curled a ribbon of blue, hazy smoke.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
glistenedverbUS /ˈɡlɪsənd/
past form of “glisten” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The rain-washed foliage glistened in the sunshine, and far below in the valley curled a ribbon of blue, hazy smoke.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
hazyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪzi/
filled or abounding with fog or mist
From this reading The rain-washed foliage glistened in the sunshine, and far below in the valley curled a ribbon of blue, hazy smoke.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The rain-washed foliage glistened in the sunshine, and far below in the valley curled a ribbon of blue, hazy smoke.
people of Ireland or of Irish extraction
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
landscapenounUS /ˈlændskeɪp/
an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
From this reading The smiling summer landscape showed not a sign next morning of the disturbances of the night before.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A few minutes later she reappeared with a small basin of hot water.
a female domestic
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
a white nutritious liquid secreted by mammals and used as food by human beings
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading A few minutes later she reappeared with a small basin of hot water.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The smiling summer landscape showed not a sign next morning of the disturbances of the night before.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The smiling summer landscape showed not a sign next morning of the disturbances of the night before.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The smiling summer landscape showed not a sign next morning of the disturbances of the night before.
nightmarenounUS /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/
A terrifying or distressing dream.
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The smiling summer landscape showed not a sign next morning of the disturbances of the night before.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The smiling summer landscape showed not a sign next morning of the disturbances of the night before.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
in the near future
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
rain-washed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain-washed foliage glistened in the sunshine, and far below in the valley curled a ribbon of blue, hazy smoke.
reappearedverbUS /ˌriːəˈpɪrd/
past form of “reappear” — appear again
From this reading A few minutes later she reappeared with a small basin of hot water.
refreshedadjectiveUS /riˈfreʃt/
with restored energy
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
ribbonnounUS /ˈrɪbən/
any long object resembling a thin line
From this reading The rain-washed foliage glistened in the sunshine, and far below in the valley curled a ribbon of blue, hazy smoke.
ringingnounUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/
the sound of a bell ringing
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The smiling summer landscape showed not a sign next morning of the disturbances of the night before.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading The smiling summer landscape showed not a sign next morning of the disturbances of the night before.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A few minutes later she reappeared with a small basin of hot water.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading The smiling summer landscape showed not a sign next morning of the disturbances of the night before.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading The rain-washed foliage glistened in the sunshine, and far below in the valley curled a ribbon of blue, hazy smoke.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The smiling summer landscape showed not a sign next morning of the disturbances of the night before.
the rays of the sun
From this reading The rain-washed foliage glistened in the sunshine, and far below in the valley curled a ribbon of blue, hazy smoke.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The smiling summer landscape showed not a sign next morning of the disturbances of the night before.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
having come into contact
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
traynounUS /treɪ/
an open receptacle for holding or displaying or serving articles or food
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading The rain-washed foliage glistened in the sunshine, and far below in the valley curled a ribbon of blue, hazy smoke.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She touched an electric button, as she had been directed to do by Beatrice, and presently a pretty Irish maid appeared carrying a tray on which was a glass of hot milk.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading A few minutes later she reappeared with a small basin of hot water.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Billie, greatly refreshed from the sleep which had come to her after the storm, had almost forgotten the nightmare until the ringing of a bell in the distance brought it to mind.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A few minutes later she reappeared with a small basin of hot water.
