used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Breaking Heart—A Scene of Tenderness and Despair.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading She listened a moment, and then advanced one tiny foot into the chamber; then the other; and finally she stood within the apartment, but with the door left open behind her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Breaking Heart—A Scene of Tenderness and Despair.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
aperturenounUS /ˈæpərtʃər/
a device that controls amount of light admitted
From this reading Then the door opened wider, and the symmetrical form of a young girl of seventeen years stood in the aperture.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading She listened a moment, and then advanced one tiny foot into the chamber; then the other; and finally she stood within the apartment, but with the door left open behind her.
blondenounUS /blɑːnd/
a person with fair skin and hair
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
the act of breaking something
From this reading The Breaking Heart—A Scene of Tenderness and Despair.
uttered without voice
From this reading The pale slumberer lay perfectly still, and a close observer could scarcely have perceived that he breathed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She listened a moment, and then advanced one tiny foot into the chamber; then the other; and finally she stood within the apartment, but with the door left open behind her.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading She listened a moment, and then advanced one tiny foot into the chamber; then the other; and finally she stood within the apartment, but with the door left open behind her.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The pale slumberer lay perfectly still, and a close observer could scarcely have perceived that he breathed.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The pale slumberer lay perfectly still, and a close observer could scarcely have perceived that he breathed.
the appearance conveyed by a person's face
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading The Breaking Heart—A Scene of Tenderness and Despair.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
feminineadjectiveUS /ˈfemənən/
associated with women and not with men
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading She listened a moment, and then advanced one tiny foot into the chamber; then the other; and finally she stood within the apartment, but with the door left open behind her.
flaxenadjective
of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading She listened a moment, and then advanced one tiny foot into the chamber; then the other; and finally she stood within the apartment, but with the door left open behind her.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading Then the door opened wider, and the symmetrical form of a young girl of seventeen years stood in the aperture.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
a young female
From this reading Then the door opened wider, and the symmetrical form of a young girl of seventeen years stood in the aperture.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The pale slumberer lay perfectly still, and a close observer could scarcely have perceived that he breathed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The pale slumberer lay perfectly still, and a close observer could scarcely have perceived that he breathed.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading The Breaking Heart—A Scene of Tenderness and Despair.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She listened a moment, and then advanced one tiny foot into the chamber; then the other; and finally she stood within the apartment, but with the door left open behind her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then the door opened wider, and the symmetrical form of a young girl of seventeen years stood in the aperture.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
lainverbUS /leɪn/
inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The pale slumberer lay perfectly still, and a close observer could scarcely have perceived that he breathed.
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 She listened a moment, and then advanced one tiny foot into the chamber; then the other; and finally she stood within the apartment, but with the door left open behind her.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading She listened a moment, and then advanced one tiny foot into the chamber; then the other; and finally she stood within the apartment, but with the door left open behind her.
a particular point in time
From this reading She listened a moment, and then advanced one tiny foot into the chamber; then the other; and finally she stood within the apartment, but with the door left open behind her.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
observernounUS /əbˈzɜːrvər/
a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses
From this reading The pale slumberer lay perfectly still, and a close observer could scarcely have perceived that he breathed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Breaking Heart—A Scene of Tenderness and Despair.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She listened a moment, and then advanced one tiny foot into the chamber; then the other; and finally she stood within the apartment, but with the door left open behind her.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading She listened a moment, and then advanced one tiny foot into the chamber; then the other; and finally she stood within the apartment, but with the door left open behind her.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading She listened a moment, and then advanced one tiny foot into the chamber; then the other; and finally she stood within the apartment, but with the door left open behind her.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading The pale slumberer lay perfectly still, and a close observer could scarcely have perceived that he breathed.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading The pale slumberer lay perfectly still, and a close observer could scarcely have perceived that he breathed.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading The pale slumberer lay perfectly still, and a close observer could scarcely have perceived that he breathed.
profusionnounUS /prəˈfjuːʒən/
the property of being extremely abundant
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
ringlets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
only a very short time before
From this reading The pale slumberer lay perfectly still, and a close observer could scarcely have perceived that he breathed.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading The Breaking Heart—A Scene of Tenderness and Despair.
seventeenadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːn/
being one more than sixteen
From this reading Then the door opened wider, and the symmetrical form of a young girl of seventeen years stood in the aperture.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She listened a moment, and then advanced one tiny foot into the chamber; then the other; and finally she stood within the apartment, but with the door left open behind her.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
slumberernoun
a rester who is sleeping
From this reading The pale slumberer lay perfectly still, and a close observer could scarcely have perceived that he breathed.
not in physical motion
From this reading The pale slumberer lay perfectly still, and a close observer could scarcely have perceived that he breathed.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Then the door opened wider, and the symmetrical form of a young girl of seventeen years stood in the aperture.
surmountedadjectiveUS /sərˈmaʊntɪd/
having something on top
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
symmetricaladjectiveUS /səˈmetrɪkəl/
having similarity in size, shape, and relative position of corresponding parts
From this reading Then the door opened wider, and the symmetrical form of a young girl of seventeen years stood in the aperture.
a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling
From this reading The Breaking Heart—A Scene of Tenderness and Despair.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The pale slumberer lay perfectly still, and a close observer could scarcely have perceived that he breathed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Breaking Heart—A Scene of Tenderness and Despair.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the door opened wider, and the symmetrical form of a young girl of seventeen years stood in the aperture.
push forcefully
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
very small
From this reading She listened a moment, and then advanced one tiny foot into the chamber; then the other; and finally she stood within the apartment, but with the door left open behind her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
at the time that
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
wideradjectiveUS /ˈwaɪdər/
comparative of “wide” — having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Then the door opened wider, and the symmetrical form of a young girl of seventeen years stood in the aperture.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Thus had he lain a few moments, when a side door slowly opened, and a fair feminine countenance, a perfect blonde, surmounted with a profusion of flaxen ringlets, was thrust gently into the apartment.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading She listened a moment, and then advanced one tiny foot into the chamber; then the other; and finally she stood within the apartment, but with the door left open behind her.
a late time of life
From this reading Then the door opened wider, and the symmetrical form of a young girl of seventeen years stood in the aperture.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Then the door opened wider, and the symmetrical form of a young girl of seventeen years stood in the aperture.
