aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Both were dressed in black and heavily veiled, but there was about them the indefinable distinction of mistress and maid.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr. Hornblower sat with his back to the horses, and two women were on the opposite seat.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Mr. Hornblower glanced behind me as I entered.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Mr. Hornblower sat with his back to the horses, and two women were on the opposite seat.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It would be difficult to tell precisely in what the distinction consisted, but it was there.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Mr. Hornblower glanced behind me as I entered.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Both were dressed in black and heavily veiled, but there was about them the indefinable distinction of mistress and maid.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both were dressed in black and heavily veiled, but there was about them the indefinable distinction of mistress and maid.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Both were dressed in black and heavily veiled, but there was about them the indefinable distinction of mistress and maid.
a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading THE VEILED LADY There were three persons in the carriage.
consistedverbUS /kənˈsɪstəd/
past form of “consist” — originate
From this reading It would be difficult to tell precisely in what the distinction consisted, but it was there.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It would be difficult to tell precisely in what the distinction consisted, but it was there.
distinctionnounUS /dɪˈstɪŋkʃən/
a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes
From this reading Both were dressed in black and heavily veiled, but there was about them the indefinable distinction of mistress and maid.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading Both were dressed in black and heavily veiled, but there was about them the indefinable distinction of mistress and maid.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Mr. Hornblower glanced behind me as I entered.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Mr. Hornblower glanced behind me as I entered.
to a considerable degree
From this reading Both were dressed in black and heavily veiled, but there was about them the indefinable distinction of mistress and maid.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Hornblower sat with his back to the horses, and two women were on the opposite seat.
Hornblower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Hornblower sat with his back to the horses, and two women were on the opposite seat.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Mr. Hornblower sat with his back to the horses, and two women were on the opposite seat.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Mr. Hornblower glanced behind me as I entered.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE VEILED LADY There were three persons in the carriage.
indefinableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈfaɪnəbəl/
not capable of being precisely or readily described; not easily put into words
From this reading Both were dressed in black and heavily veiled, but there was about them the indefinable distinction of mistress and maid.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would be difficult to tell precisely in what the distinction consisted, but it was there.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading THE VEILED LADY There were three persons in the carriage.
a female domestic
From this reading Both were dressed in black and heavily veiled, but there was about them the indefinable distinction of mistress and maid.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Mr. Hornblower glanced behind me as I entered.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading Both were dressed in black and heavily veiled, but there was about them the indefinable distinction of mistress and maid.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Hornblower sat with his back to the horses, and two women were on the opposite seat.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Both were dressed in black and heavily veiled, but there was about them the indefinable distinction of mistress and maid.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mr. Hornblower sat with his back to the horses, and two women were on the opposite seat.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading Mr. Hornblower sat with his back to the horses, and two women were on the opposite seat.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading THE VEILED LADY There were three persons in the carriage.
preciselyadverbUS /prɪˈsaɪsli/
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading It would be difficult to tell precisely in what the distinction consisted, but it was there.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Mr. Hornblower sat with his back to the horses, and two women were on the opposite seat.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading Mr. Hornblower sat with his back to the horses, and two women were on the opposite seat.
express in words
From this reading It would be difficult to tell precisely in what the distinction consisted, but it was there.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE VEILED LADY There were three persons in the carriage.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Both were dressed in black and heavily veiled, but there was about them the indefinable distinction of mistress and maid.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE VEILED LADY There were three persons in the carriage.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading THE VEILED LADY There were three persons in the carriage.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mr. Hornblower sat with his back to the horses, and two women were on the opposite seat.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Mr. Hornblower sat with his back to the horses, and two women were on the opposite seat.
VEILEDadjectiveUS /veɪld/
having or as if having a veil or concealing cover
From this reading THE VEILED LADY There were three persons in the carriage.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Both were dressed in black and heavily veiled, but there was about them the indefinable distinction of mistress and maid.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE VEILED LADY There were three persons in the carriage.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It would be difficult to tell precisely in what the distinction consisted, but it was there.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mr. Hornblower sat with his back to the horses, and two women were on the opposite seat.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Mr. Hornblower sat with his back to the horses, and two women were on the opposite seat.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would be difficult to tell precisely in what the distinction consisted, but it was there.
