Chapter II · Chapter 2

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading One was an old man, with the peculiarly hard but expressive physiognomy which characterizes the seafaring population of the New England shores.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

eagerly desirous

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

From this reading By his side sat a young woman of two-and-twenty, of a marked and peculiar personal appearance.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

of or characteristic of or occurring in autumn

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

a vessel containing liquid in which something is immersed (as to process it or to maintain it at a constant temperature or to lubricate it)

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading Her hair was black, and smoothly parted on a broad forehead, to which a pair of penciled dark eyebrows gave a striking and definite outline.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading Her hair was black, and smoothly parted on a broad forehead, to which a pair of penciled dark eyebrows gave a striking and definite outline.

(of skin) having a tan color from exposure to the sun

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading One was an old man, with the peculiarly hard but expressive physiognomy which characterizes the seafaring population of the New England shores.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By his side sat a young woman of two-and-twenty, of a marked and peculiar personal appearance.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

third-person singular of “characterize” — describe or portray the character or the qualities or peculiarities of

From this reading One was an old man, with the peculiarly hard but expressive physiognomy which characterizes the seafaring population of the New England shores.

plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

rid of obstructions

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Her hair was black, and smoothly parted on a broad forehead, to which a pair of penciled dark eyebrows gave a striking and definite outline.

to a great depth psychologically or emotionally

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

precise; explicit and clearly defined

From this reading Her hair was black, and smoothly parted on a broad forehead, to which a pair of penciled dark eyebrows gave a striking and definite outline.

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading One was an old man, with the peculiarly hard but expressive physiognomy which characterizes the seafaring population of the New England shores.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

characterized by expression

From this reading One was an old man, with the peculiarly hard but expressive physiognomy which characterizes the seafaring population of the New England shores.

the organ of sight

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

plural of “eyebrow” — the arch of hair above each eye

From this reading Her hair was black, and smoothly parted on a broad forehead, to which a pair of penciled dark eyebrows gave a striking and definite outline.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

the part of the face above the eyes

From this reading Her hair was black, and smoothly parted on a broad forehead, to which a pair of penciled dark eyebrows gave a striking and definite outline.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Her hair was black, and smoothly parted on a broad forehead, to which a pair of penciled dark eyebrows gave a striking and definite outline.

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

plural of “habit” — an established custom

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading One was an old man, with the peculiarly hard but expressive physiognomy which characterizes the seafaring population of the New England shores.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Her hair was black, and smoothly parted on a broad forehead, to which a pair of penciled dark eyebrows gave a striking and definite outline.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading By his side sat a young woman of two-and-twenty, of a marked and peculiar personal appearance.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

bordered by a line of things

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

a state in New England

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading One was an old man, with the peculiarly hard but expressive physiognomy which characterizes the seafaring population of the New England shores.

strongly marked; easily noticeable

From this reading By his side sat a young woman of two-and-twenty, of a marked and peculiar personal appearance.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

the mother-in-law of Ruth whose story is told in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading One was an old man, with the peculiarly hard but expressive physiognomy which characterizes the seafaring population of the New England shores.

the act of making and recording a measurement

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading One was an old man, with the peculiarly hard but expressive physiognomy which characterizes the seafaring population of the New England shores.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One was an old man, with the peculiarly hard but expressive physiognomy which characterizes the seafaring population of the New England shores.

small and remote and insignificant

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

the line that appears to bound an object

From this reading Her hair was black, and smoothly parted on a broad forehead, to which a pair of penciled dark eyebrows gave a striking and definite outline.

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading Her hair was black, and smoothly parted on a broad forehead, to which a pair of penciled dark eyebrows gave a striking and definite outline.

having a margin incised almost to the base so as to create distinct divisions or lobes

From this reading Her hair was black, and smoothly parted on a broad forehead, to which a pair of penciled dark eyebrows gave a striking and definite outline.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading By his side sat a young woman of two-and-twenty, of a marked and peculiar personal appearance.

uniquely or characteristically

From this reading One was an old man, with the peculiarly hard but expressive physiognomy which characterizes the seafaring population of the New England shores.

drawn or written with a pencil

From this reading Her hair was black, and smoothly parted on a broad forehead, to which a pair of penciled dark eyebrows gave a striking and definite outline.

concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality

From this reading By his side sat a young woman of two-and-twenty, of a marked and peculiar personal appearance.

plural of “person” — a human being

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

the human face (“kisser” and “smiler” and “mug” are informal terms for “face” and “phiz” is British)

From this reading One was an old man, with the peculiarly hard but expressive physiognomy which characterizes the seafaring population of the New England shores.

plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

the people who inhabit a territory or state

From this reading One was an old man, with the peculiarly hard but expressive physiognomy which characterizes the seafaring population of the New England shores.

a word picture of a person's appearance and character

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading By his side sat a young woman of two-and-twenty, of a marked and peculiar personal appearance.

the work of a sailor

From this reading One was an old man, with the peculiarly hard but expressive physiognomy which characterizes the seafaring population of the New England shores.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

plural of “shore” — the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading One was an old man, with the peculiarly hard but expressive physiognomy which characterizes the seafaring population of the New England shores.

marked by practical hardheaded intelligence

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading By his side sat a young woman of two-and-twenty, of a marked and peculiar personal appearance.

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

with no problems or difficulties

From this reading Her hair was black, and smoothly parted on a broad forehead, to which a pair of penciled dark eyebrows gave a striking and definite outline.

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect

From this reading Her hair was black, and smoothly parted on a broad forehead, to which a pair of penciled dark eyebrows gave a striking and definite outline.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading By his side sat a young woman of two-and-twenty, of a marked and peculiar personal appearance.

any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading One was an old man, with the peculiarly hard but expressive physiognomy which characterizes the seafaring population of the New England shores.

tanned and coarsened from being outdoors

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading NAOMI On the road to the Kennebec, below the town of Bath, in the State of Maine, might have been seen, on a certain autumnal afternoon, a one-horse wagon, in which two persons were sitting.

a Caucasian

From this reading A clear blue eye, evidently practiced in habits of keen observation, white hair, bronzed, weather-beaten cheeks, and a face deeply lined with the furrows of shrewd thought and anxious care, were points of the portrait that made themselves felt at a glance.

in the company of; together with

From this reading One was an old man, with the peculiarly hard but expressive physiognomy which characterizes the seafaring population of the New England shores.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading By his side sat a young woman of two-and-twenty, of a marked and peculiar personal appearance.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading By his side sat a young woman of two-and-twenty, of a marked and peculiar personal appearance.