Chapter V · Chapter 5

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

From this reading Mrs. Tarns was a woman of nearly sixty, stout and--in appearance--untidy and dirty.

equally

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

(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 NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Human eye so seldom saw her without a coarse brown apron that, apronless, she would have almost seemed (like Eve) to be unattired.

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

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

From this reading Mrs. Tarns was a woman of nearly sixty, stout and--in appearance--untidy and dirty.

a garment of cloth or leather or plastic that is tied about the waist and worn to protect your clothing

From this reading The wet wind played with grey wisps of her hair, and with her coarse brown apron, beneath which her skirt was pinned up.

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

From this reading Human eye so seldom saw her without a coarse brown apron that, apronless, she would have almost seemed (like Eve) to be unattired.

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

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Human eye so seldom saw her without a coarse brown apron that, apronless, she would have almost seemed (like Eve) to be unattired.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading The wet wind played with grey wisps of her hair, and with her coarse brown apron, beneath which her skirt was pinned up.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading The wet wind played with grey wisps of her hair, and with her coarse brown apron, beneath which her skirt was pinned up.

a human female employed to do housework

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

plural of “charwoman” — a human female employed to do housework

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

the act of making something clean

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles

From this reading The wet wind played with grey wisps of her hair, and with her coarse brown apron, beneath which her skirt was pinned up.

soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime

From this reading Mrs. Tarns was a woman of nearly sixty, stout and--in appearance--untidy and dirty.

a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without proof

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

something that provides access (to get in or get out)

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

From this reading Human eye so seldom saw her without a coarse brown apron that, apronless, she would have almost seemed (like Eve) to be unattired.

with specific intentions; for the express purpose

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

the organ of sight

From this reading Human eye so seldom saw her without a coarse brown apron that, apronless, she would have almost seemed (like Eve) to be unattired.

a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

a trodden path

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

a movable barrier in a fence or wall

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading The wet wind played with grey wisps of her hair, and with her coarse brown apron, beneath which her skirt was pinned up.

thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

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 The wet wind played with grey wisps of her hair, and with her coarse brown apron, beneath which her skirt was pinned up.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Human eye so seldom saw her without a coarse brown apron that, apronless, she would have almost seemed (like Eve) to be unattired.

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

From this reading The wet wind played with grey wisps of her hair, and with her coarse brown apron, beneath which her skirt was pinned up.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading Human eye so seldom saw her without a coarse brown apron that, apronless, she would have almost seemed (like Eve) to be unattired.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

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

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

enclosed in the same envelope or package

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

indicating the most important performer or role

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

plural of “ledge” — a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Human eye so seldom saw her without a coarse brown apron that, apronless, she would have almost seemed (like Eve) to be unattired.

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

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Mrs. Tarns was a woman of nearly sixty, stout and--in appearance--untidy and dirty.

information about recent and important events

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

inflected form of “pin” — to hold fast or prevent from moving

From this reading The wet wind played with grey wisps of her hair, and with her coarse brown apron, beneath which her skirt was pinned up.

(of games) engaged in

From this reading The wet wind played with grey wisps of her hair, and with her coarse brown apron, beneath which her skirt was pinned up.

(Old Testament) the second wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

cut with a saw

From this reading Human eye so seldom saw her without a coarse brown apron that, apronless, she would have almost seemed (like Eve) to be unattired.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Human eye so seldom saw her without a coarse brown apron that, apronless, she would have almost seemed (like Eve) to be unattired.

not often

From this reading Human eye so seldom saw her without a coarse brown apron that, apronless, she would have almost seemed (like Eve) to be unattired.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

being ten more than fifty

From this reading Mrs. Tarns was a woman of nearly sixty, stout and--in appearance--untidy and dirty.

cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist

From this reading The wet wind played with grey wisps of her hair, and with her coarse brown apron, beneath which her skirt was pinned up.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Human eye so seldom saw her without a coarse brown apron that, apronless, she would have almost seemed (like Eve) to be unattired.

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

having a sharp inclination

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

under the influence of narcotics

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

dependable

From this reading Mrs. Tarns was a woman of nearly sixty, stout and--in appearance--untidy and dirty.

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

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

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

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

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

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

having removed clothing

From this reading Human eye so seldom saw her without a coarse brown apron that, apronless, she would have almost seemed (like Eve) to be unattired.

not even or uniform as e.g. in shape or texture

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

not neat and tidy

From this reading Mrs. Tarns was a woman of nearly sixty, stout and--in appearance--untidy and dirty.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

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

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

clean by virtue of having been washed in water

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

covered or soaked with a liquid such as water

From this reading The wet wind played with grey wisps of her hair, and with her coarse brown apron, beneath which her skirt was pinned up.

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

From this reading The wet wind played with grey wisps of her hair, and with her coarse brown apron, beneath which her skirt was pinned up.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading NEWS OF THE NIGHT I The next morning, Mrs. Tarns, the charwoman whom Rachel had expressly included in the dogma that all charwomen are alike, was cleaning the entranceway to Mrs. Maldon's house.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading The wet wind played with grey wisps of her hair, and with her coarse brown apron, beneath which her skirt was pinned up.

-ing form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion

From this reading She had washed and stoned the steep, uneven flight of steps leading up to the front door, and the flat space between them and the gate; and now, before finishing the step down to the footpath, she was wiping the grimy ledges of the green iron gate itself.

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

From this reading The wet wind played with grey wisps of her hair, and with her coarse brown apron, beneath which her skirt was pinned up.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The wet wind played with grey wisps of her hair, and with her coarse brown apron, beneath which her skirt was pinned up.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Human eye so seldom saw her without a coarse brown apron that, apronless, she would have almost seemed (like Eve) to be unattired.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Mrs. Tarns was a woman of nearly sixty, stout and--in appearance--untidy and dirty.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Human eye so seldom saw her without a coarse brown apron that, apronless, she would have almost seemed (like Eve) to be unattired.