Chapter II

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

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

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

From this reading She was a tiny body with shrewd black eyes and a firm thin mouth.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

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

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

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

From this reading She was in black with a white cap sitting as daintily light on her gray hair as the first flick of snow on a silver fir.

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading She was a tiny body with shrewd black eyes and a firm thin mouth.

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading She was busy with a wisp of lace.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

a tight-fitting headdress

From this reading She was in black with a white cap sitting as daintily light on her gray hair as the first flick of snow on a silver fir.

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

From this reading Her wrinkled cheeks still had color.

a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect

From this reading Her wrinkled cheeks still had color.

not accessible to view

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

a courteous or respectful or considerate act

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

in a dainty and fastidious manner

From this reading She was in black with a white cap sitting as daintily light on her gray hair as the first flick of snow on a silver fir.

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

opinion or judgment

From this reading She was a tiny body with shrewd black eyes and a firm thin mouth.

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

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

nonresinous wood of a fir tree

From this reading She was in black with a white cap sitting as daintily light on her gray hair as the first flick of snow on a silver fir.

marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable

From this reading She was a tiny body with shrewd black eyes and a firm thin mouth.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading She was in black with a white cap sitting as daintily light on her gray hair as the first flick of snow on a silver fir.

flash intermittently

From this reading She was in black with a white cap sitting as daintily light on her gray hair as the first flick of snow on a silver fir.

possessive form of “girl” — a young female

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading She was in black with a white cap sitting as daintily light on her gray hair as the first flick of snow on a silver fir.

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

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

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 She was in black with a white cap sitting as daintily light on her gray hair as the first flick of snow on a silver fir.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

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

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

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

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

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

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

spin, wind, or twist together

From this reading She was busy with a wisp of lace.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading She was in black with a white cap sitting as daintily light on her gray hair as the first flick of snow on a silver fir.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading She was a tiny body with shrewd black eyes and a firm thin mouth.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

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

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She was in black with a white cap sitting as daintily light on her gray hair as the first flick of snow on a silver fir.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

a human being

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

a word picture of a person's appearance and character

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

not agitated; without losing self-possession

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

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

From this reading She was in black with a white cap sitting as daintily light on her gray hair as the first flick of snow on a silver fir.

marked by practical hardheaded intelligence

From this reading She was a tiny body with shrewd black eyes and a firm thin mouth.

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading She was in black with a white cap sitting as daintily light on her gray hair as the first flick of snow on a silver fir.

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

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading She was in black with a white cap sitting as daintily light on her gray hair as the first flick of snow on a silver fir.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

in or at or to some place

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

not in physical motion

From this reading Her wrinkled cheeks still had color.

a sudden outburst of anger

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

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

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading She was a tiny body with shrewd black eyes and a firm thin mouth.

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

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

very small

From this reading She was a tiny body with shrewd black eyes and a firm thin mouth.

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

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

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

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

a Caucasian

From this reading She was in black with a white cap sitting as daintily light on her gray hair as the first flick of snow on a silver fir.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading THE COURTESY OF THE ROAD The little old lady sitting by the window in the big living-room, as serene as Whistler’s portrait of his mother, may have had a temper but if so, thought Barnes as he entered at the girl’s heels, it was concealed somewhere about her person other than in her face.

a small tuft or lock

From this reading She was busy with a wisp of lace.

in the company of; together with

From this reading She was in black with a white cap sitting as daintily light on her gray hair as the first flick of snow on a silver fir.

marked by wrinkles

From this reading Her wrinkled cheeks still had color.