used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The whole house was in a commotion; the servants were running about, and the maids were busy.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The whole house was in a commotion; the servants were running about, and the maids were busy.
absentlyadverb
in an absentminded or preoccupied manner
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Kirila Petrovitch was pacing up and down the hall, whistling his favourite air louder than usual.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Kirila Petrovitch was pacing up and down the hall, whistling his favourite air louder than usual.
attiring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Maria Kirilovna’s dressing-room, before the looking-glass, a lady, surrounded by maidservants, was attiring the pale, motionless young bride.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading In Maria Kirilovna’s dressing-room, before the looking-glass, a lady, surrounded by maidservants, was attiring the pale, motionless young bride.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
a woman who has recently been married
From this reading In Maria Kirilovna’s dressing-room, before the looking-glass, a lady, surrounded by maidservants, was attiring the pale, motionless young bride.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading The whole house was in a commotion; the servants were running about, and the maids were busy.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In Maria Kirilovna’s dressing-room, before the looking-glass, a lady, surrounded by maidservants, was attiring the pale, motionless young bride.
marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
commotionnounUS /kəˈmoʊʃən/
a disorderly outburst or tumult
From this reading The whole house was in a commotion; the servants were running about, and the maids were busy.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrt.jɑːrd/
An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by the walls of a house.
From this reading In the courtyard there was a crowd of people.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading In the courtyard there was a crowd of people.
diamondsnounUS /ˈdaɪməndz/
plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Kirila Petrovitch was pacing up and down the hall, whistling his favourite air louder than usual.
dressing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Maria Kirilovna’s dressing-room, before the looking-glass, a lady, surrounded by maidservants, was attiring the pale, motionless young bride.
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading Kirila Petrovitch was pacing up and down the hall, whistling his favourite air louder than usual.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Kirila Petrovitch was pacing up and down the hall, whistling his favourite air louder than usual.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Kirila Petrovitch was pacing up and down the hall, whistling his favourite air louder than usual.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The whole house was in a commotion; the servants were running about, and the maids were busy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The whole house was in a commotion; the servants were running about, and the maids were busy.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
Kirila
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kirila Petrovitch was pacing up and down the hall, whistling his favourite air louder than usual.
Kirilovna's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Maria Kirilovna’s dressing-room, before the looking-glass, a lady, surrounded by maidservants, was attiring the pale, motionless young bride.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading In Maria Kirilovna’s dressing-room, before the looking-glass, a lady, surrounded by maidservants, was attiring the pale, motionless young bride.
languidlyadverb
in a languid and lethargic manner
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
looking-glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Maria Kirilovna’s dressing-room, before the looking-glass, a lady, surrounded by maidservants, was attiring the pale, motionless young bride.
louderadjectiveUS /ˈlaʊdər/
comparative of “loud” — characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading Kirila Petrovitch was pacing up and down the hall, whistling his favourite air louder than usual.
maidsnounUS /meɪdz/
plural of “maid” — a female domestic
From this reading The whole house was in a commotion; the servants were running about, and the maids were busy.
maidservants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Maria Kirilovna’s dressing-room, before the looking-glass, a lady, surrounded by maidservants, was attiring the pale, motionless young bride.
a dark region of considerable extent on the surface of the moon
From this reading In Maria Kirilovna’s dressing-room, before the looking-glass, a lady, surrounded by maidservants, was attiring the pale, motionless young bride.
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
not in physical motion
From this reading In Maria Kirilovna’s dressing-room, before the looking-glass, a lady, surrounded by maidservants, was attiring the pale, motionless young bride.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the courtyard there was a crowd of people.
pacingnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪŋ/
(music) the speed at which a composition is to be played
From this reading Kirila Petrovitch was pacing up and down the hall, whistling his favourite air louder than usual.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading In Maria Kirilovna’s dressing-room, before the looking-glass, a lady, surrounded by maidservants, was attiring the pale, motionless young bride.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading In the courtyard there was a crowd of people.
Petrovitch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kirila Petrovitch was pacing up and down the hall, whistling his favourite air louder than usual.
prickedverbUS /prɪkt/
past form of “prick” — make a small hole into, as with a needle or a thorn
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading The whole house was in a commotion; the servants were running about, and the maids were busy.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading The whole house was in a commotion; the servants were running about, and the maids were busy.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
confined on all sides
From this reading In Maria Kirilovna’s dressing-room, before the looking-glass, a lady, surrounded by maidservants, was attiring the pale, motionless young bride.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Kirila Petrovitch was pacing up and down the hall, whistling his favourite air louder than usual.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Kirila Petrovitch was pacing up and down the hall, whistling his favourite air louder than usual.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In the courtyard there was a crowd of people.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Kirila Petrovitch was pacing up and down the hall, whistling his favourite air louder than usual.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Kirila Petrovitch was pacing up and down the hall, whistling his favourite air louder than usual.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Kirila Petrovitch was pacing up and down the hall, whistling his favourite air louder than usual.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The whole house was in a commotion; the servants were running about, and the maids were busy.
at the time that
From this reading Her head bent languidly beneath the weight of her diamonds; she started slightly when a careless hand pricked her, but she remained silent, gazing absently into the mirror.
whistlingnounUS /ˈwɪslɪŋ/
the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture
From this reading Kirila Petrovitch was pacing up and down the hall, whistling his favourite air louder than usual.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The whole house was in a commotion; the servants were running about, and the maids were busy.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading In Maria Kirilovna’s dressing-room, before the looking-glass, a lady, surrounded by maidservants, was attiring the pale, motionless young bride.
