used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SHADOW OF A NAME For a moment there was silence between the two.
how long something has existed
From this reading She had been a girl, then, almost a child, and young for her age, which was barely eighteen.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She had been a girl, then, almost a child, and young for her age, which was barely eighteen.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Aylmer's fingers unconsciously wound and unwound a tiny lock of hair in the horse's mane.
appraisingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes travelled over the woman's face and figure appraisingly; his brows contracted into a frown of puzzlement.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had seen little John Aylmer's mother once before, at her wedding nine years previously.
Aylmer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aylmer's fingers unconsciously wound and unwound a tiny lock of hair in the horse's mane.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading She had been a girl, then, almost a child, and young for her age, which was barely eighteen.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been a girl, then, almost a child, and young for her age, which was barely eighteen.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He had seen little John Aylmer's mother once before, at her wedding nine years previously.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading THE SHADOW OF A NAME For a moment there was silence between the two.
browsnounUS /braʊz/
plural of “brow” — the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading His eyes travelled over the woman's face and figure appraisingly; his brows contracted into a frown of puzzlement.
a young person of either sex
From this reading She had been a girl, then, almost a child, and young for her age, which was barely eighteen.
contractedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːntræktəd/
reduced in size or pulled together
From this reading His eyes travelled over the woman's face and figure appraisingly; his brows contracted into a frown of puzzlement.
eighteenadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːn/
being one more than seventeen
From this reading She had been a girl, then, almost a child, and young for her age, which was barely eighteen.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His eyes travelled over the woman's face and figure appraisingly; his brows contracted into a frown of puzzlement.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His eyes travelled over the woman's face and figure appraisingly; his brows contracted into a frown of puzzlement.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading His eyes travelled over the woman's face and figure appraisingly; his brows contracted into a frown of puzzlement.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Aylmer's fingers unconsciously wound and unwound a tiny lock of hair in the horse's mane.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE SHADOW OF A NAME For a moment there was silence between the two.
frownverbUS /fraʊn/
look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading His eyes travelled over the woman's face and figure appraisingly; his brows contracted into a frown of puzzlement.
a young female
From this reading She had been a girl, then, almost a child, and young for her age, which was barely eighteen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had seen little John Aylmer's mother once before, at her wedding nine years previously.
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 Aylmer's fingers unconsciously wound and unwound a tiny lock of hair in the horse's mane.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had seen little John Aylmer's mother once before, at her wedding nine years previously.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He had seen little John Aylmer's mother once before, at her wedding nine years previously.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His eyes travelled over the woman's face and figure appraisingly; his brows contracted into a frown of puzzlement.
horse'snounUS /ˈhɔːrsəz/
possessive form of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Aylmer's fingers unconsciously wound and unwound a tiny lock of hair in the horse's mane.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Aylmer's fingers unconsciously wound and unwound a tiny lock of hair in the horse's mane.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading His eyes travelled over the woman's face and figure appraisingly; his brows contracted into a frown of puzzlement.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading He had seen little John Aylmer's mother once before, at her wedding nine years previously.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had seen little John Aylmer's mother once before, at her wedding nine years previously.
fasten with a lock
From this reading Aylmer's fingers unconsciously wound and unwound a tiny lock of hair in the horse's mane.
manenounUS /meɪn/
long coarse hair growing from the crest of the animal's neck
From this reading Aylmer's fingers unconsciously wound and unwound a tiny lock of hair in the horse's mane.
a particular point in time
From this reading THE SHADOW OF A NAME For a moment there was silence between the two.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading He had seen little John Aylmer's mother once before, at her wedding nine years previously.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading THE SHADOW OF A NAME For a moment there was silence between the two.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading He had seen little John Aylmer's mother once before, at her wedding nine years previously.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SHADOW OF A NAME For a moment there was silence between the two.
on one occasion
From this reading He had seen little John Aylmer's mother once before, at her wedding nine years previously.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading His eyes travelled over the woman's face and figure appraisingly; his brows contracted into a frown of puzzlement.
previouslyadverbUS /ˈpriːviəsli/
at an earlier time or formerly
From this reading He had seen little John Aylmer's mother once before, at her wedding nine years previously.
puzzlementnounUS /ˈpʌzəlmənt/
confusion resulting from failure to understand
From this reading His eyes travelled over the woman's face and figure appraisingly; his brows contracted into a frown of puzzlement.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He had seen little John Aylmer's mother once before, at her wedding nine years previously.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading THE SHADOW OF A NAME For a moment there was silence between the two.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had been a girl, then, almost a child, and young for her age, which was barely eighteen.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading THE SHADOW OF A NAME For a moment there was silence between the two.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SHADOW OF A NAME For a moment there was silence between the two.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading She had been a girl, then, almost a child, and young for her age, which was barely eighteen.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE SHADOW OF A NAME For a moment there was silence between the two.
very small
From this reading Aylmer's fingers unconsciously wound and unwound a tiny lock of hair in the horse's mane.
travelledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
familiar with many parts of the world
From this reading His eyes travelled over the woman's face and figure appraisingly; his brows contracted into a frown of puzzlement.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading THE SHADOW OF A NAME For a moment there was silence between the two.
unconsciouslyadverbUS /ˌʌnˈkɑːnʃəsli/
without awareness
From this reading Aylmer's fingers unconsciously wound and unwound a tiny lock of hair in the horse's mane.
unwoundverbUS /ənˈwaʊnd/
inflected form of “unwind” — reverse the winding or twisting of
From this reading Aylmer's fingers unconsciously wound and unwound a tiny lock of hair in the horse's mane.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SHADOW OF A NAME For a moment there was silence between the two.
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading He had seen little John Aylmer's mother once before, at her wedding nine years previously.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She had been a girl, then, almost a child, and young for her age, which was barely eighteen.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading His eyes travelled over the woman's face and figure appraisingly; his brows contracted into a frown of puzzlement.
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading Aylmer's fingers unconsciously wound and unwound a tiny lock of hair in the horse's mane.
a late time of life
From this reading He had seen little John Aylmer's mother once before, at her wedding nine years previously.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading She had been a girl, then, almost a child, and young for her age, which was barely eighteen.
