used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
anew
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As we entered the room, they rose slightly from their chairs, and turned toward us with an expression of mild surprise on their faces.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
andirons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It was impossible, I knew, for their delicately moulded features to express any impulse more strongly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As we entered the room, they rose slightly from their chairs, and turned toward us with an expression of mild surprise on their faces.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Beyond them, over the rosewood spinet, I saw their portrait, painted in fancy dress, with clasped hands under a garland of roses.
brassnounUS /bræs/
an alloy of copper and zinc
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
cedarnounUS /ˈsiːdər/
any of numerous trees of the family Cupressaceae that resemble cedars
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading As we entered the room, they rose slightly from their chairs, and turned toward us with an expression of mild surprise on their faces.
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading Beyond them, over the rosewood spinet, I saw their portrait, painted in fancy dress, with clasped hands under a garland of roses.
placed crosswise
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
delicatelyadverbUS /ˈdeləkətli/
in a delicate manner
From this reading It was impossible, I knew, for their delicately moulded features to express any impulse more strongly.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
put on clothes
From this reading Beyond them, over the rosewood spinet, I saw their portrait, painted in fancy dress, with clasped hands under a garland of roses.
one or the other of two
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
erectverbUS /ɪˈrekt/
construct, build, or erect
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
give expression to
From this reading It was impossible, I knew, for their delicately moulded features to express any impulse more strongly.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading As we entered the room, they rose slightly from their chairs, and turned toward us with an expression of mild surprise on their faces.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading As we entered the room, they rose slightly from their chairs, and turned toward us with an expression of mild surprise on their faces.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading Beyond them, over the rosewood spinet, I saw their portrait, painted in fancy dress, with clasped hands under a garland of roses.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading It was impossible, I knew, for their delicately moulded features to express any impulse more strongly.
fendernounUS /ˈfendər/
a barrier that surrounds the wheels of a vehicle to block splashing water or mud
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was impossible, I knew, for their delicately moulded features to express any impulse more strongly.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As we entered the room, they rose slightly from their chairs, and turned toward us with an expression of mild surprise on their faces.
garlandverbUS /ˈɡɑːrlənd/
adorn with bands of flowers or leaves
From this reading Beyond them, over the rosewood spinet, I saw their portrait, painted in fancy dress, with clasped hands under a garland of roses.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Beyond them, over the rosewood spinet, I saw their portrait, painted in fancy dress, with clasped hands under a garland of roses.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading It was impossible, I knew, for their delicately moulded features to express any impulse more strongly.
an instinctive motive
From this reading It was impossible, I knew, for their delicately moulded features to express any impulse more strongly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was impossible, I knew, for their delicately moulded features to express any impulse more strongly.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading It was impossible, I knew, for their delicately moulded features to express any impulse more strongly.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
logverbUS /lɔːɡ/
enter into a log, as on ships and planes
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
Matoaca
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
mildadjectiveUS /maɪld/
moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme
From this reading As we entered the room, they rose slightly from their chairs, and turned toward us with an expression of mild surprise on their faces.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
Mitty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was impossible, I knew, for their delicately moulded features to express any impulse more strongly.
moulded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was impossible, I knew, for their delicately moulded features to express any impulse more strongly.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Beyond them, over the rosewood spinet, I saw their portrait, painted in fancy dress, with clasped hands under a garland of roses.
coated with paint
From this reading Beyond them, over the rosewood spinet, I saw their portrait, painted in fancy dress, with clasped hands under a garland of roses.
go across or through
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
a word picture of a person's appearance and character
From this reading Beyond them, over the rosewood spinet, I saw their portrait, painted in fancy dress, with clasped hands under a garland of roses.
profilesnounUS /ˈproʊfaɪlz/
plural of “profile” — an analysis (often in graphical form) representing the extent to which something exhibits various characteristics
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading As we entered the room, they rose slightly from their chairs, and turned toward us with an expression of mild surprise on their faces.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading As we entered the room, they rose slightly from their chairs, and turned toward us with an expression of mild surprise on their faces.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Beyond them, over the rosewood spinet, I saw their portrait, painted in fancy dress, with clasped hands under a garland of roses.
rosewoodnounUS /ˈroʊzwʊd/
hard dark reddish wood of a rosewood tree having a strongly marked grain; used in cabinetwork
From this reading Beyond them, over the rosewood spinet, I saw their portrait, painted in fancy dress, with clasped hands under a garland of roses.
witty remark
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
cut with a saw
From this reading Beyond them, over the rosewood spinet, I saw their portrait, painted in fancy dress, with clasped hands under a garland of roses.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
silhouettesnounUS /ˌsɪləˈwets/
plural of “silhouette” — an outline of a solid object (as cast by its shadow)
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading As we entered the room, they rose slightly from their chairs, and turned toward us with an expression of mild surprise on their faces.
SPEAKSverbUS /spiːks/
third-person singular of “speak” — express in speech
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
spinetnoun
a small and compactly built upright piano
From this reading Beyond them, over the rosewood spinet, I saw their portrait, painted in fancy dress, with clasped hands under a garland of roses.
with strength or in a strong manner
From this reading It was impossible, I knew, for their delicately moulded features to express any impulse more strongly.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading As we entered the room, they rose slightly from their chairs, and turned toward us with an expression of mild surprise on their faces.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Beyond them, over the rosewood spinet, I saw their portrait, painted in fancy dress, with clasped hands under a garland of roses.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As we entered the room, they rose slightly from their chairs, and turned toward us with an expression of mild surprise on their faces.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading As we entered the room, they rose slightly from their chairs, and turned toward us with an expression of mild surprise on their faces.
transparentadjectiveUS /trænˈsperənt/
transmitting light; able to be seen through with clarity
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading As we entered the room, they rose slightly from their chairs, and turned toward us with an expression of mild surprise on their faces.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Beyond them, over the rosewood spinet, I saw their portrait, painted in fancy dress, with clasped hands under a garland of roses.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As we entered the room, they rose slightly from their chairs, and turned toward us with an expression of mild surprise on their faces.
precisely as stated
From this reading At either end of the low brass fender, Miss Mitty and Miss Matoaca sat very erect, like two delicate silhouettes, the red light of the flames shining through their fine, almost transparent profiles.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was impossible, I knew, for their delicately moulded features to express any impulse more strongly.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
in or at the place that
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH SALLY SPEAKS HER MIND We crossed the threshold, which I had thought never to pass again, and entered the drawing-room, where a cedar log burned on the andirons.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Beyond them, over the rosewood spinet, I saw their portrait, painted in fancy dress, with clasped hands under a garland of roses.
