used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
the state of being absent
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading THE LAST ACT.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading _Just as another woman sleeps._ D. G. ROSSETTI.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading _Just as another woman sleeps._ D. G. ROSSETTI.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But suddenly, from the darkness of the lowest shelf, something shone up at her, a white, shimmering object, lying coiled there like a snake.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
bleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/
offering little or no hope
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But suddenly, from the darkness of the lowest shelf, something shone up at her, a white, shimmering object, lying coiled there like a snake.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
coiledadjectiveUS /kɔɪld/
curled or wound (especially in concentric rings or spirals)
From this reading But suddenly, from the darkness of the lowest shelf, something shone up at her, a white, shimmering object, lying coiled there like a snake.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
cupboardnounUS /ˈkʌbərd/
a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets
From this reading _Just as another woman sleeps._ D. G. ROSSETTI.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading But suddenly, from the darkness of the lowest shelf, something shone up at her, a white, shimmering object, lying coiled there like a snake.
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
drearilyadverb
in a cheerless manner
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
at any time
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But suddenly, from the darkness of the lowest shelf, something shone up at her, a white, shimmering object, lying coiled there like a snake.
a metric unit of weight equal to one thousandth of a kilogram
From this reading _Just as another woman sleeps._ D. G. ROSSETTI.
garmentsnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənts/
plural of “garment” — an article of clothing
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
Gertrude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
and nothing more
From this reading _Just as another woman sleeps._ D. G. ROSSETTI.
immediately past
From this reading THE LAST ACT.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading But suddenly, from the darkness of the lowest shelf, something shone up at her, a white, shimmering object, lying coiled there like a snake.
lowestadjectiveUS /ˈloʊəst/
lowest in rank or importance
From this reading But suddenly, from the darkness of the lowest shelf, something shone up at her, a white, shimmering object, lying coiled there like a snake.
incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading But suddenly, from the darkness of the lowest shelf, something shone up at her, a white, shimmering object, lying coiled there like a snake.
mourningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading But suddenly, from the darkness of the lowest shelf, something shone up at her, a white, shimmering object, lying coiled there like a snake.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
Phyllis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
ROSSETTInounUS /roʊˈseti/
English poet and painter who was a leader of the Pre-Raphaelites (1828-1882)
From this reading _Just as another woman sleeps._ D. G. ROSSETTI.
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
shelfnounUS /ʃelf/
A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.
From this reading But suddenly, from the darkness of the lowest shelf, something shone up at her, a white, shimmering object, lying coiled there like a snake.
shimmeringverbUS /ˈʃɪmərɪŋ/
-ing form of “shimmer” — shine with a weak or fitful light
From this reading But suddenly, from the darkness of the lowest shelf, something shone up at her, a white, shimmering object, lying coiled there like a snake.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading But suddenly, from the darkness of the lowest shelf, something shone up at her, a white, shimmering object, lying coiled there like a snake.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
sleepsnounUS /sliːps/
plural of “sleep” — a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading _Just as another woman sleeps._ D. G. ROSSETTI.
snakenounUS /sneɪk/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading But suddenly, from the darkness of the lowest shelf, something shone up at her, a white, shimmering object, lying coiled there like a snake.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading But suddenly, from the darkness of the lowest shelf, something shone up at her, a white, shimmering object, lying coiled there like a snake.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading But suddenly, from the darkness of the lowest shelf, something shone up at her, a white, shimmering object, lying coiled there like a snake.
express in words
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LAST ACT.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
up to a particular time
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But suddenly, from the darkness of the lowest shelf, something shone up at her, a white, shimmering object, lying coiled there like a snake.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It was not till a week or two later that Gertrude brought herself to tell Lucy what had happened during her absence.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was a bleak afternoon in the beginning of December; in the next room lay Phyllis, cold and stiff and silent for ever; and Lucy was drearily searching in a cupboard for certain mourning garments which hung there.
a Caucasian
From this reading But suddenly, from the darkness of the lowest shelf, something shone up at her, a white, shimmering object, lying coiled there like a snake.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading _Just as another woman sleeps._ D. G. ROSSETTI.
