used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Her hat was a girlish affair of black straw with a cluster of red roses gathered at the brim.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She approached with the grace of a princess and the poise of a woman twice her years.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading She approached with the grace of a princess and the poise of a woman twice her years.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She was drawing on her black gloves as she neared him--with the background of the broad Colonial staircase--a study for a master.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading She was drawing on her black gloves as she neared him--with the background of the broad Colonial staircase--a study for a master.
a Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria
From this reading He now could have no more bade her remain behind than he could have stopped the progress of time.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He now could have no more bade her remain behind than he could have stopped the progress of time.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
brimnounUS /brɪm/
the top edge of a vessel or other container
From this reading Her hat was a girlish affair of black straw with a cluster of red roses gathered at the brim.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading She was drawing on her black gloves as she neared him--with the background of the broad Colonial staircase--a study for a master.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
clusterverbUS /ˈklʌstər/
come together as in a cluster or flock
From this reading Her hat was a girlish affair of black straw with a cluster of red roses gathered at the brim.
collarnounUS /ˈkɑːlər/
a band that fits around the neck and is usually folded over
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
ColonialadjectiveUS /kəˈloʊniəl/
of or relating to or characteristic of or inhabiting a colony
From this reading She was drawing on her black gloves as she neared him--with the background of the broad Colonial staircase--a study for a master.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He now could have no more bade her remain behind than he could have stopped the progress of time.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading She was drawing on her black gloves as she neared him--with the background of the broad Colonial staircase--a study for a master.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She was drawing on her black gloves as she neared him--with the background of the broad Colonial staircase--a study for a master.
brought together in one place
From this reading Her hat was a girlish affair of black straw with a cluster of red roses gathered at the brim.
willing to give and share unstintingly
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
girlishadjectiveUS /ˈɡɜːrlɪʃ/
befitting or characteristic of a young girl
From this reading Her hat was a girlish affair of black straw with a cluster of red roses gathered at the brim.
glovesnounUS /ɡlʌvz/
plural of “glove” — the handwear used by fielders in playing baseball
From this reading She was drawing on her black gloves as she neared him--with the background of the broad Colonial staircase--a study for a master.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading She approached with the grace of a princess and the poise of a woman twice her years.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading Her hat was a girlish affair of black straw with a cluster of red roses gathered at the brim.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He now could have no more bade her remain behind than he could have stopped the progress of time.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He now could have no more bade her remain behind than he could have stopped the progress of time.
HedgeverbUS /hedʒ/
avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her hat was a girlish affair of black straw with a cluster of red roses gathered at the brim.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She was drawing on her black gloves as she neared him--with the background of the broad Colonial staircase--a study for a master.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading She was drawing on her black gloves as she neared him--with the background of the broad Colonial staircase--a study for a master.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He now could have no more bade her remain behind than he could have stopped the progress of time.
nearedverbUS /nɪrd/
past form of “near” — move towards
From this reading She was drawing on her black gloves as she neared him--with the background of the broad Colonial staircase--a study for a master.
not any; not one
From this reading He now could have no more bade her remain behind than he could have stopped the progress of time.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He now could have no more bade her remain behind than he could have stopped the progress of time.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She was drawing on her black gloves as she neared him--with the background of the broad Colonial staircase--a study for a master.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
poiseverbUS /pɔɪz/
be motionless, in suspension
From this reading She approached with the grace of a princess and the poise of a woman twice her years.
The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.
From this reading She approached with the grace of a princess and the poise of a woman twice her years.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading He now could have no more bade her remain behind than he could have stopped the progress of time.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Her hat was a girlish affair of black straw with a cluster of red roses gathered at the brim.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading He now could have no more bade her remain behind than he could have stopped the progress of time.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Her hat was a girlish affair of black straw with a cluster of red roses gathered at the brim.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading She was drawing on her black gloves as she neared him--with the background of the broad Colonial staircase--a study for a master.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading He now could have no more bade her remain behind than he could have stopped the progress of time.
plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
From this reading Her hat was a girlish affair of black straw with a cluster of red roses gathered at the brim.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading She was drawing on her black gloves as she neared him--with the background of the broad Colonial staircase--a study for a master.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He now could have no more bade her remain behind than he could have stopped the progress of time.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
tienounUS /taɪ/
neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He now could have no more bade her remain behind than he could have stopped the progress of time.
turn-down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
two times
From this reading She approached with the grace of a princess and the poise of a woman twice her years.
a vivid mental image
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her hat was a girlish affair of black straw with a cluster of red roses gathered at the brim.
a Caucasian
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
in the company of; together with
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading She approached with the grace of a princess and the poise of a woman twice her years.
womanhoodnounUS /ˈwʊmənhʊd/
the state of being an adult woman
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
a late time of life
From this reading She approached with the grace of a princess and the poise of a woman twice her years.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading _Outside the Hedge_ She came down the stairs, a vision of young womanhood, dressed in white, with a wide turn-down collar fastened at the throat by a generous tie of black.
