used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Heaven was blurred out to her by the rising clouds, and all the earth was full of the noise, like an earthquake, of the falling walls.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Heaven was blurred out to her by the rising clouds, and all the earth was full of the noise, like an earthquake, of the falling walls.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
BeenounUS /biː/
any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
blackeningnounUS /ˈblækənɪŋ/
changing to a darker color
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
blurredadjectiveUS /blɜːrd/
indistinct or hazy in outline
From this reading Heaven was blurred out to her by the rising clouds, and all the earth was full of the noise, like an earthquake, of the falling walls.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Heaven was blurred out to her by the rising clouds, and all the earth was full of the noise, like an earthquake, of the falling walls.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
a game played with playing cards
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Heaven was blurred out to her by the rising clouds, and all the earth was full of the noise, like an earthquake, of the falling walls.
continuallyadverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəli/
seemingly without interruption
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
crumbledverbUS /ˈkrʌmbəld/
past form of “crumble” — fall apart
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
debrisnounUS /dəˈbriː/
the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
distractedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstræktəd/
having the attention diverted especially because of anxiety
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
distractingverbUS /dɪˈstræktɪŋ/
-ing form of “distract” — draw someone's attention away from something
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
downfallnounUS /ˈdaʊnfɔːl/
failure that results in a loss of position or reputation
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
remove the dust from
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
earthquakenounUS /ˈɜːrθkweɪk/
shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane or from volcanic activity
From this reading Heaven was blurred out to her by the rising clouds, and all the earth was full of the noise, like an earthquake, of the falling walls.
divisible by two
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
every person
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
fabricnounUS /ˈfæbrɪk/
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading Heaven was blurred out to her by the rising clouds, and all the earth was full of the noise, like an earthquake, of the falling walls.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
moving swiftly
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
foundedverbUS /ˈfaʊndɪd/
past form of “found” — set up or found
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Heaven was blurred out to her by the rising clouds, and all the earth was full of the noise, like an earthquake, of the falling walls.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading Heaven was blurred out to her by the rising clouds, and all the earth was full of the noise, like an earthquake, of the falling walls.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
hushedadjectiveUS /hʌʃt/
in a softened tone
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
illnessnounUS /ˈɪlnəs/
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
Kingsward's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
lowestadjectiveUS /ˈloʊəst/
lowest in rank or importance
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
a particular point in time
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
no person; not anyone
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading Heaven was blurred out to her by the rising clouds, and all the earth was full of the noise, like an earthquake, of the falling walls.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
and nothing more
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Heaven was blurred out to her by the rising clouds, and all the earth was full of the noise, like an earthquake, of the falling walls.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
by chance
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
preternaturaladjective
surpassing the ordinary or normal
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
raftersnounUS /ˈræftərz/
plural of “rafter” — one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Heaven was blurred out to her by the rising clouds, and all the earth was full of the noise, like an earthquake, of the falling walls.
roaringnounUS /ˈrɔːrɪŋ/
a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
rumblingnounUS /ˈrʌmbəlɪŋ/
a loud low dull continuous noise
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
cut with a saw
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
skiesnounUS /skaɪz/
plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
stiflingnounUS /ˈstaɪflɪŋ/
forceful prevention; putting down by power or authority
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
stormsnounUS /stɔːrmz/
plural of “storm” — a violent weather condition with winds 64-72 knots (11 on the Beaufort scale) and precipitation and thunder and lightning
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
with strength or in a strong manner
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
a special situation
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
precisely as stated
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Heaven was blurred out to her by the rising clouds, and all the earth was full of the noise, like an earthquake, of the falling walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IT was perhaps a very good thing for Bee at this distracting and distracted moment of her life, that her mother’s illness came in to fill up every thought.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
in or at the place that
From this reading She could not get that sound out of her ears even in Mrs. Kingsward’s sick room, where the quiet was preternatural, and everybody spoke in the lowest tone, and every step was hushed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her own little fabric of happiness crumbled down about her ears like a house of cards, only as it was far more deeply founded and strongly built, the downfall was with a rumbling that shook the earth and a dust that rose up to the skies.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading Even then it went on roaring, the stones and the rafters flying, the storms of dust and ruin blackening the air, so that Bee could not but wonder that nobody saw them, that the atmosphere was not thick and stifling with those _debris_ that were continually falling about her own ears.
