used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It faded away into a dull background, leaving only her luminous face in high relief.
(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 The painted oval contour and the curved lips were there in all their beauty; but the shadowy eyes unconsciously showed the troubled soul.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The painted oval contour and the curved lips were there in all their beauty; but the shadowy eyes unconsciously showed the troubled soul.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As they stood before the portrait, Jim knew that it was one of the painter’s true inspirations.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It faded away into a dull background, leaving only her luminous face in high relief.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading It faded away into a dull background, leaving only her luminous face in high relief.
bandsnounUS /bændz/
plural of “band” — an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading The simple brown gown in which Diana had been painted brought out the gold in the bands of her straight hair.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading The painted oval contour and the curved lips were there in all their beauty; but the shadowy eyes unconsciously showed the troubled soul.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The simple brown gown in which Diana had been painted brought out the gold in the bands of her straight hair.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading As they stood before the portrait, Jim knew that it was one of the painter’s true inspirations.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The simple brown gown in which Diana had been painted brought out the gold in the bands of her straight hair.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading The simple brown gown in which Diana had been painted brought out the gold in the bands of her straight hair.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The painted oval contour and the curved lips were there in all their beauty; but the shadowy eyes unconsciously showed the troubled soul.
contournounUS /ˈkɑːntʊr/
a line drawn on a map connecting points of equal height
From this reading The painted oval contour and the curved lips were there in all their beauty; but the shadowy eyes unconsciously showed the troubled soul.
curvedadjectiveUS /kɜːrvd/
having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend
From this reading The painted oval contour and the curved lips were there in all their beauty; but the shadowy eyes unconsciously showed the troubled soul.
DiananounUS /daɪˈænə/
English aristocrat who was the first wife of Prince Charles; her death in an automobile accident in Paris produced intense national mourning (1961-1997)
From this reading The simple brown gown in which Diana had been painted brought out the gold in the bands of her straight hair.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading It faded away into a dull background, leaving only her luminous face in high relief.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading It was a portrait of Diana older in years and experience.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The painted oval contour and the curved lips were there in all their beauty; but the shadowy eyes unconsciously showed the troubled soul.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading It faded away into a dull background, leaving only her luminous face in high relief.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading It faded away into a dull background, leaving only her luminous face in high relief.
coins made of gold
From this reading The simple brown gown in which Diana had been painted brought out the gold in the bands of her straight hair.
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading The simple brown gown in which Diana had been painted brought out the gold in the bands of her straight hair.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The simple brown gown in which Diana had been painted brought out the gold in the bands of her straight hair.
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 The simple brown gown in which Diana had been painted brought out the gold in the bands of her straight hair.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The simple brown gown in which Diana had been painted brought out the gold in the bands of her straight hair.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It faded away into a dull background, leaving only her luminous face in high relief.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The simple brown gown in which Diana had been painted brought out the gold in the bands of her straight hair.
inspirationsnounUS /ˌɪnspərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “inspiration” — arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity
From this reading As they stood before the portrait, Jim knew that it was one of the painter’s true inspirations.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It faded away into a dull background, leaving only her luminous face in high relief.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As they stood before the portrait, Jim knew that it was one of the painter’s true inspirations.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As they stood before the portrait, Jim knew that it was one of the painter’s true inspirations.
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 As they stood before the portrait, Jim knew that it was one of the painter’s true inspirations.
the act of departing
From this reading It faded away into a dull background, leaving only her luminous face in high relief.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading The painted oval contour and the curved lips were there in all their beauty; but the shadowy eyes unconsciously showed the troubled soul.
luminousadjectiveUS /ˈluːmənəs/
softly bright or radiant
From this reading It faded away into a dull background, leaving only her luminous face in high relief.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As they stood before the portrait, Jim knew that it was one of the painter’s true inspirations.
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading It was a portrait of Diana older in years and experience.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As they stood before the portrait, Jim knew that it was one of the painter’s true inspirations.
and nothing more
From this reading It faded away into a dull background, leaving only her luminous face in high relief.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The simple brown gown in which Diana had been painted brought out the gold in the bands of her straight hair.
ovalnounUS /ˈoʊvəl/
a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it
From this reading The painted oval contour and the curved lips were there in all their beauty; but the shadowy eyes unconsciously showed the troubled soul.
coated with paint
From this reading The simple brown gown in which Diana had been painted brought out the gold in the bands of her straight hair.
painter'snounUS /ˈpeɪntərz/
possessive form of “painter” — an artist who paints
From this reading As they stood before the portrait, Jim knew that it was one of the painter’s true inspirations.
a word picture of a person's appearance and character
From this reading As they stood before the portrait, Jim knew that it was one of the painter’s true inspirations.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading It faded away into a dull background, leaving only her luminous face in high relief.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading The painted oval contour and the curved lips were there in all their beauty; but the shadowy eyes unconsciously showed the troubled soul.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The painted oval contour and the curved lips were there in all their beauty; but the shadowy eyes unconsciously showed the troubled soul.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading The simple brown gown in which Diana had been painted brought out the gold in the bands of her straight hair.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading The painted oval contour and the curved lips were there in all their beauty; but the shadowy eyes unconsciously showed the troubled soul.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading As they stood before the portrait, Jim knew that it was one of the painter’s true inspirations.
successive (without a break)
From this reading The simple brown gown in which Diana had been painted brought out the gold in the bands of her straight hair.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As they stood before the portrait, Jim knew that it was one of the painter’s true inspirations.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As they stood before the portrait, Jim knew that it was one of the painter’s true inspirations.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The painted oval contour and the curved lips were there in all their beauty; but the shadowy eyes unconsciously showed the troubled soul.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The painted oval contour and the curved lips were there in all their beauty; but the shadowy eyes unconsciously showed the troubled soul.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As they stood before the portrait, Jim knew that it was one of the painter’s true inspirations.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading The painted oval contour and the curved lips were there in all their beauty; but the shadowy eyes unconsciously showed the troubled soul.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading As they stood before the portrait, Jim knew that it was one of the painter’s true inspirations.
unconsciouslyadverbUS /ˌʌnˈkɑːnʃəsli/
without awareness
From this reading The painted oval contour and the curved lips were there in all their beauty; but the shadowy eyes unconsciously showed the troubled soul.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As they stood before the portrait, Jim knew that it was one of the painter’s true inspirations.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The painted oval contour and the curved lips were there in all their beauty; but the shadowy eyes unconsciously showed the troubled soul.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The simple brown gown in which Diana had been painted brought out the gold in the bands of her straight hair.
a late time of life
From this reading It was a portrait of Diana older in years and experience.
