used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It seemed to be the thing to do in the circumstances.
bodicenounUS /ˈbɑːdɪs/
part of a dress above the waist
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she could not think calmly.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
with self-possession (especially in times of stress)
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
Cicely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading It seemed to be the thing to do in the circumstances.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading She could not even command herself sufficiently to go on with her undressing.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But she could not think calmly.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It seemed to be the thing to do in the circumstances.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
divisible by two
From this reading She could not even command herself sufficiently to go on with her undressing.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She could not even command herself sufficiently to go on with her undressing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to be the thing to do in the circumstances.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
a female domestic
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But she could not think calmly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She could not even command herself sufficiently to go on with her undressing.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
PLUNGEverbUS /plʌndʒ/
thrust or throw into
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
a word picture of a person's appearance and character
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to be the thing to do in the circumstances.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
sketchedverbUS /sketʃt/
past form of “sketch” — make a sketch of
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
to a sufficient degree
From this reading She could not even command herself sufficiently to go on with her undressing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
a special situation
From this reading It seemed to be the thing to do in the circumstances.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading But she could not think calmly.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
undressing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not even command herself sufficiently to go on with her undressing.
unfastenverb
cause to become undone
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
at the time that
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
which person or people
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She could not even command herself sufficiently to go on with her undressing.
