Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

(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 To Hester, all the world seemed full of melody.

Having no one else present.

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

exceptionally bad or displeasing

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading All this was within Hester; but without-- There had been but little room in Hester's life for music.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

the sacred writings of the Christian religions

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading All this was within Hester; but without-- There had been but little room in Hester's life for music.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

relating to or characteristic of Christianity

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

a flag that shows its nationality

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

past form of “dance” — move in a graceful and rhythmical way

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

divisible by two

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

opinion or judgment

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

make full, also in a metaphorical sense

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading To Hester, all the world seemed full of melody.

of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading All this was within Hester; but without-- There had been but little room in Hester's life for music.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

foreshadow or presage

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading All this was within Hester; but without-- There had been but little room in Hester's life for music.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading All this was within Hester; but without-- There had been but little room in Hester's life for music.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading All this was within Hester; but without-- There had been but little room in Hester's life for music.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

march in a procession

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence

From this reading To Hester, all the world seemed full of melody.

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading To Hester, all the world seemed full of melody.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

(of games) engaged in

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading All this was within Hester; but without-- There had been but little room in Hester's life for music.

past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

cut with a saw

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

music performed for dancing the schottische

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading To Hester, all the world seemed full of melody.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

plural of “shred” — a tiny or scarcely detectable amount

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

shining with brilliant points of light like stars

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

impressive in appearance

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

plural of “tatter” — a small piece of cloth or paper

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

in or at that place or location

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading All this was within Hester; but without-- There had been but little room in Hester's life for music.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence

From this reading Even the clouds in the sky sailed slowly along in time to a stately march in her brain, or danced to the tune of a merry schottische that sounded for her ears alone.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

having a tone of a reed instrument

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

at the time that

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading And when she saw the sunset from the hill behind her home, there was always music then--low and tender if the colors were soft and pale-tinted, grand and awful if the wind blew shreds and tatters of storm-clouds across a purpling sky.

in the company of; together with

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading All this was within Hester; but without-- There had been but little room in Hester's life for music.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading All this was within Hester; but without-- There had been but little room in Hester's life for music.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading To Hester, all the world seemed full of melody.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

a late time of life

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading New York The Christian Herald Bible House When Hester was two years old a wheezy hand-organ would set her eyes to sparkling and her cheeks to dimpling, and when she was twenty the "Maiden's Prayer," played by a school-girl, would fill her soul with ecstasy.