used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A girl with fluffy brown hair and mocking eyes had been the center of many mental pictures that had haunted him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A girl with fluffy brown hair and mocking eyes had been the center of many mental pictures that had haunted him.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He had seen a sketch of a puncher, upon which she appeared to be working, representing a man who looked very like himself.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had seen a sketch of a puncher, upon which she appeared to be working, representing a man who looked very like himself.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A girl with fluffy brown hair and mocking eyes had been the center of many mental pictures that had haunted him.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He had seen her seated before him, rapidly plying a pencil.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading A girl with fluffy brown hair and mocking eyes had been the center of many mental pictures that had haunted him.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading A girl with fluffy brown hair and mocking eyes had been the center of many mental pictures that had haunted him.
DISAPPEARANCEnounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrəns/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading DISAPPEARANCE OF THE ORPHAN During the night Ferguson had dreamed dreams.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading DISAPPEARANCE OF THE ORPHAN During the night Ferguson had dreamed dreams.
plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep
From this reading DISAPPEARANCE OF THE ORPHAN During the night Ferguson had dreamed dreams.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading DISAPPEARANCE OF THE ORPHAN During the night Ferguson had dreamed dreams.
opinion or judgment
From this reading A girl with fluffy brown hair and mocking eyes had been the center of many mental pictures that had haunted him.
Ferguson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DISAPPEARANCE OF THE ORPHAN During the night Ferguson had dreamed dreams.
fluffyadjectiveUS /ˈflʌfi/
like down or as soft as down
From this reading A girl with fluffy brown hair and mocking eyes had been the center of many mental pictures that had haunted him.
a young female
From this reading A girl with fluffy brown hair and mocking eyes had been the center of many mental pictures that had haunted him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading DISAPPEARANCE OF THE ORPHAN During the night Ferguson had dreamed dreams.
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 A girl with fluffy brown hair and mocking eyes had been the center of many mental pictures that had haunted him.
hauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading A girl with fluffy brown hair and mocking eyes had been the center of many mental pictures that had haunted him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had seen her seated before him, rapidly plying a pencil.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He had seen her seated before him, rapidly plying a pencil.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A girl with fluffy brown hair and mocking eyes had been the center of many mental pictures that had haunted him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had seen a sketch of a puncher, upon which she appeared to be working, representing a man who looked very like himself.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading Once he imagined he had peered over her shoulder.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He had seen a sketch of a puncher, upon which she appeared to be working, representing a man who looked very like himself.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He had seen a sketch of a puncher, upon which she appeared to be working, representing a man who looked very like himself.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He had seen a sketch of a puncher, upon which she appeared to be working, representing a man who looked very like himself.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading A girl with fluffy brown hair and mocking eyes had been the center of many mental pictures that had haunted him.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading A girl with fluffy brown hair and mocking eyes had been the center of many mental pictures that had haunted him.
mockingadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːkɪŋ/
abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule
From this reading A girl with fluffy brown hair and mocking eyes had been the center of many mental pictures that had haunted him.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading DISAPPEARANCE OF THE ORPHAN During the night Ferguson had dreamed dreams.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading DISAPPEARANCE OF THE ORPHAN During the night Ferguson had dreamed dreams.
on one occasion
From this reading Once he imagined he had peered over her shoulder.
ORPHANnounUS /ˈɔːrfən/
a child who has lost both parents
From this reading DISAPPEARANCE OF THE ORPHAN During the night Ferguson had dreamed dreams.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Once he imagined he had peered over her shoulder.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Once he imagined he had peered over her shoulder.
pencilnounUS /ˈpensəl/
a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood
From this reading He had seen her seated before him, rapidly plying a pencil.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading A girl with fluffy brown hair and mocking eyes had been the center of many mental pictures that had haunted him.
plyingverbUS /ˈplaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “ply” — give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance
From this reading He had seen her seated before him, rapidly plying a pencil.
punchernoun
a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback
From this reading He had seen a sketch of a puncher, upon which she appeared to be working, representing a man who looked very like himself.
with speed
From this reading He had seen her seated before him, rapidly plying a pencil.
representingverbUS /ˌreprɪˈzentɪŋ/
-ing form of “represent” — take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to
From this reading He had seen a sketch of a puncher, upon which she appeared to be working, representing a man who looked very like himself.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading He had seen her seated before him, rapidly plying a pencil.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He had seen her seated before him, rapidly plying a pencil.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had seen a sketch of a puncher, upon which she appeared to be working, representing a man who looked very like himself.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading Once he imagined he had peered over her shoulder.
sketchnounUS /sketʃ/
preliminary drawing for later elaboration
From this reading He had seen a sketch of a puncher, upon which she appeared to be working, representing a man who looked very like himself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A girl with fluffy brown hair and mocking eyes had been the center of many mental pictures that had haunted him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DISAPPEARANCE OF THE ORPHAN During the night Ferguson had dreamed dreams.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had seen a sketch of a puncher, upon which she appeared to be working, representing a man who looked very like himself.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He had seen a sketch of a puncher, upon which she appeared to be working, representing a man who looked very like himself.
precisely as stated
From this reading He had seen a sketch of a puncher, upon which she appeared to be working, representing a man who looked very like himself.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had seen a sketch of a puncher, upon which she appeared to be working, representing a man who looked very like himself.
which person or people
From this reading He had seen a sketch of a puncher, upon which she appeared to be working, representing a man who looked very like himself.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A girl with fluffy brown hair and mocking eyes had been the center of many mental pictures that had haunted him.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading He had seen a sketch of a puncher, upon which she appeared to be working, representing a man who looked very like himself.
