adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Not even the breathings of her sleeping infant reached her ear; nor was she conscious of the pressure of its body against her own.
ALMOSTadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading She saw nothing that was around her--heard nothing--felt nothing.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
babenounUS /beɪb/
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
barriersnounUS /ˈbæriərz/
plural of “barrier” — a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
blueadjectiveUS /bluː/
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Not even the breathings of her sleeping infant reached her ear; nor was she conscious of the pressure of its body against her own.
breathings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not even the breathings of her sleeping infant reached her ear; nor was she conscious of the pressure of its body against her own.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
consciousadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnʃəs/
intentionally conceived
From this reading Not even the breathings of her sleeping infant reached her ear; nor was she conscious of the pressure of its body against her own.
dreamyadjectiveUS /ˈdriːmi/
dreamy in mood or nature
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
earnounUS /iːr/
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Not even the breathings of her sleeping infant reached her ear; nor was she conscious of the pressure of its body against her own.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading Not even the breathings of her sleeping infant reached her ear; nor was she conscious of the pressure of its body against her own.
eyelidsnounUS /ˈaɪlɪdz/
plural of “eyelid” — either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading She saw nothing that was around her--heard nothing--felt nothing.
FixedadjectiveUS /fɪkst/
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
gazenounUS /ɡeɪz/
a long fixed look
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading She saw nothing that was around her--heard nothing--felt nothing.
hearkened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
husbandnounUS /ˈhʌzbənd/
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
infantnounUS /ˈɪnfənt/
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading Not even the breathings of her sleeping infant reached her ear; nor was she conscious of the pressure of its body against her own.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
inwardadjectiveUS /ˈɪnwərd/
relating to or existing in the mind or thoughts
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Not even the breathings of her sleeping infant reached her ear; nor was she conscious of the pressure of its body against her own.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
motionnounUS /ˈmoʊʃən/
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
motionlessadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊʃənləs/
not in physical motion
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
nearlyadverbUS /ˈnɪrli/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Not even the breathings of her sleeping infant reached her ear; nor was she conscious of the pressure of its body against her own.
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not even the breathings of her sleeping infant reached her ear; nor was she conscious of the pressure of its body against her own.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading She saw nothing that was around her--heard nothing--felt nothing.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Not even the breathings of her sleeping infant reached her ear; nor was she conscious of the pressure of its body against her own.
orbs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Not even the breathings of her sleeping infant reached her ear; nor was she conscious of the pressure of its body against her own.
portalnounUS /ˈpɔːrtəl/
a grand and imposing entrance (often extended metaphorically)
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
pressurenounUS /ˈpreʃər/
the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)
From this reading Not even the breathings of her sleeping infant reached her ear; nor was she conscious of the pressure of its body against her own.
quiveringnounUS /ˈkwɪvərɪŋ/
a shaky motion
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Not even the breathings of her sleeping infant reached her ear; nor was she conscious of the pressure of its body against her own.
retainverbUS /rɪˈteɪn/
hold back within
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading She saw nothing that was around her--heard nothing--felt nothing.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She saw nothing that was around her--heard nothing--felt nothing.
sleepingnounUS /ˈsliːpɪŋ/
the state of being asleep
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
slowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
soonadverbUS /suːn/
in the near future
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
soughtadjectiveUS /sɔːt/
that is looked for
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
soulnounUS /soʊl/
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
tearverbUS /ter/
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She saw nothing that was around her--heard nothing--felt nothing.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
trembledverbUS /ˈtrembəld/
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading At last there came a motion of the eyelids--a quivering motion--then they closed, slowly, over the blue orbs beneath; and soon after a tear trembled out to the light from behind the barriers that sought to retain them.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She saw nothing that was around her--heard nothing--felt nothing.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
WilkinsonnounUS /ˈwɪlkənsən/
English chemist honored for his research on pollutants in car exhausts (born in 1921)
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading ALMOST motionless, with her sleeping babe upon her lap, sat Mrs. Wilkinson for nearly half an hour after her husband left the house.
withdrewverbUS /wɪθˈdruː/
inflected form of “withdraw” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
worldnounUS /wɜːrld/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Fixed in a dreamy, inward gaze were her eyes; and her soul withdrew itself from the portal at which, a little while before, it hearkened into the world of nature.
