used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A gilt-framed mirror hung on the opposite wall, out of which her sorrowful brooding eyes looked with an expression of dumb and weary suffering.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Shirley played that night, the old Russian proverb kept running through her mind.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
broodingnounUS /ˈbruːdɪŋ/
sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
From this reading A gilt-framed mirror hung on the opposite wall, out of which her sorrowful brooding eyes looked with an expression of dumb and weary suffering.
chintznoun
a brightly printed and glazed cotton fabric
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading WHEN THE CLOCK STRUCK "Sorrow weeps--sorrow sings."
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading Her confused thoughts raced hither and thither.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
cushionsnounUS /ˈkʊʃənz/
plural of “cushion” — a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
driftverbUS /drɪft/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
dumbadjectiveUS /dʌm/
slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity
From this reading A gilt-framed mirror hung on the opposite wall, out of which her sorrowful brooding eyes looked with an expression of dumb and weary suffering.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading A gilt-framed mirror hung on the opposite wall, out of which her sorrowful brooding eyes looked with an expression of dumb and weary suffering.
opinion or judgment
From this reading A gilt-framed mirror hung on the opposite wall, out of which her sorrowful brooding eyes looked with an expression of dumb and weary suffering.
featheryadjectiveUS /ˈfeðəri/
resembling or suggesting a feather or feathers
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
gilt-framed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A gilt-framed mirror hung on the opposite wall, out of which her sorrowful brooding eyes looked with an expression of dumb and weary suffering.
coins made of gold
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
harpnounUS /hɑːrp/
a chordophone that has a triangular frame consisting of a sounding board and a pillar and a curved neck; the strings stretched between the neck and the soundbox are plucked with the fingers
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As Shirley played that night, the old Russian proverb kept running through her mind.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
an old word meaning “to this place”
From this reading Her confused thoughts raced hither and thither.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading A gilt-framed mirror hung on the opposite wall, out of which her sorrowful brooding eyes looked with an expression of dumb and weary suffering.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading As Shirley played that night, the old Russian proverb kept running through her mind.
lacedadjectiveUS /leɪst/
closed with a lace
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading A gilt-framed mirror hung on the opposite wall, out of which her sorrowful brooding eyes looked with an expression of dumb and weary suffering.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading As Shirley played that night, the old Russian proverb kept running through her mind.
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading A gilt-framed mirror hung on the opposite wall, out of which her sorrowful brooding eyes looked with an expression of dumb and weary suffering.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading As Shirley played that night, the old Russian proverb kept running through her mind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading As Shirley played that night, the old Russian proverb kept running through her mind.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A gilt-framed mirror hung on the opposite wall, out of which her sorrowful brooding eyes looked with an expression of dumb and weary suffering.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading A gilt-framed mirror hung on the opposite wall, out of which her sorrowful brooding eyes looked with an expression of dumb and weary suffering.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A gilt-framed mirror hung on the opposite wall, out of which her sorrowful brooding eyes looked with an expression of dumb and weary suffering.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading As Shirley played that night, the old Russian proverb kept running through her mind.
proverbnounUS /ˈprɑːvərb/
a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people
From this reading As Shirley played that night, the old Russian proverb kept running through her mind.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
racedverbUS /reɪst/
past form of “race” — move hurridly
From this reading Her confused thoughts raced hither and thither.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading As Shirley played that night, the old Russian proverb kept running through her mind.
RussiannounUS /ˈrʌʃən/
a native or inhabitant of Russia
From this reading As Shirley played that night, the old Russian proverb kept running through her mind.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
Shirley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Shirley played that night, the old Russian proverb kept running through her mind.
singsverbUS /sɪŋz/
third-person singular of “sing” — deliver by singing
From this reading WHEN THE CLOCK STRUCK "Sorrow weeps--sorrow sings."
sofanounUS /ˈsoʊfə/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement
From this reading WHEN THE CLOCK STRUCK "Sorrow weeps--sorrow sings."
sorrowfuladjectiveUS /ˈsɑːroʊfəl/
experiencing or marked by or expressing sorrow especially that associated with irreparable loss
From this reading A gilt-framed mirror hung on the opposite wall, out of which her sorrowful brooding eyes looked with an expression of dumb and weary suffering.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading WHEN THE CLOCK STRUCK "Sorrow weeps--sorrow sings."
a state of acute pain
From this reading A gilt-framed mirror hung on the opposite wall, out of which her sorrowful brooding eyes looked with an expression of dumb and weary suffering.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As Shirley played that night, the old Russian proverb kept running through her mind.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHEN THE CLOCK STRUCK "Sorrow weeps--sorrow sings."
an old word meaning “to that place”
From this reading Her confused thoughts raced hither and thither.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Her confused thoughts raced hither and thither.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading As Shirley played that night, the old Russian proverb kept running through her mind.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading When she had pushed the gold harp into its corner she threw herself upon a broad sofa in a feathery drift of chintz cushions and dropped her forehead in her laced fingers.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading A gilt-framed mirror hung on the opposite wall, out of which her sorrowful brooding eyes looked with an expression of dumb and weary suffering.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading A gilt-framed mirror hung on the opposite wall, out of which her sorrowful brooding eyes looked with an expression of dumb and weary suffering.
weepsverbUS /wiːps/
third-person singular of “weep” — shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain
From this reading WHEN THE CLOCK STRUCK "Sorrow weeps--sorrow sings."
at the time that
From this reading WHEN THE CLOCK STRUCK "Sorrow weeps--sorrow sings."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A gilt-framed mirror hung on the opposite wall, out of which her sorrowful brooding eyes looked with an expression of dumb and weary suffering.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A gilt-framed mirror hung on the opposite wall, out of which her sorrowful brooding eyes looked with an expression of dumb and weary suffering.
