used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was ink before her, a pen in her hand.
absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading The Principal of the Female College of Montpelier sat in her room--office, call it, or study--her seat of authority, absorbed in business.
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading The Principal of the Female College of Montpelier sat in her room--office, call it, or study--her seat of authority, absorbed in business.
a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading Her table was littered with papers; the waste-paper basket overflowed with them.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There was ink before her, a pen in her hand.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading The Principal of the Female College of Montpelier sat in her room--office, call it, or study--her seat of authority, absorbed in business.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The Principal of the Female College of Montpelier sat in her room--office, call it, or study--her seat of authority, absorbed in business.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading Her cap sat crooked on her head; her whitened hair was rumpled.
the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading The Principal of the Female College of Montpelier sat in her room--office, call it, or study--her seat of authority, absorbed in business.
crookedadjectiveUS /ˈkrʊkəd/
having or marked by bends or angles; not straight or aligned
From this reading Her cap sat crooked on her head; her whitened hair was rumpled.
being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop
From this reading The Principal of the Female College of Montpelier sat in her room--office, call it, or study--her seat of authority, absorbed in business.
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 Her cap sat crooked on her head; her whitened hair was rumpled.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading There was ink before her, a pen in her hand.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Her cap sat crooked on her head; her whitened hair was rumpled.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Principal of the Female College of Montpelier sat in her room--office, call it, or study--her seat of authority, absorbed in business.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Principal of the Female College of Montpelier sat in her room--office, call it, or study--her seat of authority, absorbed in business.
inknounUS /ɪŋk/
a liquid used for printing or writing or drawing
From this reading There was ink before her, a pen in her hand.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Principal of the Female College of Montpelier sat in her room--office, call it, or study--her seat of authority, absorbed in business.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading THE LADY PRINCIPAL.
litteredadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtərd/
filled or scattered with a disorderly accumulation of objects or rubbish
From this reading Her table was littered with papers; the waste-paper basket overflowed with them.
MontpeliernounUS /mɑːntˈpiːliər/
capital of the state of Vermont; located in north central Vermont
From this reading The Principal of the Female College of Montpelier sat in her room--office, call it, or study--her seat of authority, absorbed in business.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Principal of the Female College of Montpelier sat in her room--office, call it, or study--her seat of authority, absorbed in business.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading The Principal of the Female College of Montpelier sat in her room--office, call it, or study--her seat of authority, absorbed in business.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Her cap sat crooked on her head; her whitened hair was rumpled.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The Principal of the Female College of Montpelier sat in her room--office, call it, or study--her seat of authority, absorbed in business.
overflowedverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈfloʊd/
past form of “overflow” — flow or run over (a limit or brim)
From this reading Her table was littered with papers; the waste-paper basket overflowed with them.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading Her table was littered with papers; the waste-paper basket overflowed with them.
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading There was ink before her, a pen in her hand.
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading THE LADY PRINCIPAL.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The Principal of the Female College of Montpelier sat in her room--office, call it, or study--her seat of authority, absorbed in business.
rumpledadjectiveUS /ˈrʌmpəld/
in disarray; extremely disorderly
From this reading Her cap sat crooked on her head; her whitened hair was rumpled.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The Principal of the Female College of Montpelier sat in her room--office, call it, or study--her seat of authority, absorbed in business.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading The Principal of the Female College of Montpelier sat in her room--office, call it, or study--her seat of authority, absorbed in business.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading The Principal of the Female College of Montpelier sat in her room--office, call it, or study--her seat of authority, absorbed in business.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Her table was littered with papers; the waste-paper basket overflowed with them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LADY PRINCIPAL.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Her table was littered with papers; the waste-paper basket overflowed with them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was ink before her, a pen in her hand.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her table was littered with papers; the waste-paper basket overflowed with them.
waste-paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her table was littered with papers; the waste-paper basket overflowed with them.
whitenedadjective
(of hair) having lost its color
From this reading Her cap sat crooked on her head; her whitened hair was rumpled.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her table was littered with papers; the waste-paper basket overflowed with them.
