adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
attitudenounUS /ˈætətuːd/
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading It was something indefinable in Desiree's attitude that told me the truth--what, I cannot tell.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene before us, trying to comprehend its meaning.
BEGINNINGnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
brainnounUS /breɪn/
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 Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was something indefinable in Desiree's attitude that told me the truth--what, I cannot tell.
certaintynounUS /ˈsɜːrtənti/
the state of being certain
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
comprehendverbUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhend/
get the meaning of something
From this reading Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene before us, trying to comprehend its meaning.
concentratedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnsəntreɪtɪd/
gathered together or made less diffuse
From this reading Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene before us, trying to comprehend its meaning.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
Desiree's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was something indefinable in Desiree's attitude that told me the truth--what, I cannot tell.
ENDnounUS /end/
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
expressionnounUS /ɪkˈspreʃən/
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene before us, trying to comprehend its meaning.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
flashedverbUS /flæʃt/
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
HarryverbUS /ˈheri/
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene before us, trying to comprehend its meaning.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene before us, trying to comprehend its meaning.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was something indefinable in Desiree's attitude that told me the truth--what, I cannot tell.
indefinableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈfaɪnəbəl/
not capable of being precisely or readily described; not easily put into words
From this reading It was something indefinable in Desiree's attitude that told me the truth--what, I cannot tell.
instantnounUS /ˈɪnstənt/
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading And on the instant I turned to Harry.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was something indefinable in Desiree's attitude that told me the truth--what, I cannot tell.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene before us, trying to comprehend its meaning.
linenounUS /laɪn/
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
loftyadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːfti/
of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was something indefinable in Desiree's attitude that told me the truth--what, I cannot tell.
meaningnounUS /ˈmiːnɪŋ/
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene before us, trying to comprehend its meaning.
motionlessadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊʃənləs/
not in physical motion
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
musclesnounUS /ˈmʌsəlz/
plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
NeitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene before us, trying to comprehend its meaning.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene before us, trying to comprehend its meaning.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene before us, trying to comprehend its meaning.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene before us, trying to comprehend its meaning.
poseverbUS /poʊz/
introduce
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
profilenounUS /ˈproʊfaɪl/
an analysis (often in graphical form) representing the extent to which something exhibits various characteristics
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
scenenounUS /siːn/
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene before us, trying to comprehend its meaning.
scornnounUS /skɔːrn/
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
somehowadverbUS /ˈsʌmhaʊ/
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It was something indefinable in Desiree's attitude that told me the truth--what, I cannot tell.
spokenounUS /spoʊk/
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene before us, trying to comprehend its meaning.
stiffeningnounUS /ˈstɪfənɪŋ/
the act of becoming stiff
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
supremeadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/
final or last in your life or progress
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
tellverbUS /tel/
express in words
From this reading It was something indefinable in Desiree's attitude that told me the truth--what, I cannot tell.
tensenessnoun
the physical condition of being stretched or strained
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was something indefinable in Desiree's attitude that told me the truth--what, I cannot tell.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene before us, trying to comprehend its meaning.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading It was something indefinable in Desiree's attitude that told me the truth--what, I cannot tell.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
triumphnounUS /ˈtraɪəmf/
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading Her profile was toward us; it could not have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain.
truthnounUS /truːθ/
a fact that has been verified
From this reading It was something indefinable in Desiree's attitude that told me the truth--what, I cannot tell.
tryingadjectiveUS /ˈtraɪɪŋ/
hard to endure
From this reading Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene before us, trying to comprehend its meaning.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading And on the instant I turned to Harry.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene before us, trying to comprehend its meaning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was something indefinable in Desiree's attitude that told me the truth--what, I cannot tell.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene before us, trying to comprehend its meaning.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It was something indefinable in Desiree's attitude that told me the truth--what, I cannot tell.
