adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a moment, she turned and walked rapidly, with scant regard for the puddles, in the direction from which she had come.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading She was perhaps a hundred yards farther down the street and was picking her way gingerly, mincingly, along the narrow path at the roadside.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
arousedadjectiveUS /ərˈaʊzd/
aroused to action
From this reading His meditations were interrupted and his interest suddenly aroused when he observed that she had stopped stock-still in the path.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was perhaps a hundred yards farther down the street and was picking her way gingerly, mincingly, along the narrow path at the roadside.
attentionnounUS /əˈtenʃən/
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
avoidverbUS /əˈvɔɪd/
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
beruffled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
bottomnounUS /ˈbɑːtəm/
the lower side of anything
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
BROTHERnounUS /ˈbrʌðər/
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
characternounUS /ˈkerɪktər/
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading After a moment, she turned and walked rapidly, with scant regard for the puddles, in the direction from which she had come.
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
directionnounUS /dərˈekʃən/
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
disturbingadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ/
causing distress or worry or anxiety
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She was perhaps a hundred yards farther down the street and was picking her way gingerly, mincingly, along the narrow path at the roadside.
dressedadjectiveUS /drest/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
espied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
fartheradjectiveUS /ˈfɑːrðər/
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading She was perhaps a hundred yards farther down the street and was picking her way gingerly, mincingly, along the narrow path at the roadside.
figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading After a moment, she turned and walked rapidly, with scant regard for the puddles, in the direction from which she had come.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
fullyadverbUS /ˈfʊli/
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
gingerlyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɪndʒərli/
with extreme care or delicacy
From this reading She was perhaps a hundred yards farther down the street and was picking her way gingerly, mincingly, along the narrow path at the roadside.
groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His meditations were interrupted and his interest suddenly aroused when he observed that she had stopped stock-still in the path.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was perhaps a hundred yards farther down the street and was picking her way gingerly, mincingly, along the narrow path at the roadside.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
holdingnounUS /ˈhoʊldɪŋ/
the act of retaining something
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/
ten 10s
From this reading She was perhaps a hundred yards farther down the street and was picking her way gingerly, mincingly, along the narrow path at the roadside.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading His meditations were interrupted and his interest suddenly aroused when he observed that she had stopped stock-still in the path.
interruptedadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈʌptɪd/
discontinued temporarily
From this reading His meditations were interrupted and his interest suddenly aroused when he observed that she had stopped stock-still in the path.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
MainadjectiveUS /meɪn/
most important element
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
meditationsnounUS /ˌmedɪˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “meditation” — continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature
From this reading His meditations were interrupted and his interest suddenly aroused when he observed that she had stopped stock-still in the path.
mincinglyadverb
in a mincing manner
From this reading She was perhaps a hundred yards farther down the street and was picking her way gingerly, mincingly, along the narrow path at the roadside.
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading After a moment, she turned and walked rapidly, with scant regard for the puddles, in the direction from which she had come.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
mud-puddles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading She was perhaps a hundred yards farther down the street and was picking her way gingerly, mincingly, along the narrow path at the roadside.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
notenounUS /noʊt/
a brief written record
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
observedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvd/
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading His meditations were interrupted and his interest suddenly aroused when he observed that she had stopped stock-still in the path.
occupiedadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪd/
held or filled or in use
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
paidadjectiveUS /peɪd/
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
pathnounUS /pæθ/
a course of conduct
From this reading She was perhaps a hundred yards farther down the street and was picking her way gingerly, mincingly, along the narrow path at the roadside.
perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading She was perhaps a hundred yards farther down the street and was picking her way gingerly, mincingly, along the narrow path at the roadside.
petticoatnounUS /ˈpetikoʊt/
undergarment worn under a skirt
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading She was perhaps a hundred yards farther down the street and was picking her way gingerly, mincingly, along the narrow path at the roadside.
publicnounUS /ˈpʌblɪk/
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
puddlesnounUS /ˈpʌdəlz/
plural of “puddle” — a mixture of wet clay and sand that can be used to line a pond and that is impervious to water when dry
From this reading After a moment, she turned and walked rapidly, with scant regard for the puddles, in the direction from which she had come.
rapidlyadverbUS /ˈræpədli/
with speed
From this reading After a moment, she turned and walked rapidly, with scant regard for the puddles, in the direction from which she had come.
regardnounUS /rɪˈɡɑːrd/
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading After a moment, she turned and walked rapidly, with scant regard for the puddles, in the direction from which she had come.
revealedverbUS /rɪˈviːld/
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
roadsidenounUS /ˈroʊdsaɪd/
edge of a way or road or path
From this reading She was perhaps a hundred yards farther down the street and was picking her way gingerly, mincingly, along the narrow path at the roadside.
scantadjectiveUS /skænt/
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
From this reading After a moment, she turned and walked rapidly, with scant regard for the puddles, in the direction from which she had come.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was perhaps a hundred yards farther down the street and was picking her way gingerly, mincingly, along the narrow path at the roadside.
SISTERnounUS /ˈsɪstər/
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
skirtnounUS /skɜːrt/
cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
SquareverbUS /skwer/
make square
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
stock-stilladjective
absolutely still
From this reading His meditations were interrupted and his interest suddenly aroused when he observed that she had stopped stock-still in the path.
stoppedadjectiveUS /stɑːpt/
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading His meditations were interrupted and his interest suddenly aroused when he observed that she had stopped stock-still in the path.
StreetnounUS /striːt/
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/
happening unexpectedly
From this reading His meditations were interrupted and his interest suddenly aroused when he observed that she had stopped stock-still in the path.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
thoughtsnounUS /θɔːts/
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
voluminousadjectiveUS /vəˈluːmənəs/
large in volume or bulk
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
walkedverbUS /wɔːkt/
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading After a moment, she turned and walked rapidly, with scant regard for the puddles, in the direction from which she had come.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was perhaps a hundred yards farther down the street and was picking her way gingerly, mincingly, along the narrow path at the roadside.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She was perhaps a hundred yards farther down the street and was picking her way gingerly, mincingly, along the narrow path at the roadside.
welladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His meditations were interrupted and his interest suddenly aroused when he observed that she had stopped stock-still in the path.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading His meditations were interrupted and his interest suddenly aroused when he observed that she had stopped stock-still in the path.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading After a moment, she turned and walked rapidly, with scant regard for the puddles, in the direction from which she had come.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading His mind was so fully occupied with thoughts of a most disturbing character that he paid no attention to her, except to note that she was dressed in black and that in holding her voluminous skirt well off the ground to avoid the mud-puddles, she revealed the bottom of a white, beruffled petticoat.
womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading BROTHER AND SISTER As he turned into Main Street he espied the figure of a woman coming toward him from the direction of the public Square.
yardsnounUS /jɑːrdz/
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading She was perhaps a hundred yards farther down the street and was picking her way gingerly, mincingly, along the narrow path at the roadside.
