1793
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The air of elegance that characterized her person and her attire, the whiteness of her hands, and her delicate and refined features, all indicated that she was a person of gentle birth.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The air of elegance that characterized her person and her attire, the whiteness of her hands, and her delicate and refined features, all indicated that she was a person of gentle birth.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading She was a brunette, rather fragile in appearance, and petite in stature; and though she was not really beautiful, hers was a sympathetic and altogether charming face.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN EPISODE OF THE EMIGRATION.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading She was a brunette, rather fragile in appearance, and petite in stature; and though she was not really beautiful, hers was a sympathetic and altogether charming face.
attirenounUS /əˈtaɪər/
clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion
From this reading The air of elegance that characterized her person and her attire, the whiteness of her hands, and her delicate and refined features, all indicated that she was a person of gentle birth.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading She was a brunette, rather fragile in appearance, and petite in stature; and though she was not really beautiful, hers was a sympathetic and altogether charming face.
the time when something begins (especially life)
From this reading The air of elegance that characterized her person and her attire, the whiteness of her hands, and her delicate and refined features, all indicated that she was a person of gentle birth.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
brunettenounUS /bruːˈnet/
a person with dark (brown) hair
From this reading She was a brunette, rather fragile in appearance, and petite in stature; and though she was not really beautiful, hers was a sympathetic and altogether charming face.
characterizedverbUS /ˈkerəktəraɪzd/
past form of “characterize” — describe or portray the character or the qualities or peculiarities of
From this reading The air of elegance that characterized her person and her attire, the whiteness of her hands, and her delicate and refined features, all indicated that she was a person of gentle birth.
pleasing or delighting
From this reading She was a brunette, rather fragile in appearance, and petite in stature; and though she was not really beautiful, hers was a sympathetic and altogether charming face.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
cladadjectiveUS /klæd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
a small house with a single story
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading The air of elegance that characterized her person and her attire, the whiteness of her hands, and her delicate and refined features, all indicated that she was a person of gentle birth.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
dwellingnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋ/
housing that someone is living in
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
elegancenounUS /ˈeləɡəns/
a refined quality of gracefulness and good taste
From this reading The air of elegance that characterized her person and her attire, the whiteness of her hands, and her delicate and refined features, all indicated that she was a person of gentle birth.
emergedverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒd/
past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
EMIGRATIONnounUS /ˌeməˈɡreɪʃən/
migration from a place (especially migration from your native country in order to settle in another)
From this reading AN EPISODE OF THE EMIGRATION.
EPISODEnounUS /ˈepəsoʊd/
a happening that is distinctive in a series of related events
From this reading AN EPISODE OF THE EMIGRATION.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She was a brunette, rather fragile in appearance, and petite in stature; and though she was not really beautiful, hers was a sympathetic and altogether charming face.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading The air of elegance that characterized her person and her attire, the whiteness of her hands, and her delicate and refined features, all indicated that she was a person of gentle birth.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
fragileadjectiveUS /ˈfrædʒəl/
easily broken or damaged or destroyed
From this reading She was a brunette, rather fragile in appearance, and petite in stature; and though she was not really beautiful, hers was a sympathetic and altogether charming face.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading The air of elegance that characterized her person and her attire, the whiteness of her hands, and her delicate and refined features, all indicated that she was a person of gentle birth.
a young female
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The air of elegance that characterized her person and her attire, the whiteness of her hands, and her delicate and refined features, all indicated that she was a person of gentle birth.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The air of elegance that characterized her person and her attire, the whiteness of her hands, and her delicate and refined features, all indicated that she was a person of gentle birth.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading She was a brunette, rather fragile in appearance, and petite in stature; and though she was not really beautiful, hers was a sympathetic and altogether charming face.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
indicatedverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪtəd/
past form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading The air of elegance that characterized her person and her attire, the whiteness of her hands, and her delicate and refined features, all indicated that she was a person of gentle birth.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
mourningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was a brunette, rather fragile in appearance, and petite in stature; and though she was not really beautiful, hers was a sympathetic and altogether charming face.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN EPISODE OF THE EMIGRATION.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
a human being
From this reading The air of elegance that characterized her person and her attire, the whiteness of her hands, and her delicate and refined features, all indicated that she was a person of gentle birth.
petiteadjectiveUS /pəˈtiːt/
very small
From this reading She was a brunette, rather fragile in appearance, and petite in stature; and though she was not really beautiful, hers was a sympathetic and altogether charming face.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
on the contrary
From this reading She was a brunette, rather fragile in appearance, and petite in stature; and though she was not really beautiful, hers was a sympathetic and altogether charming face.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading She was a brunette, rather fragile in appearance, and petite in stature; and though she was not really beautiful, hers was a sympathetic and altogether charming face.
refinedadjectiveUS /rəˈfaɪnd/
(used of persons and their behavior) cultivated and genteel
From this reading The air of elegance that characterized her person and her attire, the whiteness of her hands, and her delicate and refined features, all indicated that she was a person of gentle birth.
SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/
the month following August and preceding October
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
staturenounUS /ˈstætʃər/
high level of respect gained by impressive development or achievement
From this reading She was a brunette, rather fragile in appearance, and petite in stature; and though she was not really beautiful, hers was a sympathetic and altogether charming face.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
suburbsnounUS /ˈsʌbərbz/
plural of “suburb” — a residential district located on the outskirts of a city
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
sympatheticadjectiveUS /ˌsɪmpəˈθetɪk/
of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system
From this reading She was a brunette, rather fragile in appearance, and petite in stature; and though she was not really beautiful, hers was a sympathetic and altogether charming face.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN EPISODE OF THE EMIGRATION.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She was a brunette, rather fragile in appearance, and petite in stature; and though she was not really beautiful, hers was a sympathetic and altogether charming face.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She slowly descended the broad and handsome steps that led up to the dwelling, passed through the garden, and having opened the gate, gazed anxiously in the direction of the city.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was a brunette, rather fragile in appearance, and petite in stature; and though she was not really beautiful, hers was a sympathetic and altogether charming face.
whitenessnounUS /ˈwaɪtnəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of greatest lightness (bearing the least resemblance to black)
From this reading The air of elegance that characterized her person and her attire, the whiteness of her hands, and her delicate and refined features, all indicated that she was a person of gentle birth.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading On the first Sunday in the month of September, 1793, about ten o'clock in the morning, a young girl clad in mourning emerged from the doorway of a pretty cottage in the suburbs of London.
