used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Lady Selina laid down her pen—a quill—smiling pensively.
perfect or complete or pure
From this reading Artlessly, with absolute sincerity, Lady Selina scattered her smiles as largesse.
inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading Critics admitted that the smile had quality.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
Artlesslyadverb
in a crude and unskilled manner
From this reading Artlessly, with absolute sincerity, Lady Selina scattered her smiles as largesse.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Artlessly, with absolute sincerity, Lady Selina scattered her smiles as largesse.
attractiveadjectiveUS /əˈtræktɪv/
pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
CriticsnounUS /ˈkrɪtɪks/
plural of “critic” — a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art
From this reading Critics admitted that the smile had quality.
plural of “daughter” — a female human offspring
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
derisionnounUS /dərˈɪʒən/
contemptuous laughter
From this reading No derision twisted it.
dowerlessadjective
lacking a dowry
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Lady Selina laid down her pen—a quill—smiling pensively.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
EarlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lady Selina laid down her pen—a quill—smiling pensively.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading No derision twisted it.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Lady Selina laid down her pen—a quill—smiling pensively.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Lady Selina laid down her pen—a quill—smiling pensively.
largessenounUS /lɑːrˈɡes/
a gift or money given (as for service or out of benevolence); usually given ostentatiously
From this reading Artlessly, with absolute sincerity, Lady Selina scattered her smiles as largesse.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
matronsnounUS /ˈmeɪtrənz/
plural of “matron” — a married woman (usually middle-aged with children) who is staid and dignified
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
not any; not one
From this reading No derision twisted it.
obedientlyadverbUS /oʊˈbiːdiəntli/
in an obedient manner
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading Lady Selina laid down her pen—a quill—smiling pensively.
pensivelyadverb
in a pensive manner
From this reading Lady Selina laid down her pen—a quill—smiling pensively.
an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading Critics admitted that the smile had quality.
quillnounUS /kwɪl/
pen made from a bird's feather
From this reading Lady Selina laid down her pen—a quill—smiling pensively.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading Artlessly, with absolute sincerity, Lady Selina scattered her smiles as largesse.
Selina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Selina laid down her pen—a quill—smiling pensively.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
sinceritynounUS /sɪnˈserəti/
an earnest and sincere feeling
From this reading Artlessly, with absolute sincerity, Lady Selina scattered her smiles as largesse.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
smilesnounUS /smaɪlz/
plural of “smile” — a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading Artlessly, with absolute sincerity, Lady Selina scattered her smiles as largesse.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading Lady Selina laid down her pen—a quill—smiling pensively.
inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Critics admitted that the smile had quality.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Critics admitted that the smile had quality.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading No derision twisted it.
which person or people
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
wivesnounUS /waɪvz/
plural of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Early in life she had been taught to smile by a mother with half a dozen attractive but dowerless daughters, who had smiled themselves obediently into wives and matrons.
