used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Some one knocked at the door.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
brushingnounUS /ˈbrʌʃɪŋ/
the act of brushing your teeth
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
CoranounUS /ˈkɔːrə/
(Greek mythology) daughter of Zeus and Demeter; made queen of the underworld by Pluto in ancient mythology; identified with Roman Proserpina
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
covetedadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvətɪd/
greatly desired
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
Dennison's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
diamondsnounUS /ˈdaɪməndz/
plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Some one knocked at the door.
empressnounUS /ˈempres/
a woman emperor or the wife of an emperor
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
eyelashesnounUS /ˈaɪlæʃɪz/
plural of “eyelash” — any of the short curved hairs that grow from the edges of the eyelids
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
set up or found
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
a young female
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
an established custom
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
inquireverbUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪr/
address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
INTRUSIVEadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtruːsɪv/
tending to intrude (especially upon privacy)
From this reading INTRUSIVE KINDNESS.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic
From this reading INTRUSIVE KINDNESS.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading Some one knocked at the door.
United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
a female domestic
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
mistress's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
mulattonounUS /məˈlɑːtoʊ/
an offspring of a black and a white parent
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Some one knocked at the door.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
riding-habit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
sinisteradjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪstər/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some one knocked at the door.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
terracenounUS /ˈterəs/
usually paved outdoor area adjoining a residence
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Some one knocked at the door.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
up-stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn't time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
which person or people
From this reading I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs. Dennison's maid, who had been brushing her mistress's riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
