used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For she was sixteen now, and she had made the first of the queer drawings four eternal years earlier, when she was only a child.
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading The oldest of the designs had been drawn long, long ago;—that is to say, long, long ago, according to Cornelia’s sense of the passage of time.
plural of “age” — how long something has existed
From this reading They were her own handiwork; nobody had even seen any of them, and they were of different ages.
in the past
From this reading The oldest of the designs had been drawn long, long ago;—that is to say, long, long ago, according to Cornelia’s sense of the passage of time.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were her own handiwork; nobody had even seen any of them, and they were of different ages.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading They were her own handiwork; nobody had even seen any of them, and they were of different ages.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
installation from which a military force initiates operations
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The oldest of the designs had been drawn long, long ago;—that is to say, long, long ago, according to Cornelia’s sense of the passage of time.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
the lower side of anything
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
a young person of either sex
From this reading For she was sixteen now, and she had made the first of the queer drawings four eternal years earlier, when she was only a child.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
a steep high face of rock
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
cliffsnounUS /klɪfs/
plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
Cornelia's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The oldest of the designs had been drawn long, long ago;—that is to say, long, long ago, according to Cornelia’s sense of the passage of time.
designsnounUS /dɪˈzaɪnz/
plural of “design” — the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)
From this reading The oldest of the designs had been drawn long, long ago;—that is to say, long, long ago, according to Cornelia’s sense of the passage of time.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading They were her own handiwork; nobody had even seen any of them, and they were of different ages.
dotnounUS /dɑːt/
a very small circular shape
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
drawingsnounUS /ˈdrɔːɪŋz/
plural of “drawing” — an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading For she was sixteen now, and she had made the first of the queer drawings four eternal years earlier, when she was only a child.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The oldest of the designs had been drawn long, long ago;—that is to say, long, long ago, according to Cornelia’s sense of the passage of time.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading For she was sixteen now, and she had made the first of the queer drawings four eternal years earlier, when she was only a child.
emaciatedadjectiveUS /ɪˈmeɪʃieɪtɪd/
very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading For she was sixteen now, and she had made the first of the queer drawings four eternal years earlier, when she was only a child.
divisible by two
From this reading They were her own handiwork; nobody had even seen any of them, and they were of different ages.
the point or degree to which something extends
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading For she was sixteen now, and she had made the first of the queer drawings four eternal years earlier, when she was only a child.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For she was sixteen now, and she had made the first of the queer drawings four eternal years earlier, when she was only a child.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading For she was sixteen now, and she had made the first of the queer drawings four eternal years earlier, when she was only a child.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They were her own handiwork; nobody had even seen any of them, and they were of different ages.
handiworknounUS /ˈhændiwɜːrk/
a work produced by hand labor
From this reading They were her own handiwork; nobody had even seen any of them, and they were of different ages.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading They were her own handiwork; nobody had even seen any of them, and they were of different ages.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The oldest of the designs had been drawn long, long ago;—that is to say, long, long ago, according to Cornelia’s sense of the passage of time.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
staying power
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The oldest of the designs had been drawn long, long ago;—that is to say, long, long ago, according to Cornelia’s sense of the passage of time.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading For she was sixteen now, and she had made the first of the queer drawings four eternal years earlier, when she was only a child.
the force of workers available
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
no person; not anyone
From this reading They were her own handiwork; nobody had even seen any of them, and they were of different ages.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading For she was sixteen now, and she had made the first of the queer drawings four eternal years earlier, when she was only a child.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were her own handiwork; nobody had even seen any of them, and they were of different ages.
oldestadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldəst/
superlative of “old” — (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The oldest of the designs had been drawn long, long ago;—that is to say, long, long ago, according to Cornelia’s sense of the passage of time.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
and nothing more
From this reading For she was sixteen now, and she had made the first of the queer drawings four eternal years earlier, when she was only a child.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading They were her own handiwork; nobody had even seen any of them, and they were of different ages.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading The oldest of the designs had been drawn long, long ago;—that is to say, long, long ago, according to Cornelia’s sense of the passage of time.
by chance
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
plateaunounUS /plæˈtoʊ/
a relatively flat highland
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
profilenounUS /ˈproʊfaɪl/
an analysis (often in graphical form) representing the extent to which something exhibits various characteristics
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading For she was sixteen now, and she had made the first of the queer drawings four eternal years earlier, when she was only a child.
representationnounUS /ˌreprəzenˈteɪʃən/
a presentation to the mind in the form of an idea or image
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
express in words
From this reading The oldest of the designs had been drawn long, long ago;—that is to say, long, long ago, according to Cornelia’s sense of the passage of time.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading They were her own handiwork; nobody had even seen any of them, and they were of different ages.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading The oldest of the designs had been drawn long, long ago;—that is to say, long, long ago, according to Cornelia’s sense of the passage of time.
similar things placed in order or happening one after another
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For she was sixteen now, and she had made the first of the queer drawings four eternal years earlier, when she was only a child.
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
shelfnounUS /ʃelf/
A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
marked by correspondence or resemblance
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
sixteenadjectiveUS /sɪkˈstiːn/
being one more than fifteen
From this reading For she was sixteen now, and she had made the first of the queer drawings four eternal years earlier, when she was only a child.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
stairwaynounUS /ˈsterweɪ/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
having a sharp inclination
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
summitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
superimposedadjectiveUS /ˌsuːpərəmˈpoʊzd/
placed on or over something else
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The oldest of the designs had been drawn long, long ago;—that is to say, long, long ago, according to Cornelia’s sense of the passage of time.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The oldest of the designs had been drawn long, long ago;—that is to say, long, long ago, according to Cornelia’s sense of the passage of time.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They were her own handiwork; nobody had even seen any of them, and they were of different ages.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were her own handiwork; nobody had even seen any of them, and they were of different ages.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The oldest of the designs had been drawn long, long ago;—that is to say, long, long ago, according to Cornelia’s sense of the passage of time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The oldest of the designs had been drawn long, long ago;—that is to say, long, long ago, according to Cornelia’s sense of the passage of time.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Beginning at the bottom of the sheet of paper, this stairway, or series of cliffs, rose to a small plateau or summit near the top; and upon each step, or shelf of cliff, there was drawn one of those little figures children call “men”;—the body is emaciated to the extent that it becomes a single straight line, the arms and legs being similar lines, and the head a round black dot.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For she was sixteen now, and she had made the first of the queer drawings four eternal years earlier, when she was only a child.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were her own handiwork; nobody had even seen any of them, and they were of different ages.
at the time that
From this reading For she was sixteen now, and she had made the first of the queer drawings four eternal years earlier, when she was only a child.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It appeared to be the representation in profile of a steep stairway, or perhaps a series of superimposed cliffs, each with a small shelf at its base.
a late time of life
From this reading For she was sixteen now, and she had made the first of the queer drawings four eternal years earlier, when she was only a child.
