used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She had not been born blind, but had had her sight until she was seventeen, when an illness darkened the world for ever.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Mary Colton was one of the most esteemed women possible in any country-side.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading Of the prettiness she retained now only the essence, that of her pleasant goodness, yet her appearance was still attractive in spite of her thick figure and contracted brows.
attractiveadjectiveUS /əˈtræktɪv/
pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm
From this reading Of the prettiness she retained now only the essence, that of her pleasant goodness, yet her appearance was still attractive in spite of her thick figure and contracted brows.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading She had not been born blind, but had had her sight until she was seventeen, when an illness darkened the world for ever.
brought into existence
From this reading She had not been born blind, but had had her sight until she was seventeen, when an illness darkened the world for ever.
browsnounUS /braʊz/
plural of “brow” — the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading Of the prettiness she retained now only the essence, that of her pleasant goodness, yet her appearance was still attractive in spite of her thick figure and contracted brows.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She had not been born blind, but had had her sight until she was seventeen, when an illness darkened the world for ever.
Colton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mary Colton was one of the most esteemed women possible in any country-side.
contractedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːntræktəd/
reduced in size or pulled together
From this reading Of the prettiness she retained now only the essence, that of her pleasant goodness, yet her appearance was still attractive in spite of her thick figure and contracted brows.
country-side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mary Colton was one of the most esteemed women possible in any country-side.
darkenedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənd/
(of fabrics and paper) grown dark in color over time
From this reading She had not been born blind, but had had her sight until she was seventeen, when an illness darkened the world for ever.
essencenounUS /ˈesəns/
the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
From this reading Of the prettiness she retained now only the essence, that of her pleasant goodness, yet her appearance was still attractive in spite of her thick figure and contracted brows.
esteemedadjectiveUS /ɪˈstiːmd/
having an illustrious reputation; respected
From this reading Mary Colton was one of the most esteemed women possible in any country-side.
at any time
From this reading She had not been born blind, but had had her sight until she was seventeen, when an illness darkened the world for ever.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Of the prettiness she retained now only the essence, that of her pleasant goodness, yet her appearance was still attractive in spite of her thick figure and contracted brows.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had not been born blind, but had had her sight until she was seventeen, when an illness darkened the world for ever.
a young female
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
that which is pleasing or valuable or useful
From this reading Of the prettiness she retained now only the essence, that of her pleasant goodness, yet her appearance was still attractive in spite of her thick figure and contracted brows.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
illnessnounUS /ˈɪlnəs/
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
From this reading She had not been born blind, but had had her sight until she was seventeen, when an illness darkened the world for ever.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mary Colton was one of the most esteemed women possible in any country-side.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Mary Colton was one of the most esteemed women possible in any country-side.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Mary Colton was one of the most esteemed women possible in any country-side.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She had not been born blind, but had had her sight until she was seventeen, when an illness darkened the world for ever.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Of the prettiness she retained now only the essence, that of her pleasant goodness, yet her appearance was still attractive in spite of her thick figure and contracted brows.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mary Colton was one of the most esteemed women possible in any country-side.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Mary Colton was one of the most esteemed women possible in any country-side.
and nothing more
From this reading Of the prettiness she retained now only the essence, that of her pleasant goodness, yet her appearance was still attractive in spite of her thick figure and contracted brows.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading Of the prettiness she retained now only the essence, that of her pleasant goodness, yet her appearance was still attractive in spite of her thick figure and contracted brows.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Mary Colton was one of the most esteemed women possible in any country-side.
prettinessnoun
the quality of being appealing in a delicate or graceful way (of a girl or young woman)
From this reading Of the prettiness she retained now only the essence, that of her pleasant goodness, yet her appearance was still attractive in spite of her thick figure and contracted brows.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading "A pretty girl she was too," said those who remembered.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading "A pretty girl she was too," said those who remembered.
retainedadjectiveUS /rɪˈteɪnd/
continued in your keeping or use or memory
From this reading Of the prettiness she retained now only the essence, that of her pleasant goodness, yet her appearance was still attractive in spite of her thick figure and contracted brows.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "A pretty girl she was too," said those who remembered.
only a very short time before
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
seventeenadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːn/
being one more than sixteen
From this reading She had not been born blind, but had had her sight until she was seventeen, when an illness darkened the world for ever.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading She had not been born blind, but had had her sight until she was seventeen, when an illness darkened the world for ever.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading Of the prettiness she retained now only the essence, that of her pleasant goodness, yet her appearance was still attractive in spite of her thick figure and contracted brows.
not in physical motion
From this reading Of the prettiness she retained now only the essence, that of her pleasant goodness, yet her appearance was still attractive in spite of her thick figure and contracted brows.
confined on all sides
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of the prettiness she retained now only the essence, that of her pleasant goodness, yet her appearance was still attractive in spite of her thick figure and contracted brows.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mary Colton was one of the most esteemed women possible in any country-side.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading Of the prettiness she retained now only the essence, that of her pleasant goodness, yet her appearance was still attractive in spite of her thick figure and contracted brows.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading "A pretty girl she was too," said those who remembered.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading "A pretty girl she was too," said those who remembered.
create by training and teaching
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading She had not been born blind, but had had her sight until she was seventeen, when an illness darkened the world for ever.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mary Colton was one of the most esteemed women possible in any country-side.
at the time that
From this reading She had not been born blind, but had had her sight until she was seventeen, when an illness darkened the world for ever.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She had scarcely been beyond the few miles which surrounded her home, and since she was a girl had never set foot in a train.
which person or people
From this reading "A pretty girl she was too," said those who remembered.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Mary Colton was one of the most esteemed women possible in any country-side.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading She had not been born blind, but had had her sight until she was seventeen, when an illness darkened the world for ever.
but in spite of that
From this reading Of the prettiness she retained now only the essence, that of her pleasant goodness, yet her appearance was still attractive in spite of her thick figure and contracted brows.
