used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
anew
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
(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 Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
AmongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
belongingnounUS /bɪˈlɔːŋɪŋ/
happiness felt in a secure relationship
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
bureaunounUS /ˈbjʊroʊ/
an administrative unit of government
From this reading The picture that now stood conspicuously on her old-fashioned bureau was a large one taken in Washington many years earlier.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
carelesslyadverbUS /ˈkerləsli/
without care or concern
From this reading “I don’t think that’s a very pretty picture,” remarked Cynthia, carelessly, one day when the three friends had gathered in Stella’s little chamber up under the eaves.
a period of 100 years
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading “I don’t think that’s a very pretty picture,” remarked Cynthia, carelessly, one day when the three friends had gathered in Stella’s little chamber up under the eaves.
choosingverbUS /ˈtʃuːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
collectionnounUS /kəˈlekʃən/
several things grouped together or considered as a whole
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
conspicuouslyadverbUS /kənˈspɪkjuːəsli/
in a manner tending to attract attention
From this reading The picture that now stood conspicuously on her old-fashioned bureau was a large one taken in Washington many years earlier.
CynthianounUS /ˈsɪnθiə/
(Greek mythology) the virgin goddess of the hunt and the Moon; daughter of Leto and twin sister of Apollo; identified with Roman Diana
From this reading “I don’t think that’s a very pretty picture,” remarked Cynthia, carelessly, one day when the three friends had gathered in Stella’s little chamber up under the eaves.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading “I don’t think that’s a very pretty picture,” remarked Cynthia, carelessly, one day when the three friends had gathered in Stella’s little chamber up under the eaves.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t think that’s a very pretty picture,” remarked Cynthia, carelessly, one day when the three friends had gathered in Stella’s little chamber up under the eaves.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading The picture that now stood conspicuously on her old-fashioned bureau was a large one taken in Washington many years earlier.
eavesnounUS /iːvz/
the overhang at the lower edge of a roof
From this reading “I don’t think that’s a very pretty picture,” remarked Cynthia, carelessly, one day when the three friends had gathered in Stella’s little chamber up under the eaves.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading “I don’t think that’s a very pretty picture,” remarked Cynthia, carelessly, one day when the three friends had gathered in Stella’s little chamber up under the eaves.
brought together in one place
From this reading “I don’t think that’s a very pretty picture,” remarked Cynthia, carelessly, one day when the three friends had gathered in Stella’s little chamber up under the eaves.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
a young female
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
hoardedverbUS /ˈhɔːrdɪd/
past form of “hoard” — save up as for future use
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
HOSPITALITYnounUS /ˌhɑːspəˈtæləti/
kindness in welcoming guests or strangers
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I don’t think that’s a very pretty picture,” remarked Cynthia, carelessly, one day when the three friends had gathered in Stella’s little chamber up under the eaves.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The picture that now stood conspicuously on her old-fashioned bureau was a large one taken in Washington many years earlier.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
immediately past
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
leadersnounUS /ˈliːdərz/
the body of people who lead a group
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The picture that now stood conspicuously on her old-fashioned bureau was a large one taken in Washington many years earlier.
the force of workers available
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
nineteenthadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪnˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the eighteenth in position
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The picture that now stood conspicuously on her old-fashioned bureau was a large one taken in Washington many years earlier.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading The picture that now stood conspicuously on her old-fashioned bureau was a large one taken in Washington many years earlier.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The picture that now stood conspicuously on her old-fashioned bureau was a large one taken in Washington many years earlier.
on one occasion
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
photographsnounUS /ˈfoʊtəɡræfs/
plural of “photograph” — a representation of a person or scene in the form of a print or transparent slide or in digital format
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading The picture that now stood conspicuously on her old-fashioned bureau was a large one taken in Washington many years earlier.
possessionsnounUS /pəˈzeʃənz/
plural of “possession” — the act of having and controlling property
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading “I don’t think that’s a very pretty picture,” remarked Cynthia, carelessly, one day when the three friends had gathered in Stella’s little chamber up under the eaves.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading “I don’t think that’s a very pretty picture,” remarked Cynthia, carelessly, one day when the three friends had gathered in Stella’s little chamber up under the eaves.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
SiouxnounUS /suː/
a member of a group of North American Indian peoples who spoke a Siouan language and who ranged from Lake Michigan to the Rocky Mountains
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
StellanounUS /ˈstelə/
United States minimalist painter (born in 1936)
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
Stella'snounUS /ˈsteləz/
possessive form of “stella” — United States minimalist painter (born in 1936)
From this reading “I don’t think that’s a very pretty picture,” remarked Cynthia, carelessly, one day when the three friends had gathered in Stella’s little chamber up under the eaves.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The picture that now stood conspicuously on her old-fashioned bureau was a large one taken in Washington many years earlier.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The picture that now stood conspicuously on her old-fashioned bureau was a large one taken in Washington many years earlier.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The picture that now stood conspicuously on her old-fashioned bureau was a large one taken in Washington many years earlier.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t think that’s a very pretty picture,” remarked Cynthia, carelessly, one day when the three friends had gathered in Stella’s little chamber up under the eaves.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “I don’t think that’s a very pretty picture,” remarked Cynthia, carelessly, one day when the three friends had gathered in Stella’s little chamber up under the eaves.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
trainedadjectiveUS /treɪnd/
shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
tribaladjectiveUS /ˈtraɪbəl/
relating to or characteristic of a tribe
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading “I don’t think that’s a very pretty picture,” remarked Cynthia, carelessly, one day when the three friends had gathered in Stella’s little chamber up under the eaves.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “I don’t think that’s a very pretty picture,” remarked Cynthia, carelessly, one day when the three friends had gathered in Stella’s little chamber up under the eaves.
variedadjectiveUS /ˈverid/
characterized by variety
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
precisely as stated
From this reading “I don’t think that’s a very pretty picture,” remarked Cynthia, carelessly, one day when the three friends had gathered in Stella’s little chamber up under the eaves.
WaringverbUS /ˈwerɪŋ/
-ing form of “ware” — spend extravagantly
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading The picture that now stood conspicuously on her old-fashioned bureau was a large one taken in Washington many years earlier.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading It showed a group of three strong faces belonging to leading men of the Sioux in the middle of the nineteenth century—the last, indeed, of their tribal leaders, trained in native ways.
at the time that
From this reading “I don’t think that’s a very pretty picture,” remarked Cynthia, carelessly, one day when the three friends had gathered in Stella’s little chamber up under the eaves.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading INDIAN HOSPITALITY Among the hoarded possessions of gentle “Mother Waring” which fell to her little girl, was a large and varied collection of Indian photographs.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Stella had often turned them over and over, with almost painful interest; she did so once again; and after choosing with great care a single one, laid all the rest away.
a late time of life
From this reading The picture that now stood conspicuously on her old-fashioned bureau was a large one taken in Washington many years earlier.
