adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading From that time henceforward into the young woman's dull life there came a little change.
affectionateadjectiveUS /əˈfekʃənət/
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There was a brightness in the room that seemed in no other in the house, and the lingering essences in the air of it were as incense to her.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
altarnounUS /ˈɔːltər/
the table in Christian churches where communion is given
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
bestnounUS /best/
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
brightnessnounUS /ˈbraɪtnəs/
the location of a visual perception along a continuum from black to white
From this reading There was a brightness in the room that seemed in no other in the house, and the lingering essences in the air of it were as incense to her.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It did not seem a little change to her, but a great one, though to others it would have seemed slight indeed.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading From that time henceforward into the young woman's dull life there came a little change.
chambernounUS /ˈtʃeɪmbər/
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
changeverbUS /tʃeɪndʒ/
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading From that time henceforward into the young woman's dull life there came a little change.
clothsnounUS /klɔːθs/
plural of “cloth” — artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
creaturenounUS /ˈkriːtʃər/
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
darnedadjectiveUS /dɑːrnd/
expletives used informally as intensifiers
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It did not seem a little change to her, but a great one, though to others it would have seemed slight indeed.
dulladjectiveUS /dʌl/
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading From that time henceforward into the young woman's dull life there came a little change.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
embroideringverbUS /emˈbrɔɪdərɪŋ/
-ing form of “embroider” — decorate with needlework
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
empressnounUS /ˈempres/
a woman emperor or the wife of an emperor
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
essences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a brightness in the room that seemed in no other in the house, and the lingering essences in the air of it were as incense to her.
FortunenounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From that time henceforward into the young woman's dull life there came a little change.
furtiveadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrtɪv/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
giveverbUS /ɡɪv/
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It did not seem a little change to her, but a great one, though to others it would have seemed slight indeed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
hangingsnounUS /ˈhæŋɡɪŋz/
plural of “hanging” — decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It did not seem a little change to her, but a great one, though to others it would have seemed slight indeed.
henceforwardadverb
from this time forth; from now on
From this reading From that time henceforward into the young woman's dull life there came a little change.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It did not seem a little change to her, but a great one, though to others it would have seemed slight indeed.
hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading There was a brightness in the room that seemed in no other in the house, and the lingering essences in the air of it were as incense to her.
house-wifely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
incensenounUS /ˌɪnˈsens/
a substance that produces a fragrant odor when burned
From this reading There was a brightness in the room that seemed in no other in the house, and the lingering essences in the air of it were as incense to her.
indeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading It did not seem a little change to her, but a great one, though to others it would have seemed slight indeed.
instinctsnounUS /ˈɪnstɪŋkts/
plural of “instinct” — inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading From that time henceforward into the young woman's dull life there came a little change.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It did not seem a little change to her, but a great one, though to others it would have seemed slight indeed.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading From that time henceforward into the young woman's dull life there came a little change.
lingeringnounUS /ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋ/
the act of tarrying
From this reading There was a brightness in the room that seemed in no other in the house, and the lingering essences in the air of it were as incense to her.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading From that time henceforward into the young woman's dull life there came a little change.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
mothersnounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
plural of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
naturaladjectiveUS /ˈnætʃərəl/
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
neatnessnounUS /ˈniːtnəs/
the state of being neat and smart and trim
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was a brightness in the room that seemed in no other in the house, and the lingering essences in the air of it were as incense to her.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It did not seem a little change to her, but a great one, though to others it would have seemed slight indeed.
novicesnounUS /ˈnɑːvəsɪz/
plural of “novice” — someone who has entered a religious order but has not taken final vows
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
nunsnounUS /nʌnz/
plural of “nun” — a woman religious
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It did not seem a little change to her, but a great one, though to others it would have seemed slight indeed.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
ordainedadjectiveUS /ɔːrˈdeɪnd/
fixed or established especially by order or command
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading There was a brightness in the room that seemed in no other in the house, and the lingering essences in the air of it were as incense to her.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It did not seem a little change to her, but a great one, though to others it would have seemed slight indeed.
outletnounUS /ˈaʊtlet/
a place of business for retailing goods
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
paidadjectiveUS /peɪd/
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
patchedadjectiveUS /pætʃt/
mended usually clumsily by covering a hole with a patch
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
religiousadjectiveUS /rɪˈlɪdʒəs/
concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading There was a brightness in the room that seemed in no other in the house, and the lingering essences in the air of it were as incense to her.
sacredadjectiveUS /ˈseɪkrəd/
concerned with religion or religious purposes
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
seemverbUS /siːm/
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It did not seem a little change to her, but a great one, though to others it would have seemed slight indeed.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It did not seem a little change to her, but a great one, though to others it would have seemed slight indeed.
servicenounUS /ˈsɜːrvəs/
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
sisternounUS /ˈsɪstər/
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
slightnounUS /slaɪt/
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading It did not seem a little change to her, but a great one, though to others it would have seemed slight indeed.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
soulnounUS /soʊl/
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
spentadjectiveUS /spent/
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
tatteredadjectiveUS /ˈtætərd/
worn to shreds; or wearing torn or ragged clothing
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From that time henceforward into the young woman's dull life there came a little change.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From that time henceforward into the young woman's dull life there came a little change.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading From that time henceforward into the young woman's dull life there came a little change.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It did not seem a little change to her, but a great one, though to others it would have seemed slight indeed.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading From that time henceforward into the young woman's dull life there came a little change.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It did not seem a little change to her, but a great one, though to others it would have seemed slight indeed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
wivesnounUS /waɪvz/
plural of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading She was an affectionate, house-wifely creature, who would have made the best of wives and mothers if it had been so ordained by Fortune, and something of her natural instincts found outlet in the furtive service she paid her sister, who became the empress of her soul.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading From that time henceforward into the young woman's dull life there came a little change.
wonderfuladjectiveUS /ˈwʌndərfəl/
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading She darned and patched the tattered hangings with a wonderful neatness, and the hours she spent at work in the chamber were to her almost as sacred as hours spent at religious duty, or as those nuns and novices give to embroidering altar- cloths.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It did not seem a little change to her, but a great one, though to others it would have seemed slight indeed.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading From that time henceforward into the young woman's dull life there came a little change.
