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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Before that day had come to an end, Lucy had discovered how true were Phyllis Flower's words.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before that day had come to an end, Lucy had discovered how true were Phyllis Flower's words.
clustered
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From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Before that day had come to an end, Lucy had discovered how true were Phyllis Flower's words.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
cross
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
Cunliffe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
dance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before that day had come to an end, Lucy had discovered how true were Phyllis Flower's words.
dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
disagreeable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
discovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before that day had come to an end, Lucy had discovered how true were Phyllis Flower's words.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
effectively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
end
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From this reading Before that day had come to an end, Lucy had discovered how true were Phyllis Flower's words.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
exactly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
eyes
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From this reading Lucy opened her eyes.
Flower's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before that day had come to an end, Lucy had discovered how true were Phyllis Flower's words.
following
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before that day had come to an end, Lucy had discovered how true were Phyllis Flower's words.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before that day had come to an end, Lucy had discovered how true were Phyllis Flower's words.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
instance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
knowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
LEAD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROSAMUND TAKES THE LEAD.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
Lucy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before that day had come to an end, Lucy had discovered how true were Phyllis Flower's words.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
managed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucy opened her eyes.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
Phyllis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before that day had come to an end, Lucy had discovered how true were Phyllis Flower's words.
proposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
rolled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
ROSAMUND
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROSAMUND TAKES THE LEAD.
rude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
rugs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
saying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
single
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
TAKES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROSAMUND TAKES THE LEAD.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Before that day had come to an end, Lucy had discovered how true were Phyllis Flower's words.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ROSAMUND TAKES THE LEAD.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
tired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before that day had come to an end, Lucy had discovered how true were Phyllis Flower's words.
train
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before that day had come to an end, Lucy had discovered how true were Phyllis Flower's words.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Before that day had come to an end, Lucy had discovered how true were Phyllis Flower's words.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, after dinner, when the girls--all of them rather tired, and perhaps some of them a little cross, and no one exactly knowing what to do--clustered about the open drawing-room windows, it was Rosamund who proposed that the rugs should be rolled back and that they should have a dance.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before that day had come to an end, Lucy had discovered how true were Phyllis Flower's words.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading For Rosamund Cunliffe, without making herself in the least disagreeable, without saying one single rude thing, yet managed to take the lead, and that so effectively that even Lucy herself found that she could not help following in her train.