adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
abstractverbUS /æbˈstrækt/
consider a concept without thinking of a specific example; consider abstractly or theoretically
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Elfride’s mind had been impregnated with sentiments of her own smallness to an uncomfortable degree of distinctness, and her discomfort was visible in her face.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Elfride’s mind had been impregnated with sentiments of her own smallness to an uncomfortable degree of distinctness, and her discomfort was visible in her face.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Elfride’s mind had been impregnated with sentiments of her own smallness to an uncomfortable degree of distinctness, and her discomfort was visible in her face.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The whole tendency of the conversation latterly had been to quietly but surely disparage her; and she was fain to take Stephen into favour in self-defence.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
conversationnounUS /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃən/
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading The whole tendency of the conversation latterly had been to quietly but surely disparage her; and she was fain to take Stephen into favour in self-defence.
degreenounUS /dɪˈɡriː/
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading “Love was in the next degree.”
developmentnounUS /dɪˈveləpmənt/
act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading So no more was said by either on the subject of hair, eyes, or development.
discomfortnounUS /dɪˈskʌmfərt/
the state of being tense and feeling pain
From this reading Elfride’s mind had been impregnated with sentiments of her own smallness to an uncomfortable degree of distinctness, and her discomfort was visible in her face.
disparageverbUS /dɪˈsperɪdʒ/
express a negative opinion of
From this reading The whole tendency of the conversation latterly had been to quietly but surely disparage her; and she was fain to take Stephen into favour in self-defence.
distinctnessnoun
the quality of being sharp and clear
From this reading Elfride’s mind had been impregnated with sentiments of her own smallness to an uncomfortable degree of distinctness, and her discomfort was visible in her face.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading So no more was said by either on the subject of hair, eyes, or development.
Elfride's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elfride’s mind had been impregnated with sentiments of her own smallness to an uncomfortable degree of distinctness, and her discomfort was visible in her face.
epigrammaticadjectiveUS /ˌepəɡrəˈmætɪk/
terse and witty and like a maxim
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading So no more was said by either on the subject of hair, eyes, or development.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Elfride’s mind had been impregnated with sentiments of her own smallness to an uncomfortable degree of distinctness, and her discomfort was visible in her face.
fainadjectiveUS /feɪn/
having made preparations
From this reading The whole tendency of the conversation latterly had been to quietly but surely disparage her; and she was fain to take Stephen into favour in self-defence.
familiarities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
favournounUS /ˈfeɪvər/
a feeling of favorable regard
From this reading The whole tendency of the conversation latterly had been to quietly but surely disparage her; and she was fain to take Stephen into favour in self-defence.
flatterynounUS /ˈflætəri/
excessive or insincere praise
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
hairnounUS /her/
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading So no more was said by either on the subject of hair, eyes, or development.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Elfride’s mind had been impregnated with sentiments of her own smallness to an uncomfortable degree of distinctness, and her discomfort was visible in her face.
impregnatedverbUS /ˌɪmˈpreɡneɪtəd/
past form of “impregnate” — fill, as with a certain quality
From this reading Elfride’s mind had been impregnated with sentiments of her own smallness to an uncomfortable degree of distinctness, and her discomfort was visible in her face.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Love was in the next degree.”
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The whole tendency of the conversation latterly had been to quietly but surely disparage her; and she was fain to take Stephen into favour in self-defence.
judiciousadjectiveUS /dʒuːˈdɪʃəs/
marked by the exercise of good judgment or common sense in practical matters
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
KnightnounUS /naɪt/
originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
latterlyadverb
in the recent past
From this reading The whole tendency of the conversation latterly had been to quietly but surely disparage her; and she was fain to take Stephen into favour in self-defence.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
LovenounUS /lʌv/
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading “Love was in the next degree.”
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Elfride’s mind had been impregnated with sentiments of her own smallness to an uncomfortable degree of distinctness, and her discomfort was visible in her face.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading So no more was said by either on the subject of hair, eyes, or development.
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/
immediately following in time or order
From this reading “Love was in the next degree.”
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading So no more was said by either on the subject of hair, eyes, or development.
nonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
obliterateverbUS /əˈblɪtəreɪt/
mark for deletion, rub off, or erase
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading So no more was said by either on the subject of hair, eyes, or development.
opinionsnounUS /əˈpɪnjənz/
plural of “opinion” — a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading So no more was said by either on the subject of hair, eyes, or development.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Elfride’s mind had been impregnated with sentiments of her own smallness to an uncomfortable degree of distinctness, and her discomfort was visible in her face.
quietlyadverbUS /ˈkwaɪətli/
with low volume
From this reading The whole tendency of the conversation latterly had been to quietly but surely disparage her; and she was fain to take Stephen into favour in self-defence.
recollectionnounUS /ˌrekəˈlekʃən/
the ability to recall past occurrences
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading So no more was said by either on the subject of hair, eyes, or development.
self-defencenounUS /ˌselfdɪˈfens/
the act of defending yourself
From this reading The whole tendency of the conversation latterly had been to quietly but surely disparage her; and she was fain to take Stephen into favour in self-defence.
sentimentsnounUS /ˈsentəmənts/
plural of “sentiment” — tender, romantic, or nostalgic feeling or emotion
From this reading Elfride’s mind had been impregnated with sentiments of her own smallness to an uncomfortable degree of distinctness, and her discomfort was visible in her face.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The whole tendency of the conversation latterly had been to quietly but surely disparage her; and she was fain to take Stephen into favour in self-defence.
smallnessnounUS /ˈsmɔːlnəs/
the property of having a relatively small size
From this reading Elfride’s mind had been impregnated with sentiments of her own smallness to an uncomfortable degree of distinctness, and her discomfort was visible in her face.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So no more was said by either on the subject of hair, eyes, or development.
speaker'snounUS /ˈspiːkərz/
possessive form of “speaker” — someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
speechnounUS /spiːtʃ/
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
StephennounUS /ˈstiːvən/
English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading The whole tendency of the conversation latterly had been to quietly but surely disparage her; and she was fain to take Stephen into favour in self-defence.
subjectnounUS /səbˈdʒekt/
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading So no more was said by either on the subject of hair, eyes, or development.
surelyadverbUS /ˈʃʊrli/
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading The whole tendency of the conversation latterly had been to quietly but surely disparage her; and she was fain to take Stephen into favour in self-defence.
takeverbUS /teɪk/
carry out
From this reading The whole tendency of the conversation latterly had been to quietly but surely disparage her; and she was fain to take Stephen into favour in self-defence.
tendencynounUS /ˈtendənsi/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading The whole tendency of the conversation latterly had been to quietly but surely disparage her; and she was fain to take Stephen into favour in self-defence.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Love was in the next degree.”
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Elfride’s mind had been impregnated with sentiments of her own smallness to an uncomfortable degree of distinctness, and her discomfort was visible in her face.
touchesnounUS /ˈtʌtʃəz/
plural of “touch” — the event of something coming in contact with the body
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading Elfride’s mind had been impregnated with sentiments of her own smallness to an uncomfortable degree of distinctness, and her discomfort was visible in her face.
visibleadjectiveUS /ˈvɪzəbəl/
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading Elfride’s mind had been impregnated with sentiments of her own smallness to an uncomfortable degree of distinctness, and her discomfort was visible in her face.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Love was in the next degree.”
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The whole tendency of the conversation latterly had been to quietly but surely disparage her; and she was fain to take Stephen into favour in self-defence.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Elfride’s mind had been impregnated with sentiments of her own smallness to an uncomfortable degree of distinctness, and her discomfort was visible in her face.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Knight had none of those light familiarities of speech which, by judicious touches of epigrammatic flattery, obliterate a woman’s recollection of the speaker’s abstract opinions.
