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A Woman's Burden: A Novel
A Woman's Burden: A Novel

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for A Woman's Burden: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
BEHIND THE SCENES.
In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
How she could have married at least a dozen men who were dying for her.
But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.
Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Woman's Burden: A Novel

Chapter VII

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
BEHIND THE SCENES.
Line 2
In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.
Line 3
How she could have married at least a dozen men who were dying for her.
Line 4
But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.
Line 5
Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.”

BEHIND preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “BEHIND THE SCENES.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “How she could have married at least a dozen men who were dying for her.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “How she could have married at least a dozen men who were dying for her.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.”

All words in this reading · 85

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

absorbing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.

adequately

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

appreciated

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.

assembled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

BEHINDprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading BEHIND THE SCENES.

better

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

brutal

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.

buy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

chosen

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.

clothed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

clothing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

consequently

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

Darrow

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

decided

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

devoted

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

dozen

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How she could have married at least a dozen men who were dying for her.

drawing-room

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

dying

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How she could have married at least a dozen men who were dying for her.

effect

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.

entertainment

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

especially

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.

expatiated

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

foolishly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

forth

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.

go

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading How she could have married at least a dozen men who were dying for her.

held

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

history

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

how

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

husband

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

incumbent

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading How she could have married at least a dozen men who were dying for her.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

married

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

men

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How she could have married at least a dozen men who were dying for her.

months

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

more

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.

Mrs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

much

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

obliged

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.

only

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.

provide

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

rag

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

relate

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But how foolishly she had chosen the only one who never appreciated her, and much more to the same effect.

SCENES

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading BEHIND THE SCENES.

set

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

six

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

SuchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading BEHIND THE SCENES.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

theme

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

unable

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

unfashionably

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading In the drawing-room, Mrs. Darrow, feeling it incumbent upon her to provide entertainment for those assembled, decided she could not do better than relate to them the history of her married life--how good and devoted she had been to a brutal husband, how she had been unable to buy a rag of clothing for quite six months at a time, and consequently had been obliged to go unfashionably clothed.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading How she could have married at least a dozen men who were dying for her.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Such a theme she held, more especially when adequately set forth and expatiated upon, must be all absorbing.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading How she could have married at least a dozen men who were dying for her.