adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
admissionnounUS /ædˈmɪʃən/
the act of admitting someone to enter
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “Rather an awkward business,” replied the little man, recovering himself uneasily after his third bow.
agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/
in the past
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “Rather an awkward business,” replied the little man, recovering himself uneasily after his third bow.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
appliedadjectiveUS /əˈplaɪd/
concerned with concrete problems or data rather than with fundamental principles
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading “Rather an awkward business,” replied the little man, recovering himself uneasily after his third bow.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
bownounUS /baʊ/
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading “Rather an awkward business,” replied the little man, recovering himself uneasily after his third bow.
bowedadjectiveUS /baʊd/
of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
broughtverbUS /brɔːt/
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading “Rather an awkward business,” replied the little man, recovering himself uneasily after his third bow.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
dressedadjectiveUS /drest/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
dressmakernounUS /ˈdresmeɪkər/
someone who makes or mends dresses
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
eagerlyadverbUS /ˈiːɡərli/
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
FathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
favoredadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪvərd/
preferred above all others and treated with partiality
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
FlorencenounUS /ˈflɔːrəns/
a city in central Italy on the Arno; provincial capital of Tuscany; center of the Italian Renaissance from 14th to 16th centuries
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
guestnounUS /ɡest/
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
healthnounUS /helθ/
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
immediatelyadverbUS /ˌɪˈmiːdiːətli/
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
inquiredverbUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪərd/
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
inquiriesnounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪəriz/
plural of “inquiry” — a search for knowledge
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
lodgingsnounUS /ˈlɑːdʒɪŋz/
temporary living quarters
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
mannernounUS /ˈmænər/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
namedverbUS /neɪmd/
past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
Nanina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
neatlyadverbUS /ˈniːtli/
with neatness
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
oppressively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
placedadjectiveUS /pleɪst/
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
politeadjectiveUS /pəˈlaɪt/
showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc.
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
priestnounUS /priːst/
a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
priest'snounUS /priːsts/
possessive form of “priest” — a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
protectionnounUS /prəˈtekʃən/
the activity of protecting someone or something
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
RatheradverbUS /ˈræðər/
on the contrary
From this reading “Rather an awkward business,” replied the little man, recovering himself uneasily after his third bow.
receivedadjectiveUS /rəˈsiːvd/
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
recoveringadjectiveUS /rəˈkʌvərɪŋ/
returning to health after illness or debility
From this reading “Rather an awkward business,” replied the little man, recovering himself uneasily after his third bow.
repliedverbUS /rɪˈplaɪd/
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “Rather an awkward business,” replied the little man, recovering himself uneasily after his third bow.
Rocco
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
servantnounUS /ˈsɜːrvənt/
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
sprucely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
thirdnounUS /θɜːrd/
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
uneasilyadverbUS /əˈniːzəli/
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading “Rather an awkward business,” replied the little man, recovering himself uneasily after his third bow.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
visitornounUS /ˈvɪzɪtər/
someone who visits
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
wife'snounUS /waɪfs/
possessive form of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
yearnounUS /jɪr/
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
