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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 Rodolphe supposed that the girl’s dumbness must be a necessary deception.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “They are Italian refugees,” said he to himself, “outlaws in fear of the Austrian or Sardinian police.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was now eleven o’clock at night.
Austrian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They are Italian refugees,” said he to himself, “outlaws in fear of the Austrian or Sardinian police.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
concluded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
deception
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rodolphe supposed that the girl’s dumbness must be a necessary deception.
disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/
A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
dumbness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rodolphe supposed that the girl’s dumbness must be a necessary deception.
dwelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
eleven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was now eleven o’clock at night.
English
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They are Italian refugees,” said he to himself, “outlaws in fear of the Austrian or Sardinian police.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
Gersau
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
girl's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rodolphe supposed that the girl’s dumbness must be a necessary deception.
girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “They are Italian refugees,” said he to himself, “outlaws in fear of the Austrian or Sardinian police.
hid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “They are Italian refugees,” said he to himself, “outlaws in fear of the Austrian or Sardinian police.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was now eleven o’clock at night.
Italian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
lake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
necessary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rodolphe supposed that the girl’s dumbness must be a necessary deception.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was now eleven o’clock at night.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was now eleven o’clock at night.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was now eleven o’clock at night.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “They are Italian refugees,” said he to himself, “outlaws in fear of the Austrian or Sardinian police.
outlaws
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They are Italian refugees,” said he to himself, “outlaws in fear of the Austrian or Sardinian police.
perfect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
police
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They are Italian refugees,” said he to himself, “outlaws in fear of the Austrian or Sardinian police.
refugees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They are Italian refugees,” said he to himself, “outlaws in fear of the Austrian or Sardinian police.
Rodolphe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rodolphe supposed that the girl’s dumbness must be a necessary deception.
safe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They are Italian refugees,” said he to himself, “outlaws in fear of the Austrian or Sardinian police.
Sardinian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They are Italian refugees,” said he to himself, “outlaws in fear of the Austrian or Sardinian police.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
stillness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
supposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rodolphe supposed that the girl’s dumbness must be a necessary deception.
suspected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
theirspronounUS /ðerz/
the one or ones belonging to them
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “They are Italian refugees,” said he to himself, “outlaws in fear of the Austrian or Sardinian police.
tonguenounUS /tongue/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was now eleven o’clock at night.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading From the way in which they both spoke Italian, Rodolphe suspected that it was the mother tongue of both girls, and concluded that the name of English also hid some disguise.
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stillness was so perfect on the lake and around the dwelling, that the two women must have thought themselves safe; in all Gersau there could be no eyes open but theirs.
