adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
AdamsnounUS /ˈædəmz/
American Revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the Boston Tea Party and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1722-1803)
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
Adams'snounUS /ˈædəmzɪz/
possessive form of “adams” — American Revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the Boston Tea Party and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1722-1803)
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
Alice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
anywhereadverbUS /ˈeniwer/
at or in or to any place
From this reading Just put 'em back where they were--or else up in the attic--anywhere you want to.”
atticnounUS /ˈætɪk/
floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage
From this reading Just put 'em back where they were--or else up in the attic--anywhere you want to.”
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Just put 'em back where they were--or else up in the attic--anywhere you want to.”
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
bottomnounUS /ˈbɑːtəm/
the lower side of anything
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
calledverbUS /kɔːld/
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
chestnounUS /tʃest/
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
collapsenounUS /kəˈlæps/
an abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
concludingadjectiveUS /kənˈkluːdɪŋ/
occurring at or forming an end or termination
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/
a female human offspring
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
disturbancenounUS /dɪˈstɜːrbəns/
activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Do you mind if I read one, mama?”
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
drawernounUS /drɔːr/
a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
drawersnounUS /drɔːrz/
underpants worn by men
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
dustingverbUS /ˈdʌstɪŋ/
-ing form of “dust” — remove the dust from
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just put 'em back where they were--or else up in the attic--anywhere you want to.”
emnounUS /em/
a quad with a square body
From this reading Just put 'em back where they were--or else up in the attic--anywhere you want to.”
festaladjective
offering fun and gaiety
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
floornounUS /flɔːr/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
hallwaynounUS /ˈhɔːlweɪ/
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
hopesnounUS /hoʊps/
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
house-cleaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Do you mind if I read one, mama?”
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Do you mind if I read one, mama?”
illnessnounUS /ˈɪlnəs/
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
kneesnounUS /niːz/
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
laughedverbUS /læft/
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading Mrs. Adams laughed and said, “Yes.
lettersnounUS /ˈletərz/
the literary culture
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
mamanounUS /ˈmɑːmə/
informal terms for a mother
From this reading “Do you mind if I read one, mama?”
marriedadjectiveUS /ˈmerid/
joined in matrimony
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading “Do you mind if I read one, mama?”
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
muslinnounUS /ˈmʌzlən/
plain-woven cotton fabric
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Do you mind if I read one, mama?”
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Just put 'em back where they were--or else up in the attic--anywhere you want to.”
packetnounUS /ˈpækət/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
papanounUS /ˈpɑːpʌ/
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
pausedverbUS /pɔːzd/
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
postponedverbUS /poʊstˈpoʊnd/
past form of “postpone” — hold back to a later time
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
putverbUS /pʊt/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Just put 'em back where they were--or else up in the attic--anywhere you want to.”
readverbUS /red/
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading “Do you mind if I read one, mama?”
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Mrs. Adams laughed and said, “Yes.
scrubbingnounUS /ˈskrʌbɪŋ/
the act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush and soap and water
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
SpringnounUS /sprɪŋ/
the season of growth
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
thoughtfullyadverbUS /ˈθɔːtfəli/
in a thoughtful manner
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
three-days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Just put 'em back where they were--or else up in the attic--anywhere you want to.”
wantverbUS /wɑːnt/
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading Just put 'em back where they were--or else up in the attic--anywhere you want to.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
weeknounUS /wiːk/
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
weren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Just put 'em back where they were--or else up in the attic--anywhere you want to.”
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
wornverbUS /wɔːrn/
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
wrappedadjectiveUS /ræpt/
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading On a morning, a week after this collapse of festal hopes, Mrs. Adams and her daughter were concluding a three-days' disturbance, the “Spring house-cleaning”--postponed until now by Adams's long illness--and Alice, on her knees before a chest of drawers, in her mother's room, paused thoughtfully after dusting a packet of letters wrapped in worn muslin.
wroteverbUS /roʊt/
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
YesnounUS /jes/
an affirmative
From this reading Mrs. Adams laughed and said, “Yes.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading She called to her mother, who was scrubbing the floor of the hallway just beyond the open door, “These old letters you had in the bottom drawer, weren't they some papa wrote you before you were married?”
