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Americans All Stories of American Life
Americans All Stories of American Life

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Americans All Stories of American Life is here in full — 413 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.
However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.
"And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.
Don't you remember the French maid who died three days after she came here?
Her trunk is up in the store-room still, and I don't believe anybody will ever come for it--it's been there seven years now.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Americans All Stories of American Life

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Americans All Stories of American Life is here in full — 413 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.
Line 2
However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.
Line 3
"And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.
Line 4
Don't you remember the French maid who died three days after she came here?
Line 5
Her trunk is up in the store-room still, and I don't believe anybody will ever come for it--it's been there seven years now.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

ethics noun US /ˈeθɪks/

motivation based on ideas of right and wrong

From this reading “However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.”

exchanges noun US /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒəz/

plural of “exchange” — chemical process in which one atom or ion or group changes places with another

From this reading “However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.”

feverishly adverb US /ˈfevərɪʃli/

in a feverish manner

From this reading “It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.”

fib noun US /fɪb/

a trivial lie

From this reading “"And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.”

kiting verb US /ˈkaɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “kite” — increase the amount (of a check) fraudulently

From this reading “However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.”

swaps noun US /swɑːps/

plural of “swap” — an equal exchange

From this reading “However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.”

venturesome adjective US /ˈventʃərsəm/

disposed to venture or take risks

From this reading “It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.”

vicarious adjective US /vaɪˈkeriəs/

experienced at secondhand

From this reading “It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.”

All words in this reading · 159

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

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 It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

acuteadjectiveUS /əˈkjuːt/

having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/

any person at all

From this reading Her trunk is up in the store-room still, and I don't believe anybody will ever come for it--it's been there seven years now.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

askverbUS /æsk/

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

assistingverbUS /əˈsɪstɪŋ/

-ing form of “assist” — give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

auntnounUS /ænt/

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

BnounUS /biː/

aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/

bring into balance or equilibrium

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Her trunk is up in the store-room still, and I don't believe anybody will ever come for it--it's been there seven years now.

beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading Her trunk is up in the store-room still, and I don't believe anybody will ever come for it--it's been there seven years now.

bolderadjectiveUS /ˈboʊldər/

comparative of “bold” — fearless and daring

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

bringverbUS /brɪŋ/

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

calledverbUS /kɔːld/

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

callsnounUS /kɔːlz/

plural of “call” — a telephone connection

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Don't you remember the French maid who died three days after she came here?

checkverbUS /tʃek/

examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

checksnounUS /tʃeks/

plural of “check” — a written order directing a bank to pay money

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

cheeksnounUS /tʃiːks/

plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

childishadjectiveUS /ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ/

indicating a lack of maturity

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

ClearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/

a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Her trunk is up in the store-room still, and I don't believe anybody will ever come for it--it's been there seven years now.

committeenounUS /kəˈmɪti/

a special group delegated to consider some matter

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

conspiratorsnounUS /kənˈspɪrətərz/

plural of “conspirator” — a member of a conspiracy

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

couldn't

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

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

criedverbUS /kraɪd/

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Don't you remember the French maid who died three days after she came here?

delightsnounUS /dɪˈlaɪts/

plural of “delight” — a feeling of extreme pleasure or satisfaction

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

diedverbUS /daɪd/

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading Don't you remember the French maid who died three days after she came here?

difficultadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfəkəlt/

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

Don't

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

From this reading Don't you remember the French maid who died three days after she came here?

eagernessnounUS /ˈiːɡərnəs/

a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

engineernounUS /ˈendʒəˈnɪr/

a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

enterprisenounUS /ˈentərpraɪz/

a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

EsthernounUS /ˈestər/

(Old Testament) a beautiful Jewess chosen by the king of Persia to be his queen; she stopped a plot to massacre all the Jews in Persia (an event celebrated by Jews as the feast of Purim)

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

Esther's

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

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

ethicsnounUS /ˈeθɪks/

motivation based on ideas of right and wrong

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading Her trunk is up in the store-room still, and I don't believe anybody will ever come for it--it's been there seven years now.

exchangesnounUS /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒəz/

plural of “exchange” — chemical process in which one atom or ion or group changes places with another

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

feelverbUS /fiːl/

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

feverishlyadverbUS /ˈfevərɪʃli/

in a feverish manner

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

fibnounUS /fɪb/

a trivial lie

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

financialadjectiveUS /fəˈnænʃəl/

involving financial matters

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

fivenounUS /faɪv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

flushedadjectiveUS /flʌʃt/

having the pinkish flush of health

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

FrenchnounUS /frentʃ/

the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France

From this reading Don't you remember the French maid who died three days after she came here?

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

glanceverbUS /ɡlæns/

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Don't you remember the French maid who died three days after she came here?

hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

HousenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

HoweveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

I've

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

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

imaginaryadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒəneri/

not based on fact; existing only in the imagination

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

impossibilitynounUS /ˌɪmpɔːsɪˈbɪlɪti/

incapability of existing or occurring

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

it's

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

From this reading Her trunk is up in the store-room still, and I don't believe anybody will ever come for it--it's been there seven years now.

kitingverbUS /ˈkaɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “kite” — increase the amount (of a check) fraudulently

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/

apprehended with certainty

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

libertynounUS /ˈlɪb.ər.ti/

The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

Louise

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

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

Louise's

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

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

maidnounUS /meɪd/

a female domestic

From this reading Don't you remember the French maid who died three days after she came here?

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

manoeuvrenoun

a plan for attaining a particular goal

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

meansnounUS /miːnz/

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Her trunk is up in the store-room still, and I don't believe anybody will ever come for it--it's been there seven years now.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

ohnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

playingnounUS /ˈpleɪɪŋ/

the act of playing a musical instrument

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

reckonverbUS /ˈrekən/

expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading Don't you remember the French maid who died three days after she came here?

resolvedadjectiveUS /riˈzɑːlvd/

determined

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

SaturdaynounUS /ˈsætərdi/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

schemenounUS /skiːm/

an elaborate and systematic plan of action

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

sevennounUS /ˈsevən/

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading Her trunk is up in the store-room still, and I don't believe anybody will ever come for it--it's been there seven years now.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

shiningadjectiveUS /ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/

marked by exceptional merit

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

similaradjectiveUS /ˈsɪmələr/

marked by correspondence or resemblance

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

socialadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊʃəl/

relating to human society and its members

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

spiritnounUS /ˈspɪrət/

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading Her trunk is up in the store-room still, and I don't believe anybody will ever come for it--it's been there seven years now.

store-room

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

From this reading Her trunk is up in the store-room still, and I don't believe anybody will ever come for it--it's been there seven years now.

studentnounUS /ˈstuːdənt/

a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

swapsnounUS /swɑːps/

plural of “swap” — an equal exchange

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading Don't you remember the French maid who died three days after she came here?

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

tremulousadjectiveUS /ˈtremjələs/

(of the voice) quivering as from weakness or fear

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

trunknounUS /trʌŋk/

the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

undertakingnounUS /ˈʌndərteɪkɪŋ/

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

venturesomeadjectiveUS /ˈventʃərsəm/

disposed to venture or take risks

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

vergenounUS /vɜːrdʒ/

a region marking a boundary

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

vicariousadjectiveUS /vaɪˈkeriəs/

experienced at secondhand

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

voicesnounUS /ˈvɔɪsəz/

plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

watchfuladjectiveUS /ˈwɑːtʃfəl/

engaged in or accustomed to close observation

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

waysnounUS /weɪz/

structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

well-guarded

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

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

whereby

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

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Don't you remember the French maid who died three days after she came here?

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Her trunk is up in the store-room still, and I don't believe anybody will ever come for it--it's been there seven years now.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading However, there is a financial manoeuvre known as "kiting checks," whereby A exchanges a check with B and B swaps with A again, playing an imaginary balance against Time and the Clearing House; and by a similar scheme, which an acute student of social ethics has called "kiting calls," the girls found that they could make Saturday afternoon their own, without one glance from the watchful eyes of Esther's mother or Louise's aunt--Louise had only an aunt to reckon with.

womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading "And, oh, Esther!" cried the bolder of the conspirators, "I've thought of a trunk--of course I've got to have a trunk, or she would ask me where it was, and I couldn't tell her a fib.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading Her trunk is up in the store-room still, and I don't believe anybody will ever come for it--it's been there seven years now.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Don't you remember the French maid who died three days after she came here?

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading It took some time to bring Esther's less venturesome spirit up to the point of assisting in this undertaking; but she began, after a while, to feel the delights of vicarious enterprise, and in the end the two girls, their cheeks flushed, their eyes shining feverishly, their voices tremulous with childish eagerness, resolved themselves into a committee of ways and means; for they were two well-guarded young women, and to engineer five hours of liberty was difficult to the verge of impossibility.

Chapter 3 of Americans All Stories of American Life by Benjamin A. (Benjamin Alexander) [Editor] Heydrick holds 413 sentences, grouped into 83 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 3 of Americans All Stories of American Life contain?

Chapter 3 holds 413 sentences of Americans All Stories of American Life, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of Americans All Stories of American Life by Benjamin A. (Benjamin Alexander) [Editor] Heydrick exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 413 sentences, grouped into 83 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 3 of Americans All Stories of American Life?

Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 83 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Americans All Stories of American Life

Common questions about reading Americans All Stories of American Life by Benjamin A. (Benjamin Alexander) [Editor] Heydrick on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Americans All Stories of American Life?

Yes. All 5941 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #23207 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Americans All Stories of American Life is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #23207, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Americans All Stories of American Life take to read?

About 495 minutes of reading across 1189 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Americans All Stories of American Life section by section

How to work through Americans All Stories of American Life section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Americans All Stories of American Life

Words and structures a reader meets early in Americans All Stories of American Life, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Edited
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Americans All Stories of American Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Benjamin
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Americans All Stories of American Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Heydrick
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Americans All Stories of American Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Editor
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Americans All Stories of American Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.