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Complete Original Short Stories of Guy De Maupassant
Complete Original Short Stories of Guy De Maupassant

Chapter III

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Context Illustration Reading 1/8 · 5 lines
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Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.
She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:
“Suppose people were to know.”
This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.
She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Complete Original Short Stories of Guy De Maupassant

Chapter III

Reading 1/8 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.
Line 2
She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:
Line 3
“Suppose people were to know.”
Line 4
This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.
Line 5
She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

Learner Dictionary

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

Anybody pronoun US /ˈenibədi/

any person at all

From this reading “She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.”

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.”

Disgrace noun US /dɪsˈɡreɪs/

shame caused by unacceptable behaviour

From this reading “This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading “This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Suppose people were to know.””

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.”

Mechanically noun US /ˈmechanically/

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

From this reading “She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.”

Stopped noun US /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.”

Suppose noun US /ˈsuppose/

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

From this reading ““Suppose people were to know.””

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.”

Thinking noun US /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:”

Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.”

All words in this reading · 95

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

anxious

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

any

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/

any person at all

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

apron

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

avoiding

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

change

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

cloud

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

From this reading Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.

constant

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

From this reading Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.

continual

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

day

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

death

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

disgracenounUS /dɪsˈɡreɪs/

shame caused by unacceptable behaviour

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

doing

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

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:

drawing

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

ensue

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

few

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

figure

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

fixed

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

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

got

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

hair

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

head

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

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

idea

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

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:

incapable

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

irreparable

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

knew

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Suppose people were to know.”

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

looking-glass

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

made

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

means

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

mechanically

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

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:

minutes

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

misery

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

From this reading Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

nearer

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

notice

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:

others

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

people

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

From this reading “Suppose people were to know.”

persistently

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

piece

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

reasoning

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

see

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

stoppednounUS /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

SupposenounUS /ˈsuppose/

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

From this reading “Suppose people were to know.”

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

Then

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

From this reading Then a cloud of constant misery began for her.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

thinkingnounUS /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “Suppose people were to know.”

toe

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

too

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

top

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

tried

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

try

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

up

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

very

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading “Suppose people were to know.”

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading This continual feeling made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try to think of any means of avoiding the disgrace that she knew must ensue, which was irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was as sure as death itself.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:

worked

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

From this reading She worked mechanically, without thinking of what she was doing, with one fixed idea in her head:

working

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading She got up every morning long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure in a piece of broken looking-glass, before which she did her hair, as she was very anxious to know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during the day, she stopped working every few minutes to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron did not look too short.