adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
abyssnounUS /əˈbɪs/
a bottomless gulf or pit; any unfathomable (or apparently unfathomable) cavity or chasm or void extending below (often used figuratively)
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Percy Dacier as the model of her YOUNG MINISTER OF STATE, Diana supposed.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
cautionnounUS /ˈkɑːʃən/
the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
certainlyadverbUS /ˈsɜːrtənli/
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading She certainly would not have done it now.
contemplativenessnoun
deep serious thoughtfulness
From this reading WOMEN Pure disengagement of contemplativeness had selected.
Couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Could she otherwise have dared to sketch him?
Dacier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Percy Dacier as the model of her YOUNG MINISTER OF STATE, Diana supposed.
daredverbUS /derd/
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading Could she otherwise have dared to sketch him?
DiananounUS /daɪˈænə/
English aristocrat who was the first wife of Prince Charles; her death in an automobile accident in Paris produced intense national mourning (1961-1997)
From this reading Percy Dacier as the model of her YOUNG MINISTER OF STATE, Diana supposed.
disengagementnounUS /dɪsɪnˈɡeɪdʒmənt/
the act of releasing from an attachment or connection
From this reading WOMEN Pure disengagement of contemplativeness had selected.
doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading She certainly would not have done it now.
droppedverbUS /drɑːpt/
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
entertainedadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnd/
pleasantly occupied
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading WOMEN Pure disengagement of contemplativeness had selected.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Could she otherwise have dared to sketch him?
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Percy Dacier as the model of her YOUNG MINISTER OF STATE, Diana supposed.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Could she otherwise have dared to sketch him?
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She certainly would not have done it now.
ledgenounUS /ledʒ/
a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
midwayadjectiveUS /ˈmɪdweɪ/
equally distant from the extremes
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
MINISTERnounUS /ˈmɪnəstər/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading Percy Dacier as the model of her YOUNG MINISTER OF STATE, Diana supposed.
modelnounUS /ˈmɑːdəl/
a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
From this reading Percy Dacier as the model of her YOUNG MINISTER OF STATE, Diana supposed.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She certainly would not have done it now.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She certainly would not have done it now.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WOMEN Pure disengagement of contemplativeness had selected.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
otherwiseadverbUS /ˈʌðərwaɪz/
in other respects or ways
From this reading Could she otherwise have dared to sketch him?
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
PercynounUS /ˈpɜːrsi/
United States writer whose novels explored human alienation (1916-1990)
From this reading Percy Dacier as the model of her YOUNG MINISTER OF STATE, Diana supposed.
precipicenounUS /ˈpresəpəs/
a very steep cliff
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
PureadjectiveUS /pjʊr/
free of extraneous elements of any kind
From this reading WOMEN Pure disengagement of contemplativeness had selected.
reflectionnounUS /rɪˈflekʃən/
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
requiredadjectiveUS /riˈkwaɪərd/
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
selectedadjectiveUS /səˈlektɪd/
chosen in preference to another
From this reading WOMEN Pure disengagement of contemplativeness had selected.
self-preservationnoun
preservation of yourself from harm; a natural or instinctive tendency
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
sensitiveadjectiveUS /ˈsensətɪv/
responsive to physical stimuli
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Could she otherwise have dared to sketch him?
similaradjectiveUS /ˈsɪmələr/
marked by correspondence or resemblance
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
simpleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpəl/
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
sketchnounUS /sketʃ/
preliminary drawing for later elaboration
From this reading Could she otherwise have dared to sketch him?
STATEnounUS /steɪt/
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Percy Dacier as the model of her YOUNG MINISTER OF STATE, Diana supposed.
supposedadjectiveUS /səˈpoʊzd/
required or under orders
From this reading Percy Dacier as the model of her YOUNG MINISTER OF STATE, Diana supposed.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Percy Dacier as the model of her YOUNG MINISTER OF STATE, Diana supposed.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Could she otherwise have dared to sketch him?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading That was a reflection similar to what is entertained by one who has dropped from a precipice to the midway ledge over the abyss, where caution of the whole sensitive being is required for simple self-preservation.
WOMENnounUS /ˈwɪmən/
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading WOMEN Pure disengagement of contemplativeness had selected.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She certainly would not have done it now.
YOUNGadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Percy Dacier as the model of her YOUNG MINISTER OF STATE, Diana supposed.
