adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
amuseverbUS /əˈmjuːz/
occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
AuntnounUS /ænt/
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
avenuenounUS /ˈævənuː/
a line of approach
From this reading Back of the house was a long avenue of water-oaks leading to the quarters where the negroes lived.
BackadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Back of the house was a long avenue of water-oaks leading to the quarters where the negroes lived.
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
busyadjectiveUS /ˈbɪzi/
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
cedarsnounUS /ˈsiːdərz/
plural of “cedar” — any of numerous trees of the family Cupressaceae that resemble cedars
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
chargeverbUS /tʃɑːrdʒ/
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Major Waldron, the father of the children, owned a large number of slaves, and they loved him and his children very dearly.
climbingnounUS /ˈklaɪmɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
cottonnounUS /ˈkɑːtən/
soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
daughtersnounUS /ˈdɔːtərz/
plural of “daughter” — a female human offspring
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
dearlyadverbUS /ˈdɪrli/
in a sincere and heartfelt manner
From this reading Major Waldron, the father of the children, owned a large number of slaves, and they loved him and his children very dearly.
Edy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
entireadjectiveUS /ɪnˈtaɪər/
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Major Waldron, the father of the children, owned a large number of slaves, and they loved him and his children very dearly.
flower-garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
grovenounUS /ɡroʊv/
a small growth of trees without underbrush
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
helpedverbUS /helpt/
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Major Waldron, the father of the children, owned a large number of slaves, and they loved him and his children very dearly.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Major Waldron, the father of the children, owned a large number of slaves, and they loved him and his children very dearly.
honey-suckles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
lamenounUS /leɪm/
someone who doesn't understand what is going on
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Major Waldron, the father of the children, owned a large number of slaves, and they loved him and his children very dearly.
laundressnoun
a working woman who takes in washing
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
leadingadjectiveUS /ˈliːdɪŋ/
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading Back of the house was a long avenue of water-oaks leading to the quarters where the negroes lived.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
live-oaks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
livedverbUS /lɪvd/
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Back of the house was a long avenue of water-oaks leading to the quarters where the negroes lived.
lovedadjectiveUS /lʌvd/
held dear
From this reading Major Waldron, the father of the children, owned a large number of slaves, and they loved him and his children very dearly.
MajoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading Major Waldron, the father of the children, owned a large number of slaves, and they loved him and his children very dearly.
Mammynoun
an offensive term for a Black nursemaid in the southern U.S.
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
Milly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
MississippinounUS /ˌmɪsɪˈsɪpi/
a major North American river and the chief river of the United States; rises in northern Minnesota and flows southward into the Gulf of Mexico
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
negroesnounUS /ˈniːɡroʊz/
plural of “negro” — a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading Back of the house was a long avenue of water-oaks leading to the quarters where the negroes lived.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
numbernounUS /ˈnʌmbər/
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading Major Waldron, the father of the children, owned a large number of slaves, and they loved him and his children very dearly.
nursedadjectiveUS /nɜːrst/
(of an infant) breast-fed
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
nurserynounUS /ˈnɜːrsəri/
a child's room for a baby
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/
many times at short intervals
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
ownedadjectiveUS /oʊnd/
having an owner; often used in combination
From this reading Major Waldron, the father of the children, owned a large number of slaves, and they loved him and his children very dearly.
particularlyadverbUS /ˌpɑːrˈtɪkjələrli/
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
plantationnounUS /ˌplænˈteɪʃən/
an estate where cash crops are grown on a large scale (especially in tropical areas)
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
planternounUS /ˈplæntər/
the owner or manager of a plantation
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
pleasantadjectiveUS /ˈplezənt/
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
quartersnounUS /ˈkwɔːrtərz/
housing available for people to live in
From this reading Back of the house was a long avenue of water-oaks leading to the quarters where the negroes lived.
rosesnounUS /ˈroʊzɪz/
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
sistersnounUS /ˈsɪstərz/
plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
slavesnounUS /sleɪvz/
plural of “slave” — a person who is owned by someone
From this reading Major Waldron, the father of the children, owned a large number of slaves, and they loved him and his children very dearly.
SouthernadjectiveUS /ˈsʌðərn/
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
springnounUS /sprɪŋ/
the season of growth
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
summernounUS /ˈsʌmər/
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
summer-houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
tea-parties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
threenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Back of the house was a long avenue of water-oaks leading to the quarters where the negroes lived.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading Major Waldron, the father of the children, owned a large number of slaves, and they loved him and his children very dearly.
Waldron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Major Waldron, the father of the children, owned a large number of slaves, and they loved him and his children very dearly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
water-oaks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Back of the house was a long avenue of water-oaks leading to the quarters where the negroes lived.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days.
yellowadjectiveUS /ˈjeloʊ/
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading And the little girls loved them, particularly “Mammy,” who had nursed their mother, and now had entire charge of the children; and Aunt Milly, a lame yellow woman, who helped Mammy in the nursery; and Aunt Edy, the head laundress, who was never too busy to amuse them.
