adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE STRANGLE-HOLD Less than a month later Rita was in a state of desperation again.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Kazmah’s prices had soared above anything that he had hitherto extorted.
accountnounUS /əˈkaʊnt/
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading Her bank account, as usual, was greatly overdrawn, and creditors of all kinds were beginning to press for payment.
adverseadjectiveUS /ædˈvɜːrs/
contrary to your interests or welfare
From this reading By a combination of adverse circumstances, she, the wife of one of the wealthiest aldermen of the City of London, awakened to the fact that literally she had no money.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading THE STRANGLE-HOLD Less than a month later Rita was in a state of desperation again.
aldermennounUS /ˈɔːldərmɪn/
plural of “alderman” — a member of a municipal legislative body (as a city council)
From this reading By a combination of adverse circumstances, she, the wife of one of the wealthiest aldermen of the City of London, awakened to the fact that literally she had no money.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Her bank account, as usual, was greatly overdrawn, and creditors of all kinds were beginning to press for payment.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then, crowning catastrophe, Monte Irvin, for the first time during their married life, began to take an interest in Rita’s reckless expenditure.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her bank account, as usual, was greatly overdrawn, and creditors of all kinds were beginning to press for payment.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading Kazmah’s prices had soared above anything that he had hitherto extorted.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Her bank account, as usual, was greatly overdrawn, and creditors of all kinds were beginning to press for payment.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading By a combination of adverse circumstances, she, the wife of one of the wealthiest aldermen of the City of London, awakened to the fact that literally she had no money.
banknounUS /bæŋk/
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Her bank account, as usual, was greatly overdrawn, and creditors of all kinds were beginning to press for payment.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Then, crowning catastrophe, Monte Irvin, for the first time during their married life, began to take an interest in Rita’s reckless expenditure.
beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading Her bank account, as usual, was greatly overdrawn, and creditors of all kinds were beginning to press for payment.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By a combination of adverse circumstances, she, the wife of one of the wealthiest aldermen of the City of London, awakened to the fact that literally she had no money.
catastrophenounUS /kəˈtæstrəfi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading Then, crowning catastrophe, Monte Irvin, for the first time during their married life, began to take an interest in Rita’s reckless expenditure.
circumstancesnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəmstænsəz/
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading By a combination of adverse circumstances, she, the wife of one of the wealthiest aldermen of the City of London, awakened to the fact that literally she had no money.
CitynounUS /ˈsɪti/
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading By a combination of adverse circumstances, she, the wife of one of the wealthiest aldermen of the City of London, awakened to the fact that literally she had no money.
combinationnounUS /ˌkɑːmbəˈneɪʃən/
a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities
From this reading By a combination of adverse circumstances, she, the wife of one of the wealthiest aldermen of the City of London, awakened to the fact that literally she had no money.
creditorsnounUS /ˈkredɪtərz/
plural of “creditor” — a person to whom money is owed by a debtor; someone to whom an obligation exists
From this reading Her bank account, as usual, was greatly overdrawn, and creditors of all kinds were beginning to press for payment.
crowningadjectiveUS /ˈkraʊnɪŋ/
representing a level of the highest possible achievement or attainment
From this reading Then, crowning catastrophe, Monte Irvin, for the first time during their married life, began to take an interest in Rita’s reckless expenditure.
desperationnounUS /ˌdespərˈeɪʃən/
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading THE STRANGLE-HOLD Less than a month later Rita was in a state of desperation again.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Then, crowning catastrophe, Monte Irvin, for the first time during their married life, began to take an interest in Rita’s reckless expenditure.
expenditurenounUS /ɪkˈspendətʃər/
money paid out; an amount spent
From this reading Then, crowning catastrophe, Monte Irvin, for the first time during their married life, began to take an interest in Rita’s reckless expenditure.
extortedverbUS /ekˈstɔːrtɪd/
past form of “extort” — obtain through intimidation
From this reading Kazmah’s prices had soared above anything that he had hitherto extorted.
factnounUS /fækt/
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading By a combination of adverse circumstances, she, the wife of one of the wealthiest aldermen of the City of London, awakened to the fact that literally she had no money.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Then, crowning catastrophe, Monte Irvin, for the first time during their married life, began to take an interest in Rita’s reckless expenditure.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Her bank account, as usual, was greatly overdrawn, and creditors of all kinds were beginning to press for payment.
greatlyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪtli/
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading Her bank account, as usual, was greatly overdrawn, and creditors of all kinds were beginning to press for payment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Kazmah’s prices had soared above anything that he had hitherto extorted.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Kazmah’s prices had soared above anything that he had hitherto extorted.
HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her bank account, as usual, was greatly overdrawn, and creditors of all kinds were beginning to press for payment.
hithertoadverbUS /ˈhɪðɜːrˈtuː/
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading Kazmah’s prices had soared above anything that he had hitherto extorted.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE STRANGLE-HOLD Less than a month later Rita was in a state of desperation again.
interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Then, crowning catastrophe, Monte Irvin, for the first time during their married life, began to take an interest in Rita’s reckless expenditure.
Irvin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, crowning catastrophe, Monte Irvin, for the first time during their married life, began to take an interest in Rita’s reckless expenditure.
Kazmah's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kazmah’s prices had soared above anything that he had hitherto extorted.
kindsnounUS /kaɪndz/
plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Her bank account, as usual, was greatly overdrawn, and creditors of all kinds were beginning to press for payment.
lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading THE STRANGLE-HOLD Less than a month later Rita was in a state of desperation again.
LessadverbUS /les/
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading THE STRANGLE-HOLD Less than a month later Rita was in a state of desperation again.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Then, crowning catastrophe, Monte Irvin, for the first time during their married life, began to take an interest in Rita’s reckless expenditure.
literallyadverbUS /ˈlɪtərəli/
in a literal sense
From this reading By a combination of adverse circumstances, she, the wife of one of the wealthiest aldermen of the City of London, awakened to the fact that literally she had no money.
LondonnounUS /ˈlʌndən/
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading By a combination of adverse circumstances, she, the wife of one of the wealthiest aldermen of the City of London, awakened to the fact that literally she had no money.
marriedadjectiveUS /ˈmerid/
joined in matrimony
From this reading Then, crowning catastrophe, Monte Irvin, for the first time during their married life, began to take an interest in Rita’s reckless expenditure.
moneynounUS /ˈmʌni/
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading By a combination of adverse circumstances, she, the wife of one of the wealthiest aldermen of the City of London, awakened to the fact that literally she had no money.
MontenounUS /ˈmɑːnti/
a gambling card game of Spanish origin; 3 or 4 cards are dealt face up and players bet that one of them will be matched before the others as the cards are dealt from the pack one at a time
From this reading Then, crowning catastrophe, Monte Irvin, for the first time during their married life, began to take an interest in Rita’s reckless expenditure.
monthnounUS /mʌnθ/
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading THE STRANGLE-HOLD Less than a month later Rita was in a state of desperation again.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading By a combination of adverse circumstances, she, the wife of one of the wealthiest aldermen of the City of London, awakened to the fact that literally she had no money.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE STRANGLE-HOLD Less than a month later Rita was in a state of desperation again.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading By a combination of adverse circumstances, she, the wife of one of the wealthiest aldermen of the City of London, awakened to the fact that literally she had no money.
overdrawnverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈdrɔːn/
inflected form of “overdraw” — draw more money from than is available
From this reading Her bank account, as usual, was greatly overdrawn, and creditors of all kinds were beginning to press for payment.
paymentnounUS /ˈpeɪmənt/
a sum of money paid or a claim discharged
From this reading Her bank account, as usual, was greatly overdrawn, and creditors of all kinds were beginning to press for payment.
pressverbUS /pres/
exert pressure or force to or upon
From this reading Her bank account, as usual, was greatly overdrawn, and creditors of all kinds were beginning to press for payment.
pricesnounUS /ˈpraɪsəz/
plural of “price” — the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)
From this reading Kazmah’s prices had soared above anything that he had hitherto extorted.
recklessadjectiveUS /ˈrekləs/
marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
From this reading Then, crowning catastrophe, Monte Irvin, for the first time during their married life, began to take an interest in Rita’s reckless expenditure.
Rita
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STRANGLE-HOLD Less than a month later Rita was in a state of desperation again.
Rita's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, crowning catastrophe, Monte Irvin, for the first time during their married life, began to take an interest in Rita’s reckless expenditure.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading By a combination of adverse circumstances, she, the wife of one of the wealthiest aldermen of the City of London, awakened to the fact that literally she had no money.
soaredverbUS /sɔːrd/
past form of “soar” — rise rapidly
From this reading Kazmah’s prices had soared above anything that he had hitherto extorted.
statenounUS /steɪt/
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading THE STRANGLE-HOLD Less than a month later Rita was in a state of desperation again.
STRANGLE-HOLD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STRANGLE-HOLD Less than a month later Rita was in a state of desperation again.
takeverbUS /teɪk/
carry out
From this reading Then, crowning catastrophe, Monte Irvin, for the first time during their married life, began to take an interest in Rita’s reckless expenditure.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE STRANGLE-HOLD Less than a month later Rita was in a state of desperation again.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Kazmah’s prices had soared above anything that he had hitherto extorted.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STRANGLE-HOLD Less than a month later Rita was in a state of desperation again.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Then, crowning catastrophe, Monte Irvin, for the first time during their married life, began to take an interest in Rita’s reckless expenditure.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, crowning catastrophe, Monte Irvin, for the first time during their married life, began to take an interest in Rita’s reckless expenditure.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Then, crowning catastrophe, Monte Irvin, for the first time during their married life, began to take an interest in Rita’s reckless expenditure.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Her bank account, as usual, was greatly overdrawn, and creditors of all kinds were beginning to press for payment.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Her bank account, as usual, was greatly overdrawn, and creditors of all kinds were beginning to press for payment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE STRANGLE-HOLD Less than a month later Rita was in a state of desperation again.
wealthiestadjectiveUS /ˈwelθiəst/
superlative of “wealthy” — having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
From this reading By a combination of adverse circumstances, she, the wife of one of the wealthiest aldermen of the City of London, awakened to the fact that literally she had no money.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her bank account, as usual, was greatly overdrawn, and creditors of all kinds were beginning to press for payment.
wifenounUS /waɪf/
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading By a combination of adverse circumstances, she, the wife of one of the wealthiest aldermen of the City of London, awakened to the fact that literally she had no money.
