adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The grey January day was falling, drowsy, and dull into the arms of night.
armsnounUS /ɑːrmz/
weapons considered collectively
From this reading The grey January day was falling, drowsy, and dull into the arms of night.
arrivedverbUS /ərˈaɪvd/
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading “Has the courier not arrived yet, Edwards?” asked Marguerite, fixing the impassive face of the well-drilled servant with her large purple-rimmed eyes.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Has the courier not arrived yet, Edwards?” asked Marguerite, fixing the impassive face of the well-drilled servant with her large purple-rimmed eyes.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
boudoirnounUS /ˈbuːdɔɪr/
a lady's bedroom or private sitting room
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading Edwards, the butler, entered with the lamp.
cheeryadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪri/
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading The room looked peculiarly cheery now, with the delicate white panelling of the wall glowing under the soft kiss of the flickering firelight and the steadier glow of the rose-shaded lamp.
closeradverbUS /ˈkloʊsər/
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
couriernounUS /ˈkɜːriər/
a person who carries a message
From this reading “Has the courier not arrived yet, Edwards?” asked Marguerite, fixing the impassive face of the well-drilled servant with her large purple-rimmed eyes.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The grey January day was falling, drowsy, and dull into the arms of night.
delicateadjectiveUS /ˈdeləkət/
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading The room looked peculiarly cheery now, with the delicate white panelling of the wall glowing under the soft kiss of the flickering firelight and the steadier glow of the rose-shaded lamp.
drewnounUS /druː/
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
drowsyadjectiveUS /ˈdraʊzi/
half asleep
From this reading The grey January day was falling, drowsy, and dull into the arms of night.
dulladjectiveUS /dʌl/
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading The grey January day was falling, drowsy, and dull into the arms of night.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
EdwardsnounUS /ˈedwərdz/
American theologian whose sermons and writings stimulated a period of renewed interest in religion in America (1703-1758)
From this reading Edwards, the butler, entered with the lamp.
enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Edwards, the butler, entered with the lamp.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading “Has the courier not arrived yet, Edwards?” asked Marguerite, fixing the impassive face of the well-drilled servant with her large purple-rimmed eyes.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading “Has the courier not arrived yet, Edwards?” asked Marguerite, fixing the impassive face of the well-drilled servant with her large purple-rimmed eyes.
fallingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlɪŋ/
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading The grey January day was falling, drowsy, and dull into the arms of night.
fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/
start firing a weapon
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
firelightnoun
the light of a fire (especially in a fireplace)
From this reading The room looked peculiarly cheery now, with the delicate white panelling of the wall glowing under the soft kiss of the flickering firelight and the steadier glow of the rose-shaded lamp.
fixingnounUS /ˈfɪksɪŋ/
the act of putting something in working order again
From this reading “Has the courier not arrived yet, Edwards?” asked Marguerite, fixing the impassive face of the well-drilled servant with her large purple-rimmed eyes.
flickeringadjectiveUS /ˈflɪkərɪŋ/
shining unsteadily
From this reading The room looked peculiarly cheery now, with the delicate white panelling of the wall glowing under the soft kiss of the flickering firelight and the steadier glow of the rose-shaded lamp.
glownounUS /ɡloʊ/
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading The room looked peculiarly cheery now, with the delicate white panelling of the wall glowing under the soft kiss of the flickering firelight and the steadier glow of the rose-shaded lamp.
glowingadjectiveUS /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/
highly enthusiastic
From this reading The room looked peculiarly cheery now, with the delicate white panelling of the wall glowing under the soft kiss of the flickering firelight and the steadier glow of the rose-shaded lamp.
greyadjectiveUS /ɡreɪ/
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading The grey January day was falling, drowsy, and dull into the arms of night.
Hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Has the courier not arrived yet, Edwards?” asked Marguerite, fixing the impassive face of the well-drilled servant with her large purple-rimmed eyes.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
impassiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpæsɪv/
having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited
From this reading “Has the courier not arrived yet, Edwards?” asked Marguerite, fixing the impassive face of the well-drilled servant with her large purple-rimmed eyes.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The grey January day was falling, drowsy, and dull into the arms of night.
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading The grey January day was falling, drowsy, and dull into the arms of night.
kissnounUS /kɪs/
the act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof)
From this reading The room looked peculiarly cheery now, with the delicate white panelling of the wall glowing under the soft kiss of the flickering firelight and the steadier glow of the rose-shaded lamp.
lampnounUS /læmp/
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading Edwards, the butler, entered with the lamp.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “Has the courier not arrived yet, Edwards?” asked Marguerite, fixing the impassive face of the well-drilled servant with her large purple-rimmed eyes.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The room looked peculiarly cheery now, with the delicate white panelling of the wall glowing under the soft kiss of the flickering firelight and the steadier glow of the rose-shaded lamp.
MargueritenounUS /ˌmɑːrɡərˈiːt/
tall leafy-stemmed Eurasian perennial with white flowers; widely naturalized; often placed in genus Chrysanthemum
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The grey January day was falling, drowsy, and dull into the arms of night.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Has the courier not arrived yet, Edwards?” asked Marguerite, fixing the impassive face of the well-drilled servant with her large purple-rimmed eyes.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The room looked peculiarly cheery now, with the delicate white panelling of the wall glowing under the soft kiss of the flickering firelight and the steadier glow of the rose-shaded lamp.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The grey January day was falling, drowsy, and dull into the arms of night.
panellingnoun
a panel or section of panels in a wall or door
From this reading The room looked peculiarly cheery now, with the delicate white panelling of the wall glowing under the soft kiss of the flickering firelight and the steadier glow of the rose-shaded lamp.
peculiarlyadverbUS /pɪˈkjuːljərli/
uniquely or characteristically
From this reading The room looked peculiarly cheery now, with the delicate white panelling of the wall glowing under the soft kiss of the flickering firelight and the steadier glow of the rose-shaded lamp.
purple-rimmed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has the courier not arrived yet, Edwards?” asked Marguerite, fixing the impassive face of the well-drilled servant with her large purple-rimmed eyes.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room looked peculiarly cheery now, with the delicate white panelling of the wall glowing under the soft kiss of the flickering firelight and the steadier glow of the rose-shaded lamp.
rose-shaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room looked peculiarly cheery now, with the delicate white panelling of the wall glowing under the soft kiss of the flickering firelight and the steadier glow of the rose-shaded lamp.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
scarfnounUS /skɑːrf/
a garment worn around the head or neck or shoulders for warmth or decoration
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
servantnounUS /ˈsɜːrvənt/
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading “Has the courier not arrived yet, Edwards?” asked Marguerite, fixing the impassive face of the well-drilled servant with her large purple-rimmed eyes.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
shiveredverbUS /ˈʃɪvərd/
past form of “shiver” — tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
shouldersnounUS /ˈʃoʊldərz/
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Marguerite, sitting in the dusk beside the fire in her small boudoir, shivered a little as she drew her scarf closer round her shoulders.
softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The room looked peculiarly cheery now, with the delicate white panelling of the wall glowing under the soft kiss of the flickering firelight and the steadier glow of the rose-shaded lamp.
steadieradjectiveUS /ˈstediər/
comparative of “steady” — not subject to change or variation especially in behavior
From this reading The room looked peculiarly cheery now, with the delicate white panelling of the wall glowing under the soft kiss of the flickering firelight and the steadier glow of the rose-shaded lamp.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The grey January day was falling, drowsy, and dull into the arms of night.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The room looked peculiarly cheery now, with the delicate white panelling of the wall glowing under the soft kiss of the flickering firelight and the steadier glow of the rose-shaded lamp.
wallnounUS /wɔːl/
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading The room looked peculiarly cheery now, with the delicate white panelling of the wall glowing under the soft kiss of the flickering firelight and the steadier glow of the rose-shaded lamp.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The grey January day was falling, drowsy, and dull into the arms of night.
well-drilled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has the courier not arrived yet, Edwards?” asked Marguerite, fixing the impassive face of the well-drilled servant with her large purple-rimmed eyes.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading The room looked peculiarly cheery now, with the delicate white panelling of the wall glowing under the soft kiss of the flickering firelight and the steadier glow of the rose-shaded lamp.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Edwards, the butler, entered with the lamp.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading “Has the courier not arrived yet, Edwards?” asked Marguerite, fixing the impassive face of the well-drilled servant with her large purple-rimmed eyes.
