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 IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
active
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From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
aisles
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From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
almost
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From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.
amounting
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From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
approached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
awe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Lofty and Ersten must be the hoodooers, then," laughed Polly.
Beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
billowed
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From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
block
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
BUYS
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From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
Claus
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From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
Constance
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From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
crush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.
deliberately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
destination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.
diffidence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
directions
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From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
Ersten
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From this reading "Lofty and Ersten must be the hoodooers, then," laughed Polly.
exclusive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
feasting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
femininity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
fluffed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.
furbelowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
HATCHESnounUS /ˈhatches/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
hoodoo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.
hoodooers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Lofty and Ersten must be the hoodooers, then," laughed Polly.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
JOHNNY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
Joy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
laughed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Lofty and Ersten must be the hoodooers, then," laughed Polly.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
Lofty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Lofty and Ersten must be the hoodooers, then," laughed Polly.
Lofty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
mariner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
meet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
miles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "Lofty and Ersten must be the hoodooers, then," laughed Polly.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
observed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
Parsons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
penance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
philosopher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
pick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
Polly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
PRESENT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
promised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
relying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
Santa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
SCHEME
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
shop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
spanking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Lofty and Ersten must be the hoodooers, then," laughed Polly.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
traffic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.
unprotectedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnprəˈtɛktɪd/
without protection or defence without safety or defence from danger
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
ventured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.
WHICHpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.