adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading II Three days after Peter's visit to Brockett's he was finishing a letter before dressing for dinner.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading II Three days after Peter's visit to Brockett's he was finishing a letter before dressing for dinner.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading He and Clare were going on to a party later in the evening but were dining quietly alone together first.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE IN-BETWEENS I Then, out of the wind and rain, came Mr. Zanti.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading II Three days after Peter's visit to Brockett's he was finishing a letter before dressing for dinner.
branchesnounUS /ˈbræntʃəz/
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
Brockett's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading II Three days after Peter's visit to Brockett's he was finishing a letter before dressing for dinner.
buffetingnounUS /bəˈfeɪɪŋ/
repeated heavy blows
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He and Clare were going on to a party later in the evening but were dining quietly alone together first.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE IN-BETWEENS I Then, out of the wind and rain, came Mr. Zanti.
citynounUS /ˈsɪti/
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
Clare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He and Clare were going on to a party later in the evening but were dining quietly alone together first.
comfortableadjectiveUS /ˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
companynounUS /ˈkʌmpəniː/
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
creakedverbUS /kriːkt/
past form of “creak” — make a high-pitched, screeching noise
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading II Three days after Peter's visit to Brockett's he was finishing a letter before dressing for dinner.
diningnounUS /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/
the act of eating dinner
From this reading He and Clare were going on to a party later in the evening but were dining quietly alone together first.
dinnernounUS /ˈdɪnər/
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading II Three days after Peter's visit to Brockett's he was finishing a letter before dressing for dinner.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
dressingnounUS /ˈdresɪŋ/
savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type
From this reading II Three days after Peter's visit to Brockett's he was finishing a letter before dressing for dinner.
drippingnounUS /ˈdrɪpɪŋ/
a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house)
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading He and Clare were going on to a party later in the evening but were dining quietly alone together first.
fallenadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlən/
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
finishingnounUS /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading II Three days after Peter's visit to Brockett's he was finishing a letter before dressing for dinner.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He and Clare were going on to a party later in the evening but were dining quietly alone together first.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading II Three days after Peter's visit to Brockett's he was finishing a letter before dressing for dinner.
frameverbUS /freɪm/
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
glorynounUS /ˈɡlɔːri/
a state of high honor
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading He and Clare were going on to a party later in the evening but were dining quietly alone together first.
groanedverbUS /ɡroʊnd/
past form of “groan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading II Three days after Peter's visit to Brockett's he was finishing a letter before dressing for dinner.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE IN-BETWEENS I Then, out of the wind and rain, came Mr. Zanti.
IInoun
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading II Three days after Peter's visit to Brockett's he was finishing a letter before dressing for dinner.
importancenounUS /ˌɪmˈpɔːrtəns/
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He and Clare were going on to a party later in the evening but were dining quietly alone together first.
IN-BETWEENS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE IN-BETWEENS I Then, out of the wind and rain, came Mr. Zanti.
lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading He and Clare were going on to a party later in the evening but were dining quietly alone together first.
letternounUS /ˈletər/
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading II Three days after Peter's visit to Brockett's he was finishing a letter before dressing for dinner.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
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 The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
MarianounUS /mərˈiːə/
a dark region of considerable extent on the surface of the moon
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading THE IN-BETWEENS I Then, out of the wind and rain, came Mr. Zanti.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
of an obscure nature
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE IN-BETWEENS I Then, out of the wind and rain, came Mr. Zanti.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He and Clare were going on to a party later in the evening but were dining quietly alone together first.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE IN-BETWEENS I Then, out of the wind and rain, came Mr. Zanti.
outsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
panesnounUS /peɪnz/
plural of “pane” — sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
partynounUS /ˈpɑːrti/
an organization to gain political power
From this reading He and Clare were going on to a party later in the evening but were dining quietly alone together first.
personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/
a human being
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
Peter'snounUS /ˈpiːtərz/
possessive form of “peter” — disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading II Three days after Peter's visit to Brockett's he was finishing a letter before dressing for dinner.
pommelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
quietlyadverbUS /ˈkwaɪətli/
with low volume
From this reading He and Clare were going on to a party later in the evening but were dining quietly alone together first.
rainnounUS /reɪn/
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading THE IN-BETWEENS I Then, out of the wind and rain, came Mr. Zanti.
secretsnounUS /ˈsiːkrəts/
plural of “secret” — something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on)
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
silvernounUS /ˈsɪlvər/
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
stormsnounUS /stɔːrmz/
plural of “storm” — a violent weather condition with winds 64-72 knots (11 on the Beaufort scale) and precipitation and thunder and lightning
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
tappedadjectiveUS /tæpt/
in a condition for letting out liquid drawn out as by piercing or drawing a plug
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
tellverbUS /tel/
express in words
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE IN-BETWEENS I Then, out of the wind and rain, came Mr. Zanti.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading THE IN-BETWEENS I Then, out of the wind and rain, came Mr. Zanti.
TheresanounUS /tərˈiːsə/
Indian nun and missionary in the Roman Catholic Church (born of Albanian parents in what is now Macedonia); dedicated to helping the poor in India (1910-1997)
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
ThreenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading II Three days after Peter's visit to Brockett's he was finishing a letter before dressing for dinner.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading II Three days after Peter's visit to Brockett's he was finishing a letter before dressing for dinner.
togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading He and Clare were going on to a party later in the evening but were dining quietly alone together first.
treesnounUS /triːz/
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
tryingadjectiveUS /ˈtraɪɪŋ/
hard to endure
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
visitverbUS /ˈvɪzɪt/
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading II Three days after Peter's visit to Brockett's he was finishing a letter before dressing for dinner.
warmadjectiveUS /wɔːrm/
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading II Three days after Peter's visit to Brockett's he was finishing a letter before dressing for dinner.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He and Clare were going on to a party later in the evening but were dining quietly alone together first.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading THE IN-BETWEENS I Then, out of the wind and rain, came Mr. Zanti.
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The storms that had fallen upon London three days before were still pommelling and buffeting the city, the trees outside the window groaned and creaked with a mysterious importance as though they were trying to tell one another secrets, and little branches tapped at the dripping panes.
writingnounUS /ˈraɪtɪŋ/
the act of creating written works
From this reading He was writing in the little drawing-room--warm and comfortable--and the Maria Theresa, so small a person in so much glory, looked down on him from her silver frame and gave him company.
Zanti
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE IN-BETWEENS I Then, out of the wind and rain, came Mr. Zanti.
