AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
aloofnessnounUS /əˈluːfnəs/
indifference by personal withdrawal
From this reading As for Mrs. Gregory, her mild aloofness suggested that she hardly belonged to the family.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
attentionnounUS /əˈtenʃən/
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Of the group, it was the secretary who first claimed Fran's attention.
attitudenounUS /ˈætətuːd/
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading Perhaps it was because of her splendidly developed body, her beauty, her attitude of unclaimed yet recognized authority, that she stood distinctly first.
authoritynounUS /əˈθɔːrəti/
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading Perhaps it was because of her splendidly developed body, her beauty, her attitude of unclaimed yet recognized authority, that she stood distinctly first.
beautynounUS /ˈbjuːti/
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading Perhaps it was because of her splendidly developed body, her beauty, her attitude of unclaimed yet recognized authority, that she stood distinctly first.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Perhaps it was because of her splendidly developed body, her beauty, her attitude of unclaimed yet recognized authority, that she stood distinctly first.
belongedverbUS /bɪˈlɔːŋd/
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading As for Mrs. Gregory, her mild aloofness suggested that she hardly belonged to the family.
bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Perhaps it was because of her splendidly developed body, her beauty, her attitude of unclaimed yet recognized authority, that she stood distinctly first.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
claimedverbUS /kleɪmd/
past form of “claim” — assert or affirm strongly; state to be true or existing
From this reading Of the group, it was the secretary who first claimed Fran's attention.
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
CONFERENCEnounUS /ˈkɑːnfərəns/
a prearranged meeting for consultation or exchange of information or discussion (especially one with a formal agenda)
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
developedadjectiveUS /dɪˈveləpt/
being changed over time so as to be e.g. stronger or more complete or more useful
From this reading Perhaps it was because of her splendidly developed body, her beauty, her attitude of unclaimed yet recognized authority, that she stood distinctly first.
distinctlyadverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋktli/
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading Perhaps it was because of her splendidly developed body, her beauty, her attitude of unclaimed yet recognized authority, that she stood distinctly first.
dominatedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːməneɪtəd/
controlled or ruled by superior authority or power
From this reading In a way, Grace Noir dominated the place.
fallenadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlən/
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
FAMILYnounUS /ˈfæməli/
a social unit living together
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Of the group, it was the secretary who first claimed Fran's attention.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
Fran's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
GracenounUS /ɡreɪs/
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading In a way, Grace Noir dominated the place.
GregorynounUS /ˈɡreɡəri/
(Roman Catholic Church) a church father known for his constant fight against perceived heresies; a saint and Doctor of the Church (329-391)
From this reading As for Mrs. Gregory, her mild aloofness suggested that she hardly belonged to the family.
groupnounUS /ɡruːp/
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading Of the group, it was the secretary who first claimed Fran's attention.
grownadjectiveUS /ɡroʊn/
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
hardlyadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdli/
only a very short time before
From this reading As for Mrs. Gregory, her mild aloofness suggested that she hardly belonged to the family.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Perhaps it was because of her splendidly developed body, her beauty, her attitude of unclaimed yet recognized authority, that she stood distinctly first.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
incomprehensibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪŋkɑːmprəˈhensɪbəl/
incapable of being explained or accounted for
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Of the group, it was the secretary who first claimed Fran's attention.
lessadverbUS /les/
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
lightningnounUS /ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
mildadjectiveUS /maɪld/
moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme
From this reading As for Mrs. Gregory, her mild aloofness suggested that she hardly belonged to the family.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading As for Mrs. Gregory, her mild aloofness suggested that she hardly belonged to the family.
Noir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a way, Grace Noir dominated the place.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
peals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
PerhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading Perhaps it was because of her splendidly developed body, her beauty, her attitude of unclaimed yet recognized authority, that she stood distinctly first.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading In a way, Grace Noir dominated the place.
presencenounUS /ˈprezəns/
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
rainnounUS /reɪn/
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
recognizedadjectiveUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading Perhaps it was because of her splendidly developed body, her beauty, her attitude of unclaimed yet recognized authority, that she stood distinctly first.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
safetynounUS /ˈseɪfti/
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
secretarynounUS /ˈsekrəteri/
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading Of the group, it was the secretary who first claimed Fran's attention.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Perhaps it was because of her splendidly developed body, her beauty, her attitude of unclaimed yet recognized authority, that she stood distinctly first.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
soughtadjectiveUS /sɔːt/
that is looked for
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
splendidlyadverbUS /ˈsplendədli/
extremely well
From this reading Perhaps it was because of her splendidly developed body, her beauty, her attitude of unclaimed yet recognized authority, that she stood distinctly first.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Perhaps it was because of her splendidly developed body, her beauty, her attitude of unclaimed yet recognized authority, that she stood distinctly first.
suggestedverbUS /səˈdʒestɪd/
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading As for Mrs. Gregory, her mild aloofness suggested that she hardly belonged to the family.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Perhaps it was because of her splendidly developed body, her beauty, her attitude of unclaimed yet recognized authority, that she stood distinctly first.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
thunderverbUS /ˈθʌndər/
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As for Mrs. Gregory, her mild aloofness suggested that she hardly belonged to the family.
unclaimedadjectiveUS /ənˈkleɪmd/
not claimed or called for by an owner or assignee
From this reading Perhaps it was because of her splendidly developed body, her beauty, her attitude of unclaimed yet recognized authority, that she stood distinctly first.
violentadjectiveUS /ˈvaɪələnt/
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Of the group, it was the secretary who first claimed Fran's attention.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading In a way, Grace Noir dominated the place.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A FAMILY CONFERENCE With the coming of the rain, the peals of thunder had grown less violent, and the wind had fallen; but those who had sought the reception room for safety found in Fran's presence something as startling, and as incomprehensible, as the most vivid lightning.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Perhaps it was because of her splendidly developed body, her beauty, her attitude of unclaimed yet recognized authority, that she stood distinctly first.
