adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She sighed; and then, partly to divert his attention, told him hastily there was a letter from Alfred.
AlbionnounUS /ˈælbiən/
archaic name for England or Great Britain; used poetically
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
AlfrednounUS /ˈælfrəd/
king of Wessex; defeated the Vikings and encouraged writing in English (849-899)
From this reading She sighed; and then, partly to divert his attention, told him hastily there was a letter from Alfred.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The stair carpets, and drawing-room carpets, were up, and in rolls in the dining-room; the bulk of the furniture was there too; the auction was to be in that room.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
attentionnounUS /əˈtenʃən/
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading She sighed; and then, partly to divert his attention, told him hastily there was a letter from Alfred.
auctionnounUS /ˈɑːkʃən/
a variety of bridge in which tricks made in excess of the contract are scored toward game; now generally superseded by contract bridge
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
awaitingverbUS /əˈweɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “await” — look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The stair carpets, and drawing-room carpets, were up, and in rolls in the dining-room; the bulk of the furniture was there too; the auction was to be in that room.
bulknounUS /bʌlk/
the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part
From this reading The stair carpets, and drawing-room carpets, were up, and in rolls in the dining-room; the bulk of the furniture was there too; the auction was to be in that room.
carpetsnounUS /ˈkɑːrpəts/
plural of “carpet” — floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading The stair carpets, and drawing-room carpets, were up, and in rolls in the dining-room; the bulk of the furniture was there too; the auction was to be in that room.
cartsnounUS /kɑːrts/
plural of “cart” — a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
cloggedadjectiveUS /klɔːɡd/
thickened or coalesced in soft thick lumps (such as clogs or clots)
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
contentsnounUS /ˈkɑːntents/
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
cordingverbUS /ˈkɔːrdɪŋ/
-ing form of “cord” — stack in cords
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
deliquescentadjective
(especially of certain salts) becoming liquid by absorbing moisture from the air
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
departurenounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/
the act of departing
From this reading Jane's heart sank at the visible signs of his departure.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading The stair carpets, and drawing-room carpets, were up, and in rolls in the dining-room; the bulk of the furniture was there too; the auction was to be in that room.
divertverbUS /daɪˈvɜːrt/
turn aside; turn away from
From this reading She sighed; and then, partly to divert his attention, told him hastily there was a letter from Alfred.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stair carpets, and drawing-room carpets, were up, and in rolls in the dining-room; the bulk of the furniture was there too; the auction was to be in that room.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
EdwardnounUS /ˈedwərd/
King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She sighed; and then, partly to divert his attention, told him hastily there was a letter from Alfred.
furniturenounUS /ˈfɜːrnɪtʃər/
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading The stair carpets, and drawing-room carpets, were up, and in rolls in the dining-room; the bulk of the furniture was there too; the auction was to be in that room.
gallopverbUS /ˈɡæləp/
ride at a galloping pace
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
hallnounUS /hɔːl/
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
HARDIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
hastilyadverbUS /ˈheɪstəli/
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading She sighed; and then, partly to divert his attention, told him hastily there was a letter from Alfred.
heartnounUS /hɑːrt/
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Jane's heart sank at the visible signs of his departure.
higgledy-piggledyadjective
in utter disorder
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She sighed; and then, partly to divert his attention, told him hastily there was a letter from Alfred.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
JANE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
Jane's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jane's heart sank at the visible signs of his departure.
letternounUS /ˈletər/
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading She sighed; and then, partly to divert his attention, told him hastily there was a letter from Alfred.
litteredadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtərd/
filled or scattered with a disorderly accumulation of objects or rubbish
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
miserableadjectiveUS /ˈmɪzərəbəl/
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
nailingverbUS /ˈneɪlɪŋ/
-ing form of “nail” — attach something somewhere by means of nails
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The stair carpets, and drawing-room carpets, were up, and in rolls in the dining-room; the bulk of the furniture was there too; the auction was to be in that room.
packagesnounUS /ˈpækədʒəz/
plural of “package” — a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
partlyadverbUS /ˈpɑːrtli/
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading She sighed; and then, partly to divert his attention, told him hastily there was a letter from Alfred.
precedesverbUS /prɪˈsiːdz/
third-person singular of “precede” — be earlier in time; go back further
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
railwaynounUS /ˈreɪlweɪ/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
rawadjectiveUS /rɑː/
(used especially of commodities) being unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
rollsnounUS /roʊlz/
plural of “roll” — rotary motion of an object around its own axis
From this reading The stair carpets, and drawing-room carpets, were up, and in rolls in the dining-room; the bulk of the furniture was there too; the auction was to be in that room.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The stair carpets, and drawing-room carpets, were up, and in rolls in the dining-room; the bulk of the furniture was there too; the auction was to be in that room.
sankverbUS /sæŋk/
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading Jane's heart sank at the visible signs of his departure.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She sighed; and then, partly to divert his attention, told him hastily there was a letter from Alfred.
shirtnounUS /ʃɜːrt/
a garment worn on the upper half of the body
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
sighedverbUS /saɪd/
past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading She sighed; and then, partly to divert his attention, told him hastily there was a letter from Alfred.
signsnounUS /saɪnz/
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading Jane's heart sank at the visible signs of his departure.
sleevesnounUS /sliːvz/
plural of “sleeve” — the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
stairnounUS /ster/
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
From this reading The stair carpets, and drawing-room carpets, were up, and in rolls in the dining-room; the bulk of the furniture was there too; the auction was to be in that room.
statenounUS /steɪt/
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
strappingadjectiveUS /ˈstræpɪŋ/
muscular and heavily built
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading She sighed; and then, partly to divert his attention, told him hastily there was a letter from Alfred.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading The stair carpets, and drawing-room carpets, were up, and in rolls in the dining-room; the bulk of the furniture was there too; the auction was to be in that room.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The stair carpets, and drawing-room carpets, were up, and in rolls in the dining-room; the bulk of the furniture was there too; the auction was to be in that room.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading She sighed; and then, partly to divert his attention, told him hastily there was a letter from Alfred.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The stair carpets, and drawing-room carpets, were up, and in rolls in the dining-room; the bulk of the furniture was there too; the auction was to be in that room.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The stair carpets, and drawing-room carpets, were up, and in rolls in the dining-room; the bulk of the furniture was there too; the auction was to be in that room.
VillanounUS /ˈvɪlə/
Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa in the miserable state that precedes an auction: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy.
visibleadjectiveUS /ˈvɪzəbəl/
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading Jane's heart sank at the visible signs of his departure.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The stair carpets, and drawing-room carpets, were up, and in rolls in the dining-room; the bulk of the furniture was there too; the auction was to be in that room.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The stair carpets, and drawing-room carpets, were up, and in rolls in the dining-room; the bulk of the furniture was there too; the auction was to be in that room.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The hall was clogged with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping, and nailing them at the gallop, in his shirt sleeves.
