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Hilda Lessways
Hilda Lessways

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Hilda Lessways
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.
Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.
That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.
The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Hilda Lessways

Chapter I

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.
Line 2
Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.
Line 3
That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
Line 4
Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.
Line 5
The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.”

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.”

Worn verb US /wɔːrn/

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading “Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.”

All words in this reading · 88

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 The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.

apron

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

clock

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

concealment

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.

consisting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.

daily

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

dark

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

defiant

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.

domestic

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.

door

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.

emerged

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

EvennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

face

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

fact

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

feet

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

food

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

full

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

getting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

grim

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

hated

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.

hauling

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.

high

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

Hilda

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.

household

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.

human

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

hung

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

indication

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

irreproachable

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.

kitchen

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

Lessways

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.

lobby

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

mother

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.

nature's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

night

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

noisily

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.

often

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

passionately

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.

polished

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

preparing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

ready

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

rope

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

satisfaction

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

scullery

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.

servant

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.

show

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

six

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

slightest

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

strike

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

temporarily

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.

thoroughly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

two

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

up

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.

used

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.

widowed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.

work

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.

wornverbUS /wɔːrn/

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.

wound

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.