adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading She came alone, and straightway spent several hours in characteristic activity--airing, cleaning, brightening.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
airingnounUS /ˈerɪŋ/
the opening of a subject to widespread discussion and debate
From this reading She came alone, and straightway spent several hours in characteristic activity--airing, cleaning, brightening.
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 For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading She came alone, and straightway spent several hours in characteristic activity--airing, cleaning, brightening.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
arrivalnounUS /ərˈaɪvəl/
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading Unhappily, their arrival timed with a change of weather, which brought clouds and rain.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They had reached London last evening, and had slept at a family hotel, where Nancy remained until the house was in order for her.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
brighteningverbUS /ˈbraɪtənɪŋ/
-ing form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color
From this reading She came alone, and straightway spent several hours in characteristic activity--airing, cleaning, brightening.
broughtverbUS /brɔːt/
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Unhappily, their arrival timed with a change of weather, which brought clouds and rain.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She came alone, and straightway spent several hours in characteristic activity--airing, cleaning, brightening.
changeverbUS /tʃeɪndʒ/
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading Unhappily, their arrival timed with a change of weather, which brought clouds and rain.
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading She came alone, and straightway spent several hours in characteristic activity--airing, cleaning, brightening.
cleaningnounUS /ˈkliːnɪŋ/
the act of making something clean
From this reading She came alone, and straightway spent several hours in characteristic activity--airing, cleaning, brightening.
cloudsnounUS /klaʊdz/
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Unhappily, their arrival timed with a change of weather, which brought clouds and rain.
CornwallnounUS /ˈkɔːrnwɔːl/
a hilly county in southwestern England
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
doingverbUS /ˈduːɪŋ/
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
enjoyedverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪd/
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading They had reached London last evening, and had slept at a family hotel, where Nancy remained until the house was in order for her.
familynounUS /ˈfæməli/
a social unit living together
From this reading They had reached London last evening, and had slept at a family hotel, where Nancy remained until the house was in order for her.
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
fogsnounUS /fɔːɡz/
plural of “fog” — droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had reached London last evening, and had slept at a family hotel, where Nancy remained until the house was in order for her.
hallnounUS /hɔːl/
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
hereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
hotelnounUS /hoʊˈtel/
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading They had reached London last evening, and had slept at a family hotel, where Nancy remained until the house was in order for her.
hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading She came alone, and straightway spent several hours in characteristic activity--airing, cleaning, brightening.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading They had reached London last evening, and had slept at a family hotel, where Nancy remained until the house was in order for her.
house-door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She came alone, and straightway spent several hours in characteristic activity--airing, cleaning, brightening.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
JulynounUS /ˌdʒuːˈlaɪ/
the month following June and preceding August
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading They had reached London last evening, and had slept at a family hotel, where Nancy remained until the house was in order for her.
leisurenounUS /ˈleʒər/
time available for ease and relaxation
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
lingeredverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡərd/
past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
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 They had reached London last evening, and had slept at a family hotel, where Nancy remained until the house was in order for her.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
MarynounUS /ˈmeri/
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
NancynounUS /ˈnænsi/
a city in northeastern France in Lorraine
From this reading They had reached London last evening, and had slept at a family hotel, where Nancy remained until the house was in order for her.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading They had reached London last evening, and had slept at a family hotel, where Nancy remained until the house was in order for her.
prospectnounUS /ˈprɑːspekt/
the possibility of future success
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
rainnounUS /reɪn/
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Unhappily, their arrival timed with a change of weather, which brought clouds and rain.
reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading They had reached London last evening, and had slept at a family hotel, where Nancy remained until the house was in order for her.
remainedverbUS /rɪˈmeɪnd/
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading They had reached London last evening, and had slept at a family hotel, where Nancy remained until the house was in order for her.
servantnounUS /ˈsɜːrvənt/
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading She came alone, and straightway spent several hours in characteristic activity--airing, cleaning, brightening.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She came alone, and straightway spent several hours in characteristic activity--airing, cleaning, brightening.
sleptverbUS /slept/
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading They had reached London last evening, and had slept at a family hotel, where Nancy remained until the house was in order for her.
smeltnounUS /smelt/
small cold-water silvery fish; migrate between salt and fresh water
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
sootyadjectiveUS /ˈsuːti/
of the blackest black; similar to the color of jet or coal
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
spentadjectiveUS /spent/
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading She came alone, and straightway spent several hours in characteristic activity--airing, cleaning, brightening.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
straightwayadverb
at once
From this reading She came alone, and straightway spent several hours in characteristic activity--airing, cleaning, brightening.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Unhappily, their arrival timed with a change of weather, which brought clouds and rain.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had reached London last evening, and had slept at a family hotel, where Nancy remained until the house was in order for her.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
timedadjectiveUS /taɪmd/
regularly spaced in time
From this reading Unhappily, their arrival timed with a change of weather, which brought clouds and rain.
UnhappilyadverbUS /ənˈhæpəli/
in an unpleasant way
From this reading Unhappily, their arrival timed with a change of weather, which brought clouds and rain.
unlockedadjectiveUS /ənˈlɑːkt/
not firmly fastened or secured
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading They had reached London last evening, and had slept at a family hotel, where Nancy remained until the house was in order for her.
untouchedadjectiveUS /ənˈtʌtʃt/
still full
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
warmthnounUS /wɔːrmθ/
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They had reached London last evening, and had slept at a family hotel, where Nancy remained until the house was in order for her.
weathernounUS /ˈweðər/
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading Unhappily, their arrival timed with a change of weather, which brought clouds and rain.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading They had reached London last evening, and had slept at a family hotel, where Nancy remained until the house was in order for her.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Unhappily, their arrival timed with a change of weather, which brought clouds and rain.
winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Unhappily, their arrival timed with a change of weather, which brought clouds and rain.
WoodruffnounUS /ˈwʊdrəf/
Old World fragrant stoloniferous perennial having small white flowers and narrow leaves used as flavoring and in sachets; widely cultivated as a ground cover; in some classifications placed in genus Asperula
From this reading When Mary Woodruff unlocked the house-door and entered the little hall, it smelt and felt as though the damp and sooty fogs of winter still lingered here, untouched by the July warmth.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading For a few days there would be no servant; Mary, after her long leisure down in Cornwall, enjoyed the prospect of doing all the work herself.
