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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "These are business hours, madam; I have no time to spare."
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "These are business hours, madam; I have no time to spare."
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The New Year had come.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
customary
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From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
despair
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From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
evidently
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From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
flight
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From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
Fontaine
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From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The New Year had come.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "These are business hours, madam; I have no time to spare."
heed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "These are business hours, madam; I have no time to spare."
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Pardon me," said the widow, "I must speak to you."
impenetrable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
January
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From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
looks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
madam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "These are business hours, madam; I have no time to spare."
Madame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Pardon me," said the widow, "I must speak to you."
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "Pardon me," said the widow, "I must speak to you."
New
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From this reading The New Year had come.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading "These are business hours, madam; I have no time to spare."
obstinately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
Pardon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Pardon me," said the widow, "I must speak to you."
paying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
petrifying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
possessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
purpose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
repeatednounUS /repeated/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
reply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Pardon me," said the widow, "I must speak to you."
say
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From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
slightest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
spare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "These are business hours, madam; I have no time to spare."
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Pardon me," said the widow, "I must speak to you."
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
stoppednounUS /stopped/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The New Year had come.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading "These are business hours, madam; I have no time to spare."
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "These are business hours, madam; I have no time to spare."
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
tones
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From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
Wagner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
widow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Pardon me," said the widow, "I must speak to you."
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading On the morning of the second of January, Mrs. Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour) was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.
WithoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without paying the slightest heed to this reply--impenetrable, in the petrifying despair that possessed her, to all that looks, tones, and words could say--Madame Fontaine stood her ground, and obstinately repeated, "I must speak to you."
Year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The New Year had come.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Pardon me," said the widow, "I must speak to you."
