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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 Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
almost
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From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
also
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From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
any
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From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
aroused
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From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
attractive
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From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
audacitynounUS /ɑːˈdæs.ə.t̬i/
A willingness to take bold risks; insolent and daring boldness that defies all authority.
From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
calculated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
carry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
consequently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
curiosity
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From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
dare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
daughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
Dundrannan
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From this reading The needlewoman, the _midinette_, the showcase girl, laughing at Lady Dundrannan!
evidently
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From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
fascinated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
FINEnounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
Frost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
Frosts
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From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
girl
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From this reading The needlewoman, the _midinette_, the showcase girl, laughing at Lady Dundrannan!
Godfrey's
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From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
incredulous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
judged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
Lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The needlewoman, the _midinette_, the showcase girl, laughing at Lady Dundrannan!
laughed
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From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
laughing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The needlewoman, the _midinette_, the showcase girl, laughing at Lady Dundrannan!
laughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
LINEN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
Lucinda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
Lucinda's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
midinette
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The needlewoman, the _midinette_, the showcase girl, laughing at Lady Dundrannan!
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
needlewoman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The needlewoman, the _midinette_, the showcase girl, laughing at Lady Dundrannan!
nephew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
Nina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
Perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
portentous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
PURPLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
ridiculous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
showcase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The needlewoman, the _midinette_, the showcase girl, laughing at Lady Dundrannan!
standards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
stirred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
sublime
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
supremely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
THATconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there it was.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judged by their standards, Lucinda’s laughter was ridiculous, but in Godfrey’s fascinated eyes also sublime: such a sublime audacity as only a supremely attractive woman dare and can carry.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PURPLE—AND FINE LINEN THAT Lucinda had once got the better of Nina had been the thing about her which most stirred Godfrey’s curiosity; that Lucinda now laughed at Nina evidently aroused in him an almost incredulous wonder.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Perhaps it was calculated to surprise any one; to a Frost it must have seemed portentous; for Frosts, father, daughter, and nephew, judged by what you did and, consequently, had, not by what you were.
