adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading An odour of coffee hung in the air.
alternatingadjectiveUS /ˈɔːltərneɪtɪŋ/
(of a current) reversing direction
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
AndeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An odour of coffee hung in the air.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lydia sat packing cold hominy in empty baking-powder tins; to be sliced and fried for the noon meal.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Belle was scraping burned toast at the sink, the flying, sooty particles clinging to wet surfaces everywhere.
baking-powder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lydia sat packing cold hominy in empty baking-powder tins; to be sliced and fried for the noon meal.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Lydia sat packing cold hominy in empty baking-powder tins; to be sliced and fried for the noon meal.
BellenounUS /bel/
a young woman who is the most charming and beautiful of several rivals
From this reading Belle was scraping burned toast at the sink, the flying, sooty particles clinging to wet surfaces everywhere.
breadnounUS /bred/
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
breakfastverbUS /ˈbrekfəst/
eat an early morning meal
From this reading The next morning, when the younger girls came down to breakfast, they found only the three women in the kitchen.
burnedadjectiveUS /bɜːrnd/
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading Belle was scraping burned toast at the sink, the flying, sooty particles clinging to wet surfaces everywhere.
butteredverbUS /ˈbʌtərd/
past form of “butter” — spread butter on
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The next morning, when the younger girls came down to breakfast, they found only the three women in the kitchen.
clingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading Belle was scraping burned toast at the sink, the flying, sooty particles clinging to wet surfaces everywhere.
coffeenounUS /ˈkɑːfi/
a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
From this reading An odour of coffee hung in the air.
coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading Lydia sat packing cold hominy in empty baking-powder tins; to be sliced and fried for the noon meal.
cupnounUS /kʌp/
a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
diningnounUS /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/
the act of eating dinner
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The next morning, when the younger girls came down to breakfast, they found only the three women in the kitchen.
emptyverbUS /ˈempti/
make void or empty of contents
From this reading Lydia sat packing cold hominy in empty baking-powder tins; to be sliced and fried for the noon meal.
everywhereadverbUS /ˈevriwer/
to or in any or all places
From this reading Belle was scraping burned toast at the sink, the flying, sooty particles clinging to wet surfaces everywhere.
flyingadjectiveUS /ˈflaɪɪŋ/
moving swiftly
From this reading Belle was scraping burned toast at the sink, the flying, sooty particles clinging to wet surfaces everywhere.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Lydia sat packing cold hominy in empty baking-powder tins; to be sliced and fried for the noon meal.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading The next morning, when the younger girls came down to breakfast, they found only the three women in the kitchen.
friedadjectiveUS /fraɪd/
cooked by frying in fat
From this reading Lydia sat packing cold hominy in empty baking-powder tins; to be sliced and fried for the noon meal.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The next morning, when the younger girls came down to breakfast, they found only the three women in the kitchen.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
hominynounUS /ˈhɑːmɪni/
hulled corn with the bran and germ removed
From this reading Lydia sat packing cold hominy in empty baking-powder tins; to be sliced and fried for the noon meal.
hotadjectiveUS /hɑːt/
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
hungverbUS /hʌŋ/
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading An odour of coffee hung in the air.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The next morning, when the younger girls came down to breakfast, they found only the three women in the kitchen.
indifferentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfrənt/
marked by a lack of interest
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
informaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrməl/
not formal
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
kitchennounUS /ˈkɪtʃən/
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading The next morning, when the younger girls came down to breakfast, they found only the three women in the kitchen.
LydianounUS /ˈlɪdiə/
an ancient region on the coast of western Asia Minor; a powerful kingdom until conquered by the Persians in 546 BC
From this reading Lydia sat packing cold hominy in empty baking-powder tins; to be sliced and fried for the noon meal.
mealnounUS /miːl/
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading Lydia sat packing cold hominy in empty baking-powder tins; to be sliced and fried for the noon meal.
MonroenounUS /mənˈroʊ/
United States film actress noted for sex appeal (1926-1962)
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The next morning, when the younger girls came down to breakfast, they found only the three women in the kitchen.
mouthfuls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next morning, when the younger girls came down to breakfast, they found only the three women in the kitchen.
noonnounUS /nuːn/
the middle of the day
From this reading Lydia sat packing cold hominy in empty baking-powder tins; to be sliced and fried for the noon meal.
odournounUS /ˈoʊdər/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading An odour of coffee hung in the air.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An odour of coffee hung in the air.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading The next morning, when the younger girls came down to breakfast, they found only the three women in the kitchen.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
packingnounUS /ˈpækɪŋ/
any material used especially to protect something
From this reading Lydia sat packing cold hominy in empty baking-powder tins; to be sliced and fried for the noon meal.
particlesnounUS /ˈpɑːrtəkəlz/
plural of “particle” — (nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything
From this reading Belle was scraping burned toast at the sink, the flying, sooty particles clinging to wet surfaces everywhere.
preferringverbUS /prɪˈfɜːrɪŋ/
inflected form of “prefer” — like better; value more highly
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Lydia sat packing cold hominy in empty baking-powder tins; to be sliced and fried for the noon meal.
saucerless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
scrapingnounUS /ˈskreɪpɪŋ/
(usually plural) a fragment scraped off of something and collected
From this reading Belle was scraping burned toast at the sink, the flying, sooty particles clinging to wet surfaces everywhere.
sinkverbUS /sɪŋk/
fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading Belle was scraping burned toast at the sink, the flying, sooty particles clinging to wet surfaces everywhere.
slicedadjectiveUS /slaɪst/
prepared by cutting
From this reading Lydia sat packing cold hominy in empty baking-powder tins; to be sliced and fried for the noon meal.
societynounUS /səˈsaɪəti/
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
sootyadjectiveUS /ˈsuːti/
of the blackest black; similar to the color of jet or coal
From this reading Belle was scraping burned toast at the sink, the flying, sooty particles clinging to wet surfaces everywhere.
standingadjectiveUS /ˈstændɪŋ/
having a supporting base
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
surfacesnounUS /ˈsɜːrfəsəz/
plural of “surface” — the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Belle was scraping burned toast at the sink, the flying, sooty particles clinging to wet surfaces everywhere.
swallowsnounUS /ˈswɑːloʊz/
plural of “swallow” — a small amount of liquid food
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
tablenounUS /ˈteɪbəl/
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The next morning, when the younger girls came down to breakfast, they found only the three women in the kitchen.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The next morning, when the younger girls came down to breakfast, they found only the three women in the kitchen.
threenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The next morning, when the younger girls came down to breakfast, they found only the three women in the kitchen.
tinsnounUS /tɪnz/
plural of “tin” — a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
From this reading Lydia sat packing cold hominy in empty baking-powder tins; to be sliced and fried for the noon meal.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The next morning, when the younger girls came down to breakfast, they found only the three women in the kitchen.
toastverbUS /toʊst/
make brown and crisp by heating
From this reading Belle was scraping burned toast at the sink, the flying, sooty particles clinging to wet surfaces everywhere.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Belle was scraping burned toast at the sink, the flying, sooty particles clinging to wet surfaces everywhere.
wetadjectiveUS /wet/
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading Belle was scraping burned toast at the sink, the flying, sooty particles clinging to wet surfaces everywhere.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The next morning, when the younger girls came down to breakfast, they found only the three women in the kitchen.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mrs. Monroe, preferring an informal kitchen breakfast to her own society in the dining room, was standing by the kitchen table, alternating swallows from a saucerless cup of hot coffee with indifferent mouthfuls of buttered cold bread.
womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The next morning, when the younger girls came down to breakfast, they found only the three women in the kitchen.
youngeradjectiveUS /ˈjʌŋɡər/
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading The next morning, when the younger girls came down to breakfast, they found only the three women in the kitchen.
