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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 Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next morning the sun shone, and Mercy was herself again.
almost
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From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The next morning the sun shone, and Mercy was herself again.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "As if it made any sort of difference to mother and to me whether he were our friend or not.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
blushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She blushed to think of her unreasonable sensitiveness to the words and tones of Stephen White.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading He can do as he likes.
causeless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
depression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
difference
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "As if it made any sort of difference to mother and to me whether he were our friend or not.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He can do as he likes.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "As if it made any sort of difference to mother and to me whether he were our friend or not.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "As if it made any sort of difference to mother and to me whether he were our friend or not.
HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The next morning the sun shone, and Mercy was herself again.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "As if it made any sort of difference to mother and to me whether he were our friend or not.
inexplicablenounUS /inexplicable/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
insanity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
likes
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From this reading He can do as he likes.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "As if it made any sort of difference to mother and to me whether he were our friend or not.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "As if it made any sort of difference to mother and to me whether he were our friend or not.
Mercy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning the sun shone, and Mercy was herself again.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next morning the sun shone, and Mercy was herself again.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "As if it made any sort of difference to mother and to me whether he were our friend or not.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next morning the sun shone, and Mercy was herself again.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "As if it made any sort of difference to mother and to me whether he were our friend or not.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "As if it made any sort of difference to mother and to me whether he were our friend or not.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "As if it made any sort of difference to mother and to me whether he were our friend or not.
recalled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
sensitiveness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She blushed to think of her unreasonable sensitiveness to the words and tones of Stephen White.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
shone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning the sun shone, and Mercy was herself again.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "As if it made any sort of difference to mother and to me whether he were our friend or not.
Stephen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She blushed to think of her unreasonable sensitiveness to the words and tones of Stephen White.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning the sun shone, and Mercy was herself again.
temporary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
terror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
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 the sun shone, and Mercy was herself again.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She blushed to think of her unreasonable sensitiveness to the words and tones of Stephen White.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
tones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She blushed to think of her unreasonable sensitiveness to the words and tones of Stephen White.
unreasonable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She blushed to think of her unreasonable sensitiveness to the words and tones of Stephen White.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The next morning the sun shone, and Mercy was herself again.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "As if it made any sort of difference to mother and to me whether he were our friend or not.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading "As if it made any sort of difference to mother and to me whether he were our friend or not.
White
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She blushed to think of her unreasonable sensitiveness to the words and tones of Stephen White.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her depression of the evening before seemed to her so causeless, so inexplicable, that she recalled it almost with terror, as one might a temporary insanity.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She blushed to think of her unreasonable sensitiveness to the words and tones of Stephen White.