adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
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 Billy feared if she did not mail the letter at once she would not have the courage to mail it at all.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then there came to her the memory of Bertram's face as it had looked the night before when she had asked him if she were the cause of his being troubled.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Then there came to her the memory of Bertram's face as it had looked the night before when she had asked him if she were the cause of his being troubled.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Billy feared if she did not mail the letter at once she would not have the courage to mail it at all.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
awokeverbUS /əˈwoʊk/
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Then there came to her the memory of Bertram's face as it had looked the night before when she had asked him if she were the cause of his being troubled.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Then there came to her the memory of Bertram's face as it had looked the night before when she had asked him if she were the cause of his being troubled.
Bertram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one wild minute Billy felt that she must run to the telephone, summon Bertram, and beseech him to return unread the letter he would receive from her that day.
Bertram's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there came to her the memory of Bertram's face as it had looked the night before when she had asked him if she were the cause of his being troubled.
beseechverbUS /biˈsiːtʃ/
ask for or request earnestly
From this reading For one wild minute Billy felt that she must run to the telephone, summon Bertram, and beseech him to return unread the letter he would receive from her that day.
BillynounUS /ˈbɪli/
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading Billy feared if she did not mail the letter at once she would not have the courage to mail it at all.
boxnounUS /bɑːks/
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
causenounUS /kɑːz/
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading Then there came to her the memory of Bertram's face as it had looked the night before when she had asked him if she were the cause of his being troubled.
consciousnessnounUS /ˈkɑːnʃəsnəs/
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
couragenounUS /ˈkɜːrədʒ/
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading Billy feared if she did not mail the letter at once she would not have the courage to mail it at all.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading For one wild minute Billy felt that she must run to the telephone, summon Bertram, and beseech him to return unread the letter he would receive from her that day.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Billy feared if she did not mail the letter at once she would not have the courage to mail it at all.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
down-stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Then there came to her the memory of Bertram's face as it had looked the night before when she had asked him if she were the cause of his being troubled.
fearedverbUS /fɪrd/
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Billy feared if she did not mail the letter at once she would not have the courage to mail it at all.
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading For one wild minute Billy felt that she must run to the telephone, summon Bertram, and beseech him to return unread the letter he would receive from her that day.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For one wild minute Billy felt that she must run to the telephone, summon Bertram, and beseech him to return unread the letter he would receive from her that day.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
hangingnounUS /ˈhæŋɪŋ/
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Billy feared if she did not mail the letter at once she would not have the courage to mail it at all.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For one wild minute Billy felt that she must run to the telephone, summon Bertram, and beseech him to return unread the letter he would receive from her that day.
heavy-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For one wild minute Billy felt that she must run to the telephone, summon Bertram, and beseech him to return unread the letter he would receive from her that day.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then there came to her the memory of Bertram's face as it had looked the night before when she had asked him if she were the cause of his being troubled.
horrornounUS /ˈhɔːrər/
intense and profound fear
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Billy feared if she did not mail the letter at once she would not have the courage to mail it at all.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Billy feared if she did not mail the letter at once she would not have the courage to mail it at all.
letternounUS /ˈletər/
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading Billy feared if she did not mail the letter at once she would not have the courage to mail it at all.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
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 So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Then there came to her the memory of Bertram's face as it had looked the night before when she had asked him if she were the cause of his being troubled.
mailnounUS /meɪl/
the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
From this reading Billy feared if she did not mail the letter at once she would not have the courage to mail it at all.
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading Then there came to her the memory of Bertram's face as it had looked the night before when she had asked him if she were the cause of his being troubled.
minutenounUS /ˈmɪnət/
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading For one wild minute Billy felt that she must run to the telephone, summon Bertram, and beseech him to return unread the letter he would receive from her that day.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading For one wild minute Billy felt that she must run to the telephone, summon Bertram, and beseech him to return unread the letter he would receive from her that day.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Then there came to her the memory of Bertram's face as it had looked the night before when she had asked him if she were the cause of his being troubled.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Billy feared if she did not mail the letter at once she would not have the courage to mail it at all.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading Billy feared if she did not mail the letter at once she would not have the courage to mail it at all.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For one wild minute Billy felt that she must run to the telephone, summon Bertram, and beseech him to return unread the letter he would receive from her that day.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
postverbUS /poʊst/
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
quietlyadverbUS /ˈkwaɪətli/
with low volume
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
receiveverbUS /rəˈsiːv/
get something; come into possession of
From this reading For one wild minute Billy felt that she must run to the telephone, summon Bertram, and beseech him to return unread the letter he would receive from her that day.
returnverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrn/
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading For one wild minute Billy felt that she must run to the telephone, summon Bertram, and beseech him to return unread the letter he would receive from her that day.
runverbUS /rʌn/
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading For one wild minute Billy felt that she must run to the telephone, summon Bertram, and beseech him to return unread the letter he would receive from her that day.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Billy feared if she did not mail the letter at once she would not have the courage to mail it at all.
sickeningadjectiveUS /ˈsɪkənɪŋ/
causing or able to cause nausea
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
sleepnounUS /sliːp/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
slippedverbUS /slɪpt/
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
sobbedverbUS /sɑːbd/
inflected form of “sob” — weep convulsively
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
streetnounUS /striːt/
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
summonverbUS /ˈsʌmən/
call in an official matter, such as to attend court
From this reading For one wild minute Billy felt that she must run to the telephone, summon Bertram, and beseech him to return unread the letter he would receive from her that day.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading For one wild minute Billy felt that she must run to the telephone, summon Bertram, and beseech him to return unread the letter he would receive from her that day.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Billy feared if she did not mail the letter at once she would not have the courage to mail it at all.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Billy feared if she did not mail the letter at once she would not have the courage to mail it at all.
troubledadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌbəld/
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading Then there came to her the memory of Bertram's face as it had looked the night before when she had asked him if she were the cause of his being troubled.
unreadadjectiveUS /ənˈred/
not informed through reading
From this reading For one wild minute Billy felt that she must run to the telephone, summon Bertram, and beseech him to return unread the letter he would receive from her that day.
unrested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
vagueadjectiveUS /veɪɡ/
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Then there came to her the memory of Bertram's face as it had looked the night before when she had asked him if she were the cause of his being troubled.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When she awoke in the morning, heavy-eyed and unrested, there came to her first the vague horror of some shadow hanging over her, then the sickening consciousness of what that shadow was.
wildadjectiveUS /waɪld/
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading For one wild minute Billy felt that she must run to the telephone, summon Bertram, and beseech him to return unread the letter he would receive from her that day.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Billy feared if she did not mail the letter at once she would not have the courage to mail it at all.
wretchedness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So she slipped down-stairs very quietly and went herself to the post box a little way down the street; then she came back and sobbed herself to sleep--though not until after she had sobbed awake for long hours of wretchedness.
