adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
AiryadjectiveUS /ˈeri/
open to or abounding in fresh air
From this reading The volume Missy chanced first to select for reading was entitled “Airy Fairy Lilian.”
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 The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
apartmentnounUS /əˈpɑːrtmənt/
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
arrestingadjectiveUS /ərˈestɪŋ/
commanding attention
From this reading The very first paragraph was arresting:
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Down the broad oak staircase--through the silent hall--into the drawing-room runs Lilian, singing as she goes.
atticnounUS /ˈætɪk/
floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
blindsnounUS /blaɪndz/
plural of “blind” — people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
broadadjectiveUS /brɔːd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Down the broad oak staircase--through the silent hall--into the drawing-room runs Lilian, singing as she goes.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
chancedverbUS /tʃænst/
past form of “chance” — be the case by chance
From this reading The volume Missy chanced first to select for reading was entitled “Airy Fairy Lilian.”
comfortableadjectiveUS /ˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
desertedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
DownadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Down the broad oak staircase--through the silent hall--into the drawing-room runs Lilian, singing as she goes.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the broad oak staircase--through the silent hall--into the drawing-room runs Lilian, singing as she goes.
DuchessnounUS /ˈdʌtʃəs/
the wife of a duke or a woman holding ducal title in her own right
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
dulladjectiveUS /dʌl/
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
entitledadjectiveUS /enˈtaɪtəld/
qualified for by right according to law
From this reading The volume Missy chanced first to select for reading was entitled “Airy Fairy Lilian.”
FairynounUS /ˈferi/
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading The volume Missy chanced first to select for reading was entitled “Airy Fairy Lilian.”
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The volume Missy chanced first to select for reading was entitled “Airy Fairy Lilian.”
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The volume Missy chanced first to select for reading was entitled “Airy Fairy Lilian.”
gentleadjectiveUS /ˈdʒentəl/
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
gladadjectiveUS /ɡlæd/
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
goesnounUS /ɡoʊz/
plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
From this reading Down the broad oak staircase--through the silent hall--into the drawing-room runs Lilian, singing as she goes.
goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/
coins made of gold
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
half-closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
hallnounUS /hɔːl/
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Down the broad oak staircase--through the silent hall--into the drawing-room runs Lilian, singing as she goes.
handsomeadjectiveUS /ˈhænsəm/
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
heapnounUS /hiːp/
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
heavenlyadjectiveUS /ˈhevənli/
relating to or inhabiting a divine heaven
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Down the broad oak staircase--through the silent hall--into the drawing-room runs Lilian, singing as she goes.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
Lilian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The volume Missy chanced first to select for reading was entitled “Airy Fairy Lilian.”
lingersverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡərz/
third-person singular of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
magazinesnounUS /ˈmæɡəziːnz/
plural of “magazine” — a periodic publication containing pictures and stories and articles of interest to those who purchase it or subscribe to it
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
masterpiecesnounUS /ˈmæstərpiːsəz/
plural of “masterpiece” — the most outstanding work of a creative artist or craftsman
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
MissynounUS /ˈmɪsi/
a young female
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
nearadverbUS /nɪr/
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
oaknounUS /oʊk/
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading Down the broad oak staircase--through the silent hall--into the drawing-room runs Lilian, singing as she goes.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
paper-backed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
paragraphnounUS /ˈpærəɡræf/
one of several distinct subdivisions of a text intended to separate ideas; the beginning is usually marked by a new indented line
From this reading The very first paragraph was arresting:
rainnounUS /reɪn/
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
rainingadjectiveUS /ˈreɪnɪŋ/
falling in drops or as if falling like rain
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
readingnounUS /ˈriːdɪŋ/
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading The volume Missy chanced first to select for reading was entitled “Airy Fairy Lilian.”
renderingnounUS /ˈrendərɪŋ/
a performance of a musical composition or a dramatic role etc.
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
runsnounUS /rʌnz/
plural of “run” — a score in baseball made by a runner touching all four bases safely
From this reading Down the broad oak staircase--through the silent hall--into the drawing-room runs Lilian, singing as she goes.
rushingnounUS /ˈrʌʃɪŋ/
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
selectadjectiveUS /səˈlekt/
of superior grade
From this reading The volume Missy chanced first to select for reading was entitled “Airy Fairy Lilian.”
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Down the broad oak staircase--through the silent hall--into the drawing-room runs Lilian, singing as she goes.
silentadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənt/
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Down the broad oak staircase--through the silent hall--into the drawing-room runs Lilian, singing as she goes.
singingnounUS /ˈsɪŋɪŋ/
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading Down the broad oak staircase--through the silent hall--into the drawing-room runs Lilian, singing as she goes.
softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
staircasenounUS /ˈsterkeɪs/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading Down the broad oak staircase--through the silent hall--into the drawing-room runs Lilian, singing as she goes.
summernounUS /ˈsʌmər/
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
sunshinenounUS /ˈsʌnʃaɪn/
the rays of the sun
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
Tess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Down the broad oak staircase--through the silent hall--into the drawing-room runs Lilian, singing as she goes.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The volume Missy chanced first to select for reading was entitled “Airy Fairy Lilian.”
touchverbUS /tʌtʃ/
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
tricklingverbUS /ˈtrɪklɪŋ/
-ing form of “trickle” — run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
turningnounUS /ˈtɜːrnɪŋ/
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading The very first paragraph was arresting:
volumenounUS /ˈvɑːljuːm/
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading The volume Missy chanced first to select for reading was entitled “Airy Fairy Lilian.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The room is deserted; through the half-closed blinds the glad sunshine is rushing, turning to gold all on which its soft touch lingers, and rendering the large, dull, handsome apartment almost comfortable...
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading It was raining--a gentle, trickling summer rain, when, under a heap of magazines near a heavenly attic window, Missy and Tess came upon the paper-backed masterpieces of “The Duchess.”
