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 a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
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 It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His wife greeted the girl warmly, and Corson was glad to see her.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In the first place, when she reached the little farm on the island in the tamarack swamp, old Toby Vanderwiller was not at home.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading When Nan spread the check before him and told him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the crippled boy was delighted.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
boynounUS /bɔɪ/
a youthful male person
From this reading When Nan spread the check before him and told him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the crippled boy was delighted.
buyverbUS /baɪ/
obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
cashedadjectiveUS /kæʃt/
for which money has been paid
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
catalogueverbUS /ˈkætəlɔːɡ/
make an itemized list or catalog of; classify
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
checkverbUS /tʃek/
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading When Nan spread the check before him and told him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the crippled boy was delighted.
commissionedadjectiveUS /kəˈmɪʃənd/
(of military officers) holding by virtue of a commission a rank of second lieutenant or ensign or above
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
Corson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His wife greeted the girl warmly, and Corson was glad to see her.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When Nan spread the check before him and told him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the crippled boy was delighted.
crippledadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪpəld/
disabled in the feet or legs
From this reading When Nan spread the check before him and told him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the crippled boy was delighted.
deadadjectiveUS /ded/
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Nan, however, did not mention to Toby the haze rising from the dead tree.
delightedadjectiveUS /dɪˈlaɪtəd/
greatly pleased
From this reading When Nan spread the check before him and told him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the crippled boy was delighted.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Nan, however, did not mention to Toby the haze rising from the dead tree.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading When Nan spread the check before him and told him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the crippled boy was delighted.
dressverbUS /dres/
put on clothes
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
farmverbUS /fɑːrm/
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading In the first place, when she reached the little farm on the island in the tamarack swamp, old Toby Vanderwiller was not at home.
findverbUS /faɪnd/
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In the first place, when she reached the little farm on the island in the tamarack swamp, old Toby Vanderwiller was not at home.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When Nan spread the check before him and told him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the crippled boy was delighted.
ForksnounUS /fɔːrks/
plural of “fork” — cutlery used for serving and eating food
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Nan, however, did not mention to Toby the haze rising from the dead tree.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/
a young female
From this reading His wife greeted the girl warmly, and Corson was glad to see her.
gladadjectiveUS /ɡlæd/
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading His wife greeted the girl warmly, and Corson was glad to see her.
goodsnounUS /ɡʊdz/
plural of “good” — benefit
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
grandmothernounUS /ˈɡrændmʌðər/
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
greetedverbUS /ˈɡriːtəd/
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading His wife greeted the girl warmly, and Corson was glad to see her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
hazenounUS /heɪz/
atmospheric moisture or dust or smoke that causes reduced visibility
From this reading Nan, however, did not mention to Toby the haze rising from the dead tree.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Nan spread the check before him and told him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the crippled boy was delighted.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading His wife greeted the girl warmly, and Corson was glad to see her.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Nan spread the check before him and told him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the crippled boy was delighted.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His wife greeted the girl warmly, and Corson was glad to see her.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading In the first place, when she reached the little farm on the island in the tamarack swamp, old Toby Vanderwiller was not at home.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Nan, however, did not mention to Toby the haze rising from the dead tree.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the first place, when she reached the little farm on the island in the tamarack swamp, old Toby Vanderwiller was not at home.
islandnounUS /ˈaɪlənd/
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading In the first place, when she reached the little farm on the island in the tamarack swamp, old Toby Vanderwiller was not at home.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When Nan spread the check before him and told him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the crippled boy was delighted.
knewverbUS /nuː/
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In the first place, when she reached the little farm on the island in the tamarack swamp, old Toby Vanderwiller was not at home.
localadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkəl/
relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
longedverbUS /lɔːŋd/
past form of “long” — desire strongly or persistently
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
marriedadjectiveUS /ˈmerid/
joined in matrimony
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
mentionverbUS /ˈmenʃən/
make reference to
From this reading Nan, however, did not mention to Toby the haze rising from the dead tree.
moneynounUS /ˈmʌni/
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading When Nan spread the check before him and told him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the crippled boy was delighted.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading When Nan spread the check before him and told him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the crippled boy was delighted.
NannounUS /næn/
your grandmother
From this reading Nan, however, did not mention to Toby the haze rising from the dead tree.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Nan, however, did not mention to Toby the haze rising from the dead tree.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading In the first place, when she reached the little farm on the island in the tamarack swamp, old Toby Vanderwiller was not at home.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the first place, when she reached the little farm on the island in the tamarack swamp, old Toby Vanderwiller was not at home.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
patternnounUS /ˈpætərn/
a perceptual structure
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
piecenounUS /piːs/
a separate part of a whole
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading In the first place, when she reached the little farm on the island in the tamarack swamp, old Toby Vanderwiller was not at home.
reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading In the first place, when she reached the little farm on the island in the tamarack swamp, old Toby Vanderwiller was not at home.
risingadjectiveUS /ˈraɪzɪŋ/
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Nan, however, did not mention to Toby the haze rising from the dead tree.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading His wife greeted the girl warmly, and Corson was glad to see her.
sendverbUS /send/
cause to go somewhere
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the first place, when she reached the little farm on the island in the tamarack swamp, old Toby Vanderwiller was not at home.
silknounUS /sɪlk/
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading When Nan spread the check before him and told him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the crippled boy was delighted.
spreadverbUS /spred/
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading When Nan spread the check before him and told him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the crippled boy was delighted.
storesnounUS /stɔːrz/
plural of “store” — a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
suitableadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtəbəl/
meant or adapted for an occasion or use
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
swampverbUS /swɑːmp/
drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged
From this reading In the first place, when she reached the little farm on the island in the tamarack swamp, old Toby Vanderwiller was not at home.
tamaracknoun
medium-sized larch of Canada and northern United States including Alaska having a broad conic crown and rust-brown scaly bark
From this reading In the first place, when she reached the little farm on the island in the tamarack swamp, old Toby Vanderwiller was not at home.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Nan, however, did not mention to Toby the haze rising from the dead tree.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It was a secret between them that the grandmother was to have the black silk dress that she had longed for all her married life; only Nan and Corson knew that Nan was commissioned to get the check cashed and buy the dress pattern at the Forks; or send to a catalogue house for it if she could not find a suitable piece of goods at any of the local stores.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nan, however, did not mention to Toby the haze rising from the dead tree.
TobynounUS /ˈtoʊbi/
a drinking mug in the shape of a stout man wearing a three-cornered hat
From this reading Nan, however, did not mention to Toby the haze rising from the dead tree.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading When Nan spread the check before him and told him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the crippled boy was delighted.
treenounUS /triː/
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Nan, however, did not mention to Toby the haze rising from the dead tree.
Vanderwiller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, when she reached the little farm on the island in the tamarack swamp, old Toby Vanderwiller was not at home.
warmlyadverbUS /ˈwɔːrmli/
in a hearty manner
From this reading His wife greeted the girl warmly, and Corson was glad to see her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the first place, when she reached the little farm on the island in the tamarack swamp, old Toby Vanderwiller was not at home.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading When Nan spread the check before him and told him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the crippled boy was delighted.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading In the first place, when she reached the little farm on the island in the tamarack swamp, old Toby Vanderwiller was not at home.
wifenounUS /waɪf/
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading His wife greeted the girl warmly, and Corson was glad to see her.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading When Nan spread the check before him and told him what it was for, and what he could do with so much money, the crippled boy was delighted.
