adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Long after nightfall the nurse heard her mistress rapidly pacing her room, and talking aloud to herself.
aloudadverbUS /əˈlaʊd/
using the voice; not silently
From this reading Long after nightfall the nurse heard her mistress rapidly pacing her room, and talking aloud to herself.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Long after nightfall the nurse heard her mistress rapidly pacing her room, and talking aloud to herself.
approachingnounUS /əˈproʊtʃɪŋ/
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading Breathless she stood, listening to the approaching footsteps, for she felt that they had to decide her future--the weal and woe of her children!
bailiffnounUS /ˈbeɪləf/
an officer of the court who is employed to execute writs and processes and make arrests etc.
From this reading Was it he, her beloved, the father of her children? or was it the king’s bailiff who had followed her, and came to seize her?
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
belovedadjectiveUS /bɪˈlʌvd/
dearly loved
From this reading Was it he, her beloved, the father of her children? or was it the king’s bailiff who had followed her, and came to seize her?
BreathlessadjectiveUS /ˈbreθləs/
not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty
From this reading Breathless she stood, listening to the approaching footsteps, for she felt that they had to decide her future--the weal and woe of her children!
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Wilhelmine heard them.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Was it he, her beloved, the father of her children? or was it the king’s bailiff who had followed her, and came to seize her?
carriagenounUS /ˈkærɪdʒ/
a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Breathless she stood, listening to the approaching footsteps, for she felt that they had to decide her future--the weal and woe of her children!
decideverbUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪd/
reach, make, or come to a decision about something
From this reading Breathless she stood, listening to the approaching footsteps, for she felt that they had to decide her future--the weal and woe of her children!
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Was it he, her beloved, the father of her children? or was it the king’s bailiff who had followed her, and came to seize her?
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Breathless she stood, listening to the approaching footsteps, for she felt that they had to decide her future--the weal and woe of her children!
followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Was it he, her beloved, the father of her children? or was it the king’s bailiff who had followed her, and came to seize her?
footstepsnounUS /ˈfʊtsteps/
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading Breathless she stood, listening to the approaching footsteps, for she felt that they had to decide her future--the weal and woe of her children!
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Breathless she stood, listening to the approaching footsteps, for she felt that they had to decide her future--the weal and woe of her children!
futureadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtʃər/
yet to be or coming
From this reading Breathless she stood, listening to the approaching footsteps, for she felt that they had to decide her future--the weal and woe of her children!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Breathless she stood, listening to the approaching footsteps, for she felt that they had to decide her future--the weal and woe of her children!
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Was it he, her beloved, the father of her children? or was it the king’s bailiff who had followed her, and came to seize her?
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Long after nightfall the nurse heard her mistress rapidly pacing her room, and talking aloud to herself.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Long after nightfall the nurse heard her mistress rapidly pacing her room, and talking aloud to herself.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Long after nightfall the nurse heard her mistress rapidly pacing her room, and talking aloud to herself.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Was it he, her beloved, the father of her children? or was it the king’s bailiff who had followed her, and came to seize her?
king'snounUS /kɪŋz/
possessive form of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading Was it he, her beloved, the father of her children? or was it the king’s bailiff who had followed her, and came to seize her?
listeningnounUS /ˈlɪsənɪŋ/
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading Breathless she stood, listening to the approaching footsteps, for she felt that they had to decide her future--the weal and woe of her children!
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 Long after nightfall the nurse heard her mistress rapidly pacing her room, and talking aloud to herself.
loudadjectiveUS /laʊd/
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
Louisa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
mistressnounUS /ˈmɪstrəs/
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading Long after nightfall the nurse heard her mistress rapidly pacing her room, and talking aloud to herself.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
mountingnounUS /ˈmaʊntɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
nightfallnounUS /ˈnaɪtfɔːl/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading Long after nightfall the nurse heard her mistress rapidly pacing her room, and talking aloud to herself.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
nurseverbUS /nɜːrs/
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading Long after nightfall the nurse heard her mistress rapidly pacing her room, and talking aloud to herself.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Was it he, her beloved, the father of her children? or was it the king’s bailiff who had followed her, and came to seize her?
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
pacingnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪŋ/
(music) the speed at which a composition is to be played
From this reading Long after nightfall the nurse heard her mistress rapidly pacing her room, and talking aloud to herself.
quickadjectiveUS /kwɪk/
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
rapidlyadverbUS /ˈræpədli/
with speed
From this reading Long after nightfall the nurse heard her mistress rapidly pacing her room, and talking aloud to herself.
rollingadjectiveUS /ˈroʊlɪŋ/
uttered with a trill
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Long after nightfall the nurse heard her mistress rapidly pacing her room, and talking aloud to herself.
seizeverbUS /siːz/
take hold of; grab
From this reading Was it he, her beloved, the father of her children? or was it the king’s bailiff who had followed her, and came to seize her?
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
SleepnounUS /sliːp/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
SoonadverbUS /suːn/
in the near future
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
soothingadjectiveUS /ˈsuːðɪŋ/
affording physical relief
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
spreadverbUS /spred/
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
stairsnounUS /sterz/
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
stepsnounUS /steps/
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Breathless she stood, listening to the approaching footsteps, for she felt that they had to decide her future--the weal and woe of her children!
stoppedadjectiveUS /stɑːpt/
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
talkingnounUS /ˈtɔːkɪŋ/
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading Long after nightfall the nurse heard her mistress rapidly pacing her room, and talking aloud to herself.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Breathless she stood, listening to the approaching footsteps, for she felt that they had to decide her future--the weal and woe of her children!
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Long after nightfall the nurse heard her mistress rapidly pacing her room, and talking aloud to herself.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But Wilhelmine heard them.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Breathless she stood, listening to the approaching footsteps, for she felt that they had to decide her future--the weal and woe of her children!
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Long after nightfall the nurse heard her mistress rapidly pacing her room, and talking aloud to herself.
vigorousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪɡərəs/
characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Was it he, her beloved, the father of her children? or was it the king’s bailiff who had followed her, and came to seize her?
wealnoun
a raised mark on the skin (as produced by the blow of a whip); characteristic of many allergic reactions
From this reading Breathless she stood, listening to the approaching footsteps, for she felt that they had to decide her future--the weal and woe of her children!
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Was it he, her beloved, the father of her children? or was it the king’s bailiff who had followed her, and came to seize her?
Wilhelmine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Wilhelmine heard them.
wingsnounUS /wɪŋz/
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading Soon, however, Sleep spread her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of a carriage which stopped before the door, and the quick, vigorous steps of a man mounting the stairs.
woenounUS /woʊ/
misery resulting from affliction
From this reading Breathless she stood, listening to the approaching footsteps, for she felt that they had to decide her future--the weal and woe of her children!
