adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
accustomedadjectiveUS /əˈkʌstəmd/
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
actuallyadverbUS /ˈæktʃuːəli/
in actual fact
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
Allison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
Allison's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It had appeared and been duly solved in the space of half an hour.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It had appeared and been duly solved in the space of half an hour.
angelnounUS /ˈeɪndʒəl/
spiritual being attendant upon God
From this reading She had been his good angel for more than thirty years.
appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It had appeared and been duly solved in the space of half an hour.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had appeared and been duly solved in the space of half an hour.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
changeverbUS /tʃeɪndʒ/
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
channelnounUS /ˈtʃænəl/
a path over which electrical signals can pass
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
confrontedverbUS /kənˈfrʌntəd/
past form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading He was deeply grateful to Francesca for her solution of the problem that confronted him.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
deeplyadverbUS /ˈdiːpli/
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading He was deeply grateful to Francesca for her solution of the problem that confronted him.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
dulyadverbUS /ˈduːli/
in accordance with what is appropriate or suitable for the circumstances
From this reading It had appeared and been duly solved in the space of half an hour.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was deeply grateful to Francesca for her solution of the problem that confronted him.
Francesca
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was deeply grateful to Francesca for her solution of the problem that confronted him.
gatenounUS /ɡeɪt/
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading She had been his good angel for more than thirty years.
gratefuladjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪtfəl/
feeling or showing gratitude
From this reading He was deeply grateful to Francesca for her solution of the problem that confronted him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had appeared and been duly solved in the space of half an hour.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading It had appeared and been duly solved in the space of half an hour.
happieradjectiveUS /ˈhæpiər/
comparative of “happy” — enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was deeply grateful to Francesca for her solution of the problem that confronted him.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He was deeply grateful to Francesca for her solution of the problem that confronted him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was deeply grateful to Francesca for her solution of the problem that confronted him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She had been his good angel for more than thirty years.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It had appeared and been duly solved in the space of half an hour.
hummingnounUS /ˈhʌmɪŋ/
a humming noise
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It had appeared and been duly solved in the space of half an hour.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had appeared and been duly solved in the space of half an hour.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
liveverbUS /laɪv/
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
lonelyadjectiveUS /ˈloʊnli/
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
midnightnounUS /ˈmɪdnaɪt/
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She had been his good angel for more than thirty years.
nearadverbUS /nɪr/
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was deeply grateful to Francesca for her solution of the problem that confronted him.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
pleasantadjectiveUS /ˈplezənt/
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
problemnounUS /ˈprɑːbləm/
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading He was deeply grateful to Francesca for her solution of the problem that confronted him.
roadnounUS /roʊd/
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had been his good angel for more than thirty years.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
solutionnounUS /səˈluːʃən/
a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances; frequently (but not necessarily) a liquid solution
From this reading He was deeply grateful to Francesca for her solution of the problem that confronted him.
solvedadjectiveUS /sɑːlvd/
explained or answered
From this reading It had appeared and been duly solved in the space of half an hour.
songnounUS /sɔːŋ/
a short musical composition with words
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
spacenounUS /speɪs/
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading It had appeared and been duly solved in the space of half an hour.
stepnounUS /step/
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She had been his good angel for more than thirty years.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was deeply grateful to Francesca for her solution of the problem that confronted him.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was deeply grateful to Francesca for her solution of the problem that confronted him.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
thirtynounUS /ˈθɜːrdiː/
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading She had been his good angel for more than thirty years.
thoughtsnounUS /θɔːts/
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was deeply grateful to Francesca for her solution of the problem that confronted him.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was deeply grateful to Francesca for her solution of the problem that confronted him.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading So his thoughts drifted into a happier channel and he was actually humming an old song to himself when he heard Allison's step, almost at midnight, on the road just beyond the gate.
whynounUS /waɪ/
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It might be very pleasant to live there, after he became accustomed to the change, and with Allison so near--why, he couldn't be half as lonely as he was now.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading She had been his good angel for more than thirty years.
