adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
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 MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
bottomnounUS /ˈbɑːtəm/
the lower side of anything
From this reading Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.
Breen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
condemnedverbUS /kənˈdemd/
past form of “condemn” — express strong disapproval of
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
coursenounUS /kɔːrs/
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
deeperadverbUS /ˈdiːpər/
comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
descendedverbUS /dɪˈsendəd/
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
despairnounUS /dɪˈsper/
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
EachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
effortsnounUS /ˈefərts/
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
eldernounUS /ˈeldər/
a person who is older than you are
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
emotionsnounUS /ɪˈmoʊʃənz/
plural of “emotion” — any strong feeling
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
encouragementnounUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒmənt/
the expression of approval and support
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
futilitynounUS /fjuːˈtɪləti/
uselessness as a consequence of having no practical result
From this reading Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
JacknounUS /dʒæk/
a small worthless amount
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
MacFarlane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
openlyadverbUS /ˈoʊpənli/
in an open way
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
PeternounUS /ˈpiːtər/
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
Peter'snounUS /ˈpiːtərz/
possessive form of “peter” — disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
pitnounUS /pɪt/
A large hole in the ground, or an abyss of darkness and peril.
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
plungeverbUS /plʌndʒ/
thrust or throw into
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.
realizeverbUS /ˈriːəlaɪz/
be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading Before he reached the bottom he began to realize the futility of his efforts.
RuthnounUS /ruːθ/
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
scantadjectiveUS /skænt/
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
From this reading MacFarlane, the elder Breen, and now Peter, had all either openly condemned his course or had given it scant encouragement.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
stairsnounUS /sterz/
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
stepnounUS /step/
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
sweptadjectiveUS /swept/
possessing sweep
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
tellverbUS /tel/
express in words
From this reading There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Jack descended Peter's stairs one step at a time, Each seemed to plunge him the deeper into some pit of despair.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He began to realize, too, that both he and Ruth had been swept off their feet by their emotions.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was nothing to go new but go home and tell Ruth.
