adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE blare of the circus band had been a sore temptation to Mandy Jones all afternoon and evening.
afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading THE blare of the circus band had been a sore temptation to Mandy Jones all afternoon and evening.
AgainadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading Again and again it had dragged her from her work to the study window, from which she could see the wonders so tantalisingly near.
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 blare of the circus band had been a sore temptation to Mandy Jones all afternoon and evening.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE blare of the circus band had been a sore temptation to Mandy Jones all afternoon and evening.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
bandnounUS /bænd/
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading THE blare of the circus band had been a sore temptation to Mandy Jones all afternoon and evening.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE blare of the circus band had been a sore temptation to Mandy Jones all afternoon and evening.
blareverbUS /bler/
make a strident sound
From this reading THE blare of the circus band had been a sore temptation to Mandy Jones all afternoon and evening.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
circusnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəs/
a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals
From this reading THE blare of the circus band had been a sore temptation to Mandy Jones all afternoon and evening.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading She had once dubbed him Hasty, in a spirit of derision, and the name had clung to him.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Again and again it had dragged her from her work to the study window, from which she could see the wonders so tantalisingly near.
curiositynounUS /ˌkjʊriˈɑːsəti/
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading And yet, in spite of her own curiosity, she could not forgive her vagrant “worse half,” Hasty, who had been lured from duty early in the day.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading And yet, in spite of her own curiosity, she could not forgive her vagrant “worse half,” Hasty, who had been lured from duty early in the day.
derisionnounUS /dərˈɪʒən/
contemptuous laughter
From this reading She had once dubbed him Hasty, in a spirit of derision, and the name had clung to him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
DouglasnounUS /ˈdʌɡləs/
United States politician who proposed that individual territories be allowed to decide whether they would have slavery; he engaged in a famous series of debates with Abraham Lincoln (1813-1861)
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
draggedverbUS /dræɡd/
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading Again and again it had dragged her from her work to the study window, from which she could see the wonders so tantalisingly near.
dubbedverbUS /dʌbd/
inflected form of “dub” — give a nickname to
From this reading She had once dubbed him Hasty, in a spirit of derision, and the name had clung to him.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading And yet, in spite of her own curiosity, she could not forgive her vagrant “worse half,” Hasty, who had been lured from duty early in the day.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading And yet, in spite of her own curiosity, she could not forgive her vagrant “worse half,” Hasty, who had been lured from duty early in the day.
elephantsnounUS /ˈeləfənts/
plural of “elephant” — five-toed pachyderm
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading THE blare of the circus band had been a sore temptation to Mandy Jones all afternoon and evening.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
forgiveverbUS /fərˈɡɪv/
stop blaming or grant forgiveness
From this reading And yet, in spite of her own curiosity, she could not forgive her vagrant “worse half,” Hasty, who had been lured from duty early in the day.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Again and again it had dragged her from her work to the study window, from which she could see the wonders so tantalisingly near.
giraffesnounUS /dʒərˈæfs/
plural of “giraffe” — tallest living quadruped; having a spotted coat and small horns and very long neck and legs; of savannahs of tropical Africa
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE blare of the circus band had been a sore temptation to Mandy Jones all afternoon and evening.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading And yet, in spite of her own curiosity, she could not forgive her vagrant “worse half,” Hasty, who had been lured from duty early in the day.
HastyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪsti/
excessively quick
From this reading And yet, in spite of her own curiosity, she could not forgive her vagrant “worse half,” Hasty, who had been lured from duty early in the day.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Again and again it had dragged her from her work to the study window, from which she could see the wonders so tantalisingly near.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She had once dubbed him Hasty, in a spirit of derision, and the name had clung to him.
housekeepernounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpər/
a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Again and again it had dragged her from her work to the study window, from which she could see the wonders so tantalisingly near.
JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
JonesnounUS /dʒoʊnz/
United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)
From this reading THE blare of the circus band had been a sore temptation to Mandy Jones all afternoon and evening.
lionsnounUS /ˈlaɪənz/
plural of “lion” — large gregarious predatory feline of Africa and India having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
long-necked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
lotnounUS /lɑːt/
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
lumberingnounUS /ˈlʌmbərɪŋ/
the trade of cutting or preparing or selling timber
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
luredverbUS /lʊrd/
past form of “lure” — provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion
From this reading And yet, in spite of her own curiosity, she could not forgive her vagrant “worse half,” Hasty, who had been lured from duty early in the day.
Mandy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE blare of the circus band had been a sore temptation to Mandy Jones all afternoon and evening.
nameverbUS /neɪm/
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading She had once dubbed him Hasty, in a spirit of derision, and the name had clung to him.
nearadverbUS /nɪr/
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Again and again it had dragged her from her work to the study window, from which she could see the wonders so tantalisingly near.
nearbyadjectiveUS /ˈnɪrˈbaɪ/
close at hand
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE blare of the circus band had been a sore temptation to Mandy Jones all afternoon and evening.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading She had once dubbed him Hasty, in a spirit of derision, and the name had clung to him.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading And yet, in spite of her own curiosity, she could not forgive her vagrant “worse half,” Hasty, who had been lured from duty early in the day.
restlessadjectiveUS /ˈrestləs/
worried and uneasy
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
RevverbUS /rev/
increase the number of rotations per minute
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Again and again it had dragged her from her work to the study window, from which she could see the wonders so tantalisingly near.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Again and again it had dragged her from her work to the study window, from which she could see the wonders so tantalisingly near.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Again and again it had dragged her from her work to the study window, from which she could see the wonders so tantalisingly near.
soreadjectiveUS /sɔːr/
hurting
From this reading THE blare of the circus band had been a sore temptation to Mandy Jones all afternoon and evening.
spiritnounUS /ˈspɪrət/
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading She had once dubbed him Hasty, in a spirit of derision, and the name had clung to him.
spitenounUS /spaɪt/
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading And yet, in spite of her own curiosity, she could not forgive her vagrant “worse half,” Hasty, who had been lured from duty early in the day.
stripedadjectiveUS /straɪpt/
marked or decorated with stripes
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
studynounUS /ˈstʌdi/
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading Again and again it had dragged her from her work to the study window, from which she could see the wonders so tantalisingly near.
suppernounUS /ˈsʌpər/
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
tantalisingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Again and again it had dragged her from her work to the study window, from which she could see the wonders so tantalisingly near.
temptationnounUS /temˈteɪʃən/
something that seduces or has the quality to seduce
From this reading THE blare of the circus band had been a sore temptation to Mandy Jones all afternoon and evening.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE blare of the circus band had been a sore temptation to Mandy Jones all afternoon and evening.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE blare of the circus band had been a sore temptation to Mandy Jones all afternoon and evening.
troublenounUS /ˈtrʌbəl/
a source of difficulty
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
unwashedadjectiveUS /ənˈwɑːʃt/
of or associated with the great masses of people
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
vagrantnounUS /ˈveɪɡrənt/
a wanderer who has no established residence or visible means of support
From this reading And yet, in spite of her own curiosity, she could not forgive her vagrant “worse half,” Hasty, who had been lured from duty early in the day.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
watchedverbUS /wɑːtʃt/
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Again and again it had dragged her from her work to the study window, from which she could see the wonders so tantalisingly near.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading And yet, in spite of her own curiosity, she could not forgive her vagrant “worse half,” Hasty, who had been lured from duty early in the day.
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 Again and again it had dragged her from her work to the study window, from which she could see the wonders so tantalisingly near.
wondersnounUS /ˈwʌndərz/
plural of “wonder” — the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading Again and again it had dragged her from her work to the study window, from which she could see the wonders so tantalisingly near.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Again and again it had dragged her from her work to the study window, from which she could see the wonders so tantalisingly near.
worseadjectiveUS /wɜːrs/
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading And yet, in spite of her own curiosity, she could not forgive her vagrant “worse half,” Hasty, who had been lured from duty early in the day.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet, in spite of her own curiosity, she could not forgive her vagrant “worse half,” Hasty, who had been lured from duty early in the day.
zebrasnounUS /ˈziːbrəz/
plural of “zebra” — any of several fleet black-and-white striped African equines
From this reading Mandy was housekeeper for the Rev. John Douglas, but the unwashed supper dishes did not trouble her, as she watched the lumbering elephants, the restless lions, the long-necked giraffes and the striped zebras, that came and went in the nearby circus lot.
