Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
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 very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
almost
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From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the Knoll there was a small and select dinner party the evening the letter came.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Dinner had been over some little time, and she was standing with her guests in the drawing-room when the fatal letter was brought to her.
bitter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
blow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
Boston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Dinner had been over some little time, and she was standing with her guests in the drawing-room when the fatal letter was brought to her.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the Knoll there was a small and select dinner party the evening the letter came.
claret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
conservatories
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
contained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
diamonds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the Knoll there was a small and select dinner party the evening the letter came.
directed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dinner had been over some little time, and she was standing with her guests in the drawing-room when the fatal letter was brought to her.
dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdrɛdfəl/
extremely frightening or unpleasant
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
dress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
ears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the Knoll there was a small and select dinner party the evening the letter came.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
fatal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dinner had been over some little time, and she was standing with her guests in the drawing-room when the fatal letter was brought to her.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
girlhood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
grave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
guests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dinner had been over some little time, and she was standing with her guests in the drawing-room when the fatal letter was brought to her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
handwriting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
immediately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
intuition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
invited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
Knoll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the Knoll there was a small and select dinner party the evening the letter came.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the Knoll there was a small and select dinner party the evening the letter came.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Dinner had been over some little time, and she was standing with her guests in the drawing-room when the fatal letter was brought to her.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
lovely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
Madras
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
meet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Dinner had been over some little time, and she was standing with her guests in the drawing-room when the fatal letter was brought to her.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At the Knoll there was a small and select dinner party the evening the letter came.
Paul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
precedes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
Rossiter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
select
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the Knoll there was a small and select dinner party the evening the letter came.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the Knoll there was a small and select dinner party the evening the letter came.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
Some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Dinner had been over some little time, and she was standing with her guests in the drawing-room when the fatal letter was brought to her.
stranger's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
subtle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the Knoll there was a small and select dinner party the evening the letter came.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
throatnounUS /θroʊt/
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
tidings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Dinner had been over some little time, and she was standing with her guests in the drawing-room when the fatal letter was brought to her.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
unhesitatingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
velvet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
villagers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
visiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
wandered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
warning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading She saw it was from Madras, and that the handwriting was a stranger’s; and though it was directed to her husband, who immediately after dinner had wandered off to his conservatories, where he spent most of his time, she opened it unhesitatingly, feeling sure that it contained tidings of her son, and feeling, too, with that subtle intuition which so often precedes dreadful news, that the tidings were not good.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It was very bitter and deep, and all the more so because the blow had fallen so suddenly, without a note of warning.
won
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some friends from Boston were visiting in the house, and Mrs. Rossiter had invited a few of the villagers to meet them, and in her evening dress of claret velvet, with diamonds in her ears and at her throat, she looked as lovely and almost as young as in her early girlhood when she won the heart of the grave and silent Paul Rossiter.
