adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Providence turned out to be not even decently neutral; on a rack on the library wall were a dog-whip and a whalebone riding-switch.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Rollo thought it criminal negligence to leave such weapons of precision lying about.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Providence turned out to be not even decently neutral; on a rack on the library wall were a dog-whip and a whalebone riding-switch.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Then they went back to the languidly expectant females.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The word-choosers locked themselves in the library to ensure that their deliberations should not be interrupted.
choicenounUS /tʃɔɪs/
the person or thing chosen or selected
From this reading He was given a choice of evils, and chose the dog-whip; the next minute or so he spent in wondering how he could have made such a stupid selection.
choseverbUS /tʃoʊz/
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading He was given a choice of evils, and chose the dog-whip; the next minute or so he spent in wondering how he could have made such a stupid selection.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He was given a choice of evils, and chose the dog-whip; the next minute or so he spent in wondering how he could have made such a stupid selection.
criminaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmənəl/
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
From this reading Rollo thought it criminal negligence to leave such weapons of precision lying about.
decentlyadverbUS /ˈdiːsəntli/
in a decent manner
From this reading Providence turned out to be not even decently neutral; on a rack on the library wall were a dog-whip and a whalebone riding-switch.
deliberationsnounUS /dɪˌlɪbərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “deliberation” — (usually plural) discussion of all sides of a question
From this reading The word-choosers locked themselves in the library to ensure that their deliberations should not be interrupted.
dog-whip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Providence turned out to be not even decently neutral; on a rack on the library wall were a dog-whip and a whalebone riding-switch.
ensureverbUS /enˈʃʊr/
make certain of
From this reading The word-choosers locked themselves in the library to ensure that their deliberations should not be interrupted.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading Providence turned out to be not even decently neutral; on a rack on the library wall were a dog-whip and a whalebone riding-switch.
evilsnounUS /ˈiːvəlz/
plural of “evil” — morally objectionable behavior
From this reading He was given a choice of evils, and chose the dog-whip; the next minute or so he spent in wondering how he could have made such a stupid selection.
expectantadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspektənt/
marked by eager anticipation
From this reading Then they went back to the languidly expectant females.
femalesnounUS /ˈfiːmeɪlz/
plural of “female” — an animal that produces gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes
From this reading Then they went back to the languidly expectant females.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading He was given a choice of evils, and chose the dog-whip; the next minute or so he spent in wondering how he could have made such a stupid selection.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He was given a choice of evils, and chose the dog-whip; the next minute or so he spent in wondering how he could have made such a stupid selection.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was given a choice of evils, and chose the dog-whip; the next minute or so he spent in wondering how he could have made such a stupid selection.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was given a choice of evils, and chose the dog-whip; the next minute or so he spent in wondering how he could have made such a stupid selection.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The word-choosers locked themselves in the library to ensure that their deliberations should not be interrupted.
interruptedadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈʌptɪd/
discontinued temporarily
From this reading The word-choosers locked themselves in the library to ensure that their deliberations should not be interrupted.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Rollo thought it criminal negligence to leave such weapons of precision lying about.
languidlyadverb
in a languid and lethargic manner
From this reading Then they went back to the languidly expectant females.
leaveverbUS /liːv/
go away from a place
From this reading Rollo thought it criminal negligence to leave such weapons of precision lying about.
librarynounUS /ˈlaɪbreriː/
a room where books are kept
From this reading The word-choosers locked themselves in the library to ensure that their deliberations should not be interrupted.
lockedverbUS /lɑːkt/
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading The word-choosers locked themselves in the library to ensure that their deliberations should not be interrupted.
lyingnounUS /ˈlaɪɪŋ/
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Rollo thought it criminal negligence to leave such weapons of precision lying about.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He was given a choice of evils, and chose the dog-whip; the next minute or so he spent in wondering how he could have made such a stupid selection.
minutenounUS /ˈmɪnət/
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading He was given a choice of evils, and chose the dog-whip; the next minute or so he spent in wondering how he could have made such a stupid selection.
negligencenounUS /ˈneɡlədʒəns/
failure to act with the prudence that a reasonable person would exercise under the same circumstances
From this reading Rollo thought it criminal negligence to leave such weapons of precision lying about.
neutraladjectiveUS /ˈnuːtrəl/
having no personal preference
From this reading Providence turned out to be not even decently neutral; on a rack on the library wall were a dog-whip and a whalebone riding-switch.
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/
immediately following in time or order
From this reading He was given a choice of evils, and chose the dog-whip; the next minute or so he spent in wondering how he could have made such a stupid selection.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The word-choosers locked themselves in the library to ensure that their deliberations should not be interrupted.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Rollo thought it criminal negligence to leave such weapons of precision lying about.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Providence turned out to be not even decently neutral; on a rack on the library wall were a dog-whip and a whalebone riding-switch.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He was given a choice of evils, and chose the dog-whip; the next minute or so he spent in wondering how he could have made such a stupid selection.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Providence turned out to be not even decently neutral; on a rack on the library wall were a dog-whip and a whalebone riding-switch.
precisionnounUS /priˈsɪʒən/
the quality of being reproducible in amount or performance
From this reading Rollo thought it criminal negligence to leave such weapons of precision lying about.
ProvidencenounUS /ˈprɑː.və.dəns/
The protective care of God or nature as a spiritual power. (Sự quan phòng, thiên ý phù hộ.)
From this reading Providence turned out to be not even decently neutral; on a rack on the library wall were a dog-whip and a whalebone riding-switch.
rackverbUS /ræk/
go at a rack
From this reading Providence turned out to be not even decently neutral; on a rack on the library wall were a dog-whip and a whalebone riding-switch.
riding-switch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Providence turned out to be not even decently neutral; on a rack on the library wall were a dog-whip and a whalebone riding-switch.
RollonounUS /ˈrɑːloʊ/
Norse chieftain who became the first duke of Normandy (860-931)
From this reading Rollo thought it criminal negligence to leave such weapons of precision lying about.
selectionnounUS /səˈlekʃən/
the act of choosing or selecting
From this reading He was given a choice of evils, and chose the dog-whip; the next minute or so he spent in wondering how he could have made such a stupid selection.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The word-choosers locked themselves in the library to ensure that their deliberations should not be interrupted.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was given a choice of evils, and chose the dog-whip; the next minute or so he spent in wondering how he could have made such a stupid selection.
spentadjectiveUS /spent/
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading He was given a choice of evils, and chose the dog-whip; the next minute or so he spent in wondering how he could have made such a stupid selection.
stupidadjectiveUS /ˈstuːpəd/
lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity
From this reading He was given a choice of evils, and chose the dog-whip; the next minute or so he spent in wondering how he could have made such a stupid selection.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Rollo thought it criminal negligence to leave such weapons of precision lying about.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The word-choosers locked themselves in the library to ensure that their deliberations should not be interrupted.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The word-choosers locked themselves in the library to ensure that their deliberations should not be interrupted.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The word-choosers locked themselves in the library to ensure that their deliberations should not be interrupted.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The word-choosers locked themselves in the library to ensure that their deliberations should not be interrupted.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then they went back to the languidly expectant females.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then they went back to the languidly expectant females.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Rollo thought it criminal negligence to leave such weapons of precision lying about.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The word-choosers locked themselves in the library to ensure that their deliberations should not be interrupted.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Providence turned out to be not even decently neutral; on a rack on the library wall were a dog-whip and a whalebone riding-switch.
wallnounUS /wɔːl/
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Providence turned out to be not even decently neutral; on a rack on the library wall were a dog-whip and a whalebone riding-switch.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was given a choice of evils, and chose the dog-whip; the next minute or so he spent in wondering how he could have made such a stupid selection.
weaponsnounUS /ˈwepənz/
plural of “weapon” — any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading Rollo thought it criminal negligence to leave such weapons of precision lying about.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Then they went back to the languidly expectant females.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Providence turned out to be not even decently neutral; on a rack on the library wall were a dog-whip and a whalebone riding-switch.
whalebonenoun
a horny material from the upper jaws of certain whales; used as the ribs of fans or as stays in corsets
From this reading Providence turned out to be not even decently neutral; on a rack on the library wall were a dog-whip and a whalebone riding-switch.
wonderingadjectiveUS /ˈwʌndərɪŋ/
showing curiosity
From this reading He was given a choice of evils, and chose the dog-whip; the next minute or so he spent in wondering how he could have made such a stupid selection.
word-choosers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The word-choosers locked themselves in the library to ensure that their deliberations should not be interrupted.
