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 the natural result of an empty life and a common mind.
affairsnounUS /əˈferz/
matters of personal concern
From this reading Interest in other people's affairs was evidently, save vanity, her strongest passion.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was the natural result of an empty life and a common mind.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was idle to suppose that the woman had any malignant motive in that well-conducted household, and she seemed to be good-natured and even kindly.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It was idle to suppose that the woman had any malignant motive in that well-conducted household, and she seemed to be good-natured and even kindly.
appearverbUS /əˈpɪr/
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was idle to suppose that the woman had any malignant motive in that well-conducted household, and she seemed to be good-natured and even kindly.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It occurred to Betty that she was not the only observant person in the house.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
closelyadverbUS /ˈkloʊsli/
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
commonadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmən/
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading It was the natural result of an empty life and a common mind.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
doorsnounUS /dɔːrz/
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
ear-shot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
emptyverbUS /ˈempti/
make void or empty of contents
From this reading It was the natural result of an empty life and a common mind.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading It was idle to suppose that the woman had any malignant motive in that well-conducted household, and she seemed to be good-natured and even kindly.
evidentlyadverbUS /ˈevədəntli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Interest in other people's affairs was evidently, save vanity, her strongest passion.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
good-naturedadjective
having an easygoing and cheerful disposition
From this reading It was idle to suppose that the woman had any malignant motive in that well-conducted household, and she seemed to be good-natured and even kindly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was idle to suppose that the woman had any malignant motive in that well-conducted household, and she seemed to be good-natured and even kindly.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Interest in other people's affairs was evidently, save vanity, her strongest passion.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It occurred to Betty that she was not the only observant person in the house.
householdnounUS /ˈhaʊshoʊld/
a social unit living together
From this reading It was idle to suppose that the woman had any malignant motive in that well-conducted household, and she seemed to be good-natured and even kindly.
idleadjectiveUS /ˈaɪdəl/
not in action or at work
From this reading It was idle to suppose that the woman had any malignant motive in that well-conducted household, and she seemed to be good-natured and even kindly.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It occurred to Betty that she was not the only observant person in the house.
InterestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Interest in other people's affairs was evidently, save vanity, her strongest passion.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It occurred to Betty that she was not the only observant person in the house.
kindlyadjectiveUS /ˈkaɪndli/
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading It was idle to suppose that the woman had any malignant motive in that well-conducted household, and she seemed to be good-natured and even kindly.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It was the natural result of an empty life and a common mind.
listenverbUS /ˈlɪsən/
hear with intention
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
malignantadjectiveUS /məˈlɪɡnənt/
dangerous to health; characterized by progressive and uncontrolled growth (especially of a tumor)
From this reading It was idle to suppose that the woman had any malignant motive in that well-conducted household, and she seemed to be good-natured and even kindly.
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading It was the natural result of an empty life and a common mind.
MissverbUS /mɪs/
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
motivenounUS /ˈmoʊtɪv/
the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading It was idle to suppose that the woman had any malignant motive in that well-conducted household, and she seemed to be good-natured and even kindly.
naturaladjectiveUS /ˈnætʃərəl/
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading It was the natural result of an empty life and a common mind.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It occurred to Betty that she was not the only observant person in the house.
observantadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvənt/
paying close attention especially to details
From this reading It occurred to Betty that she was not the only observant person in the house.
occurredverbUS /əˈkɜːrd/
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading It occurred to Betty that she was not the only observant person in the house.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the natural result of an empty life and a common mind.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading It occurred to Betty that she was not the only observant person in the house.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Interest in other people's affairs was evidently, save vanity, her strongest passion.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
passionnounUS /ˈpæʃən/
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading Interest in other people's affairs was evidently, save vanity, her strongest passion.
people'snounUS /ˈpiːpəlz/
possessive form of “people” — (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Interest in other people's affairs was evidently, save vanity, her strongest passion.
personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/
a human being
From this reading It occurred to Betty that she was not the only observant person in the house.
resultnounUS /rɪˈzʌlt/
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading It was the natural result of an empty life and a common mind.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading Interest in other people's affairs was evidently, save vanity, her strongest passion.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It occurred to Betty that she was not the only observant person in the house.
strongestadjectiveUS /ˈstrɔːŋɡəst/
superlative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Interest in other people's affairs was evidently, save vanity, her strongest passion.
stumblingverbUS /ˈstʌmbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
supposeverbUS /səˈpoʊz/
express a supposition
From this reading It was idle to suppose that the woman had any malignant motive in that well-conducted household, and she seemed to be good-natured and even kindly.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It occurred to Betty that she was not the only observant person in the house.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It occurred to Betty that she was not the only observant person in the house.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It occurred to Betty that she was not the only observant person in the house.
TrumbullnounUS /ˈtrʌmbəl/
American Revolutionary leader who as governor of Connecticut provided supplies for the Continental Army (1710-1785)
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
usuallyadverbUS /ˈjuːʒəwəli/
under normal conditions
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
vanitynounUS /ˈvænəti/
feelings of excessive pride
From this reading Interest in other people's affairs was evidently, save vanity, her strongest passion.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It occurred to Betty that she was not the only observant person in the house.
well-conductedadjective
characterized by good organization and control
From this reading It was idle to suppose that the woman had any malignant motive in that well-conducted household, and she seemed to be good-natured and even kindly.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading She seemed always stumbling over Miss Trumbull, who did not appear to listen at doors but was usually as closely within ear-shot as she could get.
womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading It was idle to suppose that the woman had any malignant motive in that well-conducted household, and she seemed to be good-natured and even kindly.
