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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The floor, which was that of the once cosy morning-room, was carpetless; its usual furniture stood about higgledy-piggledy, all in the wrong places, naked and forlorn.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The floor, which was that of the once cosy morning-room, was carpetless; its usual furniture stood about higgledy-piggledy, all in the wrong places, naked and forlorn.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading Deb sat amid the ruins of her home.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
beautiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
black-gowned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
carpetless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The floor, which was that of the once cosy morning-room, was carpetless; its usual furniture stood about higgledy-piggledy, all in the wrong places, naked and forlorn.
central
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
cosy
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From this reading The floor, which was that of the once cosy morning-room, was carpetless; its usual furniture stood about higgledy-piggledy, all in the wrong places, naked and forlorn.
cottage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That cottage that you talk about," said he, "will not hold all those."
deal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
Deb
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From this reading Deb sat amid the ruins of her home.
enclosed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
figure
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From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
flowerless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
forlorn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The floor, which was that of the once cosy morning-room, was carpetless; its usual furniture stood about higgledy-piggledy, all in the wrong places, naked and forlorn.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
furniture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The floor, which was that of the once cosy morning-room, was carpetless; its usual furniture stood about higgledy-piggledy, all in the wrong places, naked and forlorn.
grey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "That cottage that you talk about," said he, "will not hold all those."
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Deb sat amid the ruins of her home.
higgledy-piggledy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The floor, which was that of the once cosy morning-room, was carpetless; its usual furniture stood about higgledy-piggledy, all in the wrong places, naked and forlorn.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That cottage that you talk about," said he, "will not hold all those."
holland-aproned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deb sat amid the ruins of her home.
hundreds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The floor, which was that of the once cosy morning-room, was carpetless; its usual furniture stood about higgledy-piggledy, all in the wrong places, naked and forlorn.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The floor, which was that of the once cosy morning-room, was carpetless; its usual furniture stood about higgledy-piggledy, all in the wrong places, naked and forlorn.
leaned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
lid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
mantel-shelf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
morning-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The floor, which was that of the once cosy morning-room, was carpetless; its usual furniture stood about higgledy-piggledy, all in the wrong places, naked and forlorn.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
naked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The floor, which was that of the once cosy morning-room, was carpetless; its usual furniture stood about higgledy-piggledy, all in the wrong places, naked and forlorn.
nose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "That cottage that you talk about," said he, "will not hold all those."
occupied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
odd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Deb sat amid the ruins of her home.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The floor, which was that of the once cosy morning-room, was carpetless; its usual furniture stood about higgledy-piggledy, all in the wrong places, naked and forlorn.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
packing-case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
places
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The floor, which was that of the once cosy morning-room, was carpetless; its usual furniture stood about higgledy-piggledy, all in the wrong places, naked and forlorn.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
ruins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deb sat amid the ruins of her home.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That cottage that you talk about," said he, "will not hold all those."
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deb sat amid the ruins of her home.
scatter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
sleeves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
smudge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
surveyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That cottage that you talk about," said he, "will not hold all those."
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Deb sat amid the ruins of her home.
Thornycroft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading "That cottage that you talk about," said he, "will not hold all those."
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The floor, which was that of the once cosy morning-room, was carpetless; its usual furniture stood about higgledy-piggledy, all in the wrong places, naked and forlorn.
volumes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The floor, which was that of the once cosy morning-room, was carpetless; its usual furniture stood about higgledy-piggledy, all in the wrong places, naked and forlorn.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "That cottage that you talk about," said he, "will not hold all those."
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She occupied the lid of a deal packing-case that enclosed a few hundreds of books, and one that was half filled stood before her, with a scatter of odd volumes on the floor around.
wrists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Thornycroft leaned against the flowerless mantel-shelf, and surveyed the scene, or rather, the central figure, black-gowned, holland-aproned, with sleeves turned back from her strong wrists, and a grey smudge on her beautiful nose.
wrong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The floor, which was that of the once cosy morning-room, was carpetless; its usual furniture stood about higgledy-piggledy, all in the wrong places, naked and forlorn.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "That cottage that you talk about," said he, "will not hold all those."
