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Sisters
Sisters

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for Sisters
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.
It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.
The previous tenants had used it for a box and lumber room, and left it cobwebbed, filthy and asphyxiating.
Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.
Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Sisters

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.
Line 2
It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.
Line 3
The previous tenants had used it for a box and lumber room, and left it cobwebbed, filthy and asphyxiating.
Line 4
Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.
Line 5
Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Books noun US /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading “Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.”

Cleverness noun US /ˈklev.ər.nəs/

The quality of being intelligent, quick to understand, and resourceful in danger.

From this reading “Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.”

Hither adverb US /ˈhɪðər/

an old word meaning “to this place”

From this reading “Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The previous tenants had used it for a box and lumber room, and left it cobwebbed, filthy and asphyxiating.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.”

Plaster noun US /ˈplæstər/

a soft material used to cover and protect a wound

From this reading “Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.”

All words in this reading · 113

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 There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

asphyxiating

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The previous tenants had used it for a box and lumber room, and left it cobwebbed, filthy and asphyxiating.

assembled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

association

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

astonish

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

astonishing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

attic

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

aunts

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

basket-chairs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

black-eyed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

booksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

boudoir

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

box

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The previous tenants had used it for a box and lumber room, and left it cobwebbed, filthy and asphyxiating.

boy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

bringing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

came

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

casements

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

charwoman

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

clean

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

clevernessnounUS /ˈklev.ər.nəs/

The quality of being intelligent, quick to understand, and resourceful in danger.

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

cobwebbed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The previous tenants had used it for a box and lumber room, and left it cobwebbed, filthy and asphyxiating.

contained

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

cosy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

country

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

dark

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

Deb

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

distemper

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

doors

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

dormer

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

down

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

ends

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

escape

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

facing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

favourite

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

filthy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The previous tenants had used it for a box and lumber room, and left it cobwebbed, filthy and asphyxiating.

fireplace

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

flight

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

floor

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The previous tenants had used it for a box and lumber room, and left it cobwebbed, filthy and asphyxiating.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

girls

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

grubby

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The previous tenants had used it for a box and lumber room, and left it cobwebbed, filthy and asphyxiating.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

heretical

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

HitheradverbUS /ˈhɪðər/

an old word meaning “to this place”

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

home

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

implanted

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

intimate

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

laid

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

landscape

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The previous tenants had used it for a box and lumber room, and left it cobwebbed, filthy and asphyxiating.

like

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

lumber

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The previous tenants had used it for a box and lumber room, and left it cobwebbed, filthy and asphyxiating.

man

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

Mary

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

notions

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

now

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

odds

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

opened

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

ordered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

orthodoxy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

outer

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

pair

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

plasternounUS /ˈplæstər/

a soft material used to cover and protect a wound

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

previous

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The previous tenants had used it for a box and lumber room, and left it cobwebbed, filthy and asphyxiating.

room

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The previous tenants had used it for a box and lumber room, and left it cobwebbed, filthy and asphyxiating.

row

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

rugs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

sisters

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

spoke

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From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

square

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

stain

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

stairs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

suburban

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

sun

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

tables

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

tenants

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The previous tenants had used it for a box and lumber room, and left it cobwebbed, filthy and asphyxiating.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

then

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

There

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

three

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

top

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

transformed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

treadmill

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

used

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The previous tenants had used it for a box and lumber room, and left it cobwebbed, filthy and asphyxiating.

villa

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading There was an attic at the top of a dark flight of stairs in the suburban villa that was now the sisters' home.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.

whereby

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Deb ordered a charwoman to clean it, and a man to distemper the grubby plaster and stain the floor, and then laid down rugs, and assembled tables and books, and basket-chairs, and girls' odds and ends; whereby it was transformed into a cosy boudoir and their favourite room.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

window

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It contained a fireplace and a long dormer window--three square casements in a row, of which the outer pair opened like doors--facing the morning sun and a country landscape.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Hither came Mary when she could escape from that treadmill of which she never spoke, bringing her black-eyed boy to astonish his aunts with his cleverness, and astonishing them herself with the heretical notions which an intimate association with orthodoxy seemed to have implanted in her.