adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
absurdadjectiveUS /əbˈsɜːrd/
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
From this reading "Where is he?" were Mary's first words--and Deb smiled inwardly to see her as absurd in her mother's vanity and preoccupation as Rose herself.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading To Deb's 'Darling! darling!' and smothering embrace of furs, the slim woman responded with a grip and pressure that represented all her strength.
althoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Deb, although not the eldest, was the mother of the family, as well as the second mother of Bob.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Deb, although not the eldest, was the mother of the family, as well as the second mother of Bob.
beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading But this was a case of a widow's only son, and the visitor was thankful for such a beginning to the interview.
BobverbUS /bɑːb/
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading Deb, although not the eldest, was the mother of the family, as well as the second mother of Bob.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
casenounUS /keɪs/
an occurrence of something
From this reading But this was a case of a widow's only son, and the visitor was thankful for such a beginning to the interview.
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
DarlingnounUS /ˈdɑːrlɪŋ/
a special loved one
From this reading To Deb's 'Darling! darling!' and smothering embrace of furs, the slim woman responded with a grip and pressure that represented all her strength.
DebnounUS /deb/
a young woman making her debut into society
From this reading Deb, although not the eldest, was the mother of the family, as well as the second mother of Bob.
Deb's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Deb's 'Darling! darling!' and smothering embrace of furs, the slim woman responded with a grip and pressure that represented all her strength.
eldestadjectiveUS /ˈeldəst/
first in order of birth
From this reading Deb, although not the eldest, was the mother of the family, as well as the second mother of Bob.
embraceverbUS /emˈbreɪs/
include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory
From this reading To Deb's 'Darling! darling!' and smothering embrace of furs, the slim woman responded with a grip and pressure that represented all her strength.
familynounUS /ˈfæməli/
a social unit living together
From this reading Deb, although not the eldest, was the mother of the family, as well as the second mother of Bob.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "Where is he?" were Mary's first words--and Deb smiled inwardly to see her as absurd in her mother's vanity and preoccupation as Rose herself.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But this was a case of a widow's only son, and the visitor was thankful for such a beginning to the interview.
fursnounUS /fɜːrz/
plural of “fur” — the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
From this reading To Deb's 'Darling! darling!' and smothering embrace of furs, the slim woman responded with a grip and pressure that represented all her strength.
gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading To Deb's 'Darling! darling!' and smothering embrace of furs, the slim woman responded with a grip and pressure that represented all her strength.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Where is he?" were Mary's first words--and Deb smiled inwardly to see her as absurd in her mother's vanity and preoccupation as Rose herself.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading To Deb's 'Darling! darling!' and smothering embrace of furs, the slim woman responded with a grip and pressure that represented all her strength.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading "Where is he?" were Mary's first words--and Deb smiled inwardly to see her as absurd in her mother's vanity and preoccupation as Rose herself.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
interviewverbUS /ˈɪntərvjuː/
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading But this was a case of a widow's only son, and the visitor was thankful for such a beginning to the interview.
inwardlyadverbUS /ˈɪnwərdli/
with respect to private feelings
From this reading "Where is he?" were Mary's first words--and Deb smiled inwardly to see her as absurd in her mother's vanity and preoccupation as Rose herself.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Where is he?" were Mary's first words--and Deb smiled inwardly to see her as absurd in her mother's vanity and preoccupation as Rose herself.
Mary'snounUS /ˈmeriz/
possessive form of “mary” — the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
meagreadjective
deficient in amount or quality or extent
From this reading Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Deb, although not the eldest, was the mother of the family, as well as the second mother of Bob.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "Where is he?" were Mary's first words--and Deb smiled inwardly to see her as absurd in her mother's vanity and preoccupation as Rose herself.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Deb, although not the eldest, was the mother of the family, as well as the second mother of Bob.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading But this was a case of a widow's only son, and the visitor was thankful for such a beginning to the interview.
preoccupationnounUS /priˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
an idea that preoccupies the mind and holds the attention
From this reading "Where is he?" were Mary's first words--and Deb smiled inwardly to see her as absurd in her mother's vanity and preoccupation as Rose herself.
pressurenounUS /ˈpreʃər/
the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)
From this reading To Deb's 'Darling! darling!' and smothering embrace of furs, the slim woman responded with a grip and pressure that represented all her strength.
representedadjectiveUS /ˌreprɪˈzentɪd/
represented accurately or precisely
From this reading To Deb's 'Darling! darling!' and smothering embrace of furs, the slim woman responded with a grip and pressure that represented all her strength.
respondedverbUS /rɪˈspɑːndɪd/
past form of “respond” — show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading To Deb's 'Darling! darling!' and smothering embrace of furs, the slim woman responded with a grip and pressure that represented all her strength.
RosenounUS /roʊz/
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Deb, although not the eldest, was the mother of the family, as well as the second mother of Bob.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Where is he?" were Mary's first words--and Deb smiled inwardly to see her as absurd in her mother's vanity and preoccupation as Rose herself.
slimadjectiveUS /slɪm/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading To Deb's 'Darling! darling!' and smothering embrace of furs, the slim woman responded with a grip and pressure that represented all her strength.
smiledverbUS /smaɪld/
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading "Where is he?" were Mary's first words--and Deb smiled inwardly to see her as absurd in her mother's vanity and preoccupation as Rose herself.
smotheringadjectiveUS /ˈsmʌðərɪŋ/
causing difficulty in breathing especially through lack of fresh air and presence of heat
From this reading To Deb's 'Darling! darling!' and smothering embrace of furs, the slim woman responded with a grip and pressure that represented all her strength.
sonnounUS /sʌn/
a male human offspring
From this reading But this was a case of a widow's only son, and the visitor was thankful for such a beginning to the interview.
strengthnounUS /streŋkθ/
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading To Deb's 'Darling! darling!' and smothering embrace of furs, the slim woman responded with a grip and pressure that represented all her strength.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But this was a case of a widow's only son, and the visitor was thankful for such a beginning to the interview.
thankfuladjectiveUS /ˈθæŋkfəl/
feeling or showing gratitude
From this reading But this was a case of a widow's only son, and the visitor was thankful for such a beginning to the interview.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To Deb's 'Darling! darling!' and smothering embrace of furs, the slim woman responded with a grip and pressure that represented all her strength.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But this was a case of a widow's only son, and the visitor was thankful for such a beginning to the interview.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
vanitynounUS /ˈvænəti/
feelings of excessive pride
From this reading "Where is he?" were Mary's first words--and Deb smiled inwardly to see her as absurd in her mother's vanity and preoccupation as Rose herself.
visitornounUS /ˈvɪzɪtər/
someone who visits
From this reading But this was a case of a widow's only son, and the visitor was thankful for such a beginning to the interview.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
welcomeverbUS /ˈwelkəm/
accept gladly
From this reading Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
welladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Deb, although not the eldest, was the mother of the family, as well as the second mother of Bob.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Where is he?" were Mary's first words--and Deb smiled inwardly to see her as absurd in her mother's vanity and preoccupation as Rose herself.
WhereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading "Where is he?" were Mary's first words--and Deb smiled inwardly to see her as absurd in her mother's vanity and preoccupation as Rose herself.
widow'snounUS /ˈwɪdoʊz/
possessive form of “widow” — a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading But this was a case of a widow's only son, and the visitor was thankful for such a beginning to the interview.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading To Deb's 'Darling! darling!' and smothering embrace of furs, the slim woman responded with a grip and pressure that represented all her strength.
womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading To Deb's 'Darling! darling!' and smothering embrace of furs, the slim woman responded with a grip and pressure that represented all her strength.
wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/
the words that are spoken
From this reading "Where is he?" were Mary's first words--and Deb smiled inwardly to see her as absurd in her mother's vanity and preoccupation as Rose herself.
