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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 Mary's house was a chill and meagre contrast to that of Rose, but there was nothing cold in Mary's welcome.
absurd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
all
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.
althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
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 /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
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.
Bob
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
chill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
contrast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
Darling
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.
Deb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
eldest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deb, although not the eldest, was the mother of the family, as well as the second mother of Bob.
embrace
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.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deb, although not the eldest, was the mother of the family, as well as the second mother of Bob.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
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.
furs
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.
grip
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.
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.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
interview
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
inwardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
meagre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deb, although not the eldest, was the mother of the family, as well as the second mother of Bob.
mother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
preoccupation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
pressure
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.
represented
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.
responded
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.
Rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deb, although not the eldest, was the mother of the family, as well as the second mother of Bob.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
slim
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.
smiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
smothering
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.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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 /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
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.
thankful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
vanity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
visitor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
welcome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
woman
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.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
