adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
absurdadjectiveUS /əbˈsɜːrd/
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
From this reading He was neither fatuous nor asinine, but he had almost to put it to himself as a small task to resist the sense of his absurd advantage with her.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
advantagenounUS /ædˈvæntɪdʒ/
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading He was neither fatuous nor asinine, but he had almost to put it to himself as a small task to resist the sense of his absurd advantage with her.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He was neither fatuous nor asinine, but he had almost to put it to himself as a small task to resist the sense of his absurd advantage with her.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
asinineadjectiveUS /ˈæsənaɪn/
extremely silly or stupid
From this reading He was neither fatuous nor asinine, but he had almost to put it to himself as a small task to resist the sense of his absurd advantage with her.
awkwardnessnounUS /ˈɔːkwərdnəs/
unskillfulness resulting from a lack of training
From this reading It filled him with horror and awkwardness, made him think of he didn't know what, recalled something of Maupassant's--the smitten "Miss Harriet" and her tragic fate.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
blinkingadjectiveUS /ˈblɪŋkɪŋ/
closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was neither fatuous nor asinine, but he had almost to put it to himself as a small task to resist the sense of his absurd advantage with her.
cadnounUS /kæd/
someone who is morally reprehensible
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It filled him with horror and awkwardness, made him think of he didn't know what, recalled something of Maupassant's--the smitten "Miss Harriet" and her tragic fate.
fatenounUS /feɪt/
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading It filled him with horror and awkwardness, made him think of he didn't know what, recalled something of Maupassant's--the smitten "Miss Harriet" and her tragic fate.
fatuousadjectiveUS /ˈfætʃəwəs/
extremely silly or stupid
From this reading He was neither fatuous nor asinine, but he had almost to put it to himself as a small task to resist the sense of his absurd advantage with her.
filledadjectiveUS /fɪld/
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading It filled him with horror and awkwardness, made him think of he didn't know what, recalled something of Maupassant's--the smitten "Miss Harriet" and her tragic fate.
fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
gardennounUS /ˈɡɑːrdən/
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/
destroyed or killed
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading There was a preposterous possibility--yes, he held the strings quite in his hands--of keeping the treasure for himself.
happyadjectiveUS /ˈhæpi/
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
Harriet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It filled him with horror and awkwardness, made him think of he didn't know what, recalled something of Maupassant's--the smitten "Miss Harriet" and her tragic fate.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
hearverbUS /hiːr/
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
heldadjectiveUS /held/
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading There was a preposterous possibility--yes, he held the strings quite in his hands--of keeping the treasure for himself.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was neither fatuous nor asinine, but he had almost to put it to himself as a small task to resist the sense of his absurd advantage with her.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
horrornounUS /ˈhɔːrər/
intense and profound fear
From this reading It filled him with horror and awkwardness, made him think of he didn't know what, recalled something of Maupassant's--the smitten "Miss Harriet" and her tragic fate.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
keepingnounUS /ˈkiːpɪŋ/
conformity or harmony
From this reading There was a preposterous possibility--yes, he held the strings quite in his hands--of keeping the treasure for himself.
kneesnounUS /niːz/
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading It filled him with horror and awkwardness, made him think of he didn't know what, recalled something of Maupassant's--the smitten "Miss Harriet" and her tragic fate.
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It filled him with horror and awkwardness, made him think of he didn't know what, recalled something of Maupassant's--the smitten "Miss Harriet" and her tragic fate.
Maupassant's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It filled him with horror and awkwardness, made him think of he didn't know what, recalled something of Maupassant's--the smitten "Miss Harriet" and her tragic fate.
MissverbUS /mɪs/
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading It filled him with horror and awkwardness, made him think of he didn't know what, recalled something of Maupassant's--the smitten "Miss Harriet" and her tragic fate.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading He was neither fatuous nor asinine, but he had almost to put it to himself as a small task to resist the sense of his absurd advantage with her.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading He was neither fatuous nor asinine, but he had almost to put it to himself as a small task to resist the sense of his absurd advantage with her.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
particularadjectiveUS /pərˈtɪkjələr/
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
possibilitynounUS /ˌpɑːsəˈbɪlətiː/
a future prospect or potential
From this reading There was a preposterous possibility--yes, he held the strings quite in his hands--of keeping the treasure for himself.
precautionsnounUS /priˈkɔːʃənz/
plural of “precaution” — a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
preposterousadjectiveUS /prɪˈpɑːstərəs/
so unreasonable as to invite derision
From this reading There was a preposterous possibility--yes, he held the strings quite in his hands--of keeping the treasure for himself.
presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
protectverbUS /prəˈtekt/
shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
putverbUS /pʊt/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He was neither fatuous nor asinine, but he had almost to put it to himself as a small task to resist the sense of his absurd advantage with her.
quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading There was a preposterous possibility--yes, he held the strings quite in his hands--of keeping the treasure for himself.
recalledverbUS /rɪˈkɔːld/
past form of “recall” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading It filled him with horror and awkwardness, made him think of he didn't know what, recalled something of Maupassant's--the smitten "Miss Harriet" and her tragic fate.
resistverbUS /rɪˈzɪst/
elude, especially in a baffling way
From this reading He was neither fatuous nor asinine, but he had almost to put it to himself as a small task to resist the sense of his absurd advantage with her.
sensenounUS /sens/
a general conscious awareness
From this reading He was neither fatuous nor asinine, but he had almost to put it to himself as a small task to resist the sense of his absurd advantage with her.
shawlnounUS /ʃɔːl/
cloak consisting of an oblong piece of cloth used to cover the head and shoulders
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He was neither fatuous nor asinine, but he had almost to put it to himself as a small task to resist the sense of his absurd advantage with her.
smittenadjectiveUS /ˈsmɪtən/
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading It filled him with horror and awkwardness, made him think of he didn't know what, recalled something of Maupassant's--the smitten "Miss Harriet" and her tragic fate.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It filled him with horror and awkwardness, made him think of he didn't know what, recalled something of Maupassant's--the smitten "Miss Harriet" and her tragic fate.
stringsnounUS /strɪŋz/
the section of an orchestra that plays stringed instruments
From this reading There was a preposterous possibility--yes, he held the strings quite in his hands--of keeping the treasure for himself.
sunshinenounUS /ˈsʌnʃaɪn/
the rays of the sun
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
tasknounUS /tæsk/
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading He was neither fatuous nor asinine, but he had almost to put it to himself as a small task to resist the sense of his absurd advantage with her.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading It filled him with horror and awkwardness, made him think of he didn't know what, recalled something of Maupassant's--the smitten "Miss Harriet" and her tragic fate.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
tragicadjectiveUS /ˈtrædʒɪk/
very sad; especially involving grief or death or destruction
From this reading It filled him with horror and awkwardness, made him think of he didn't know what, recalled something of Maupassant's--the smitten "Miss Harriet" and her tragic fate.
treasurenounUS /ˈtreʒər/
accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.
From this reading There was a preposterous possibility--yes, he held the strings quite in his hands--of keeping the treasure for himself.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
wateryadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːtəri/
filled with water
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It filled him with horror and awkwardness, made him think of he didn't know what, recalled something of Maupassant's--the smitten "Miss Harriet" and her tragic fate.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she wouldn't hear of his being yet beyond precautions she had gone into the house for a particular shawl that was just the thing for his knees, and, blinking in the watery sunshine, had come back with it across the fine little lawn.
yesnounUS /jes/
an affirmative
From this reading There was a preposterous possibility--yes, he held the strings quite in his hands--of keeping the treasure for himself.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading They were as usual in the garden, and it hadn't yet been so present to him that if he were only a happy cad there would be a good way to protect her.
![Some Short Stories [by Henry James]](/static/images/covers-gen/some-short-stories-by-henry-james.webp)