adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
arrivalnounUS /ərˈaɪvəl/
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading She would, too, have questioned the courier concerning Florimond’s health; she would have asked him how the Marquis looked, and where the messenger had left him.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Valerie had wondered might there not be letters--or, leastways, messages--for herself from her betrothed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
betrothedadjective
pledged to be married
From this reading Valerie had wondered might there not be letters--or, leastways, messages--for herself from her betrothed.
blendingnounUS /ˈblendɪŋ/
the act of blending components together thoroughly
From this reading Madame had risen hastily, fear and defiance blending in her face, and she had at once commanded mademoiselle’s withdrawal.
boreverbUS /bɔːr/
cause to be bored
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But her pride had suppressed the eager question that welled up to her lips.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
commandedverbUS /kəˈmændɪd/
past form of “command” — be in command of
From this reading Madame had risen hastily, fear and defiance blending in her face, and she had at once commanded mademoiselle’s withdrawal.
concerningverbUS /kənˈsɜːrnɪŋ/
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading She would, too, have questioned the courier concerning Florimond’s health; she would have asked him how the Marquis looked, and where the messenger had left him.
Condillac
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
confusionnounUS /kənˈfjuːʒən/
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
couriernounUS /ˈkɜːriər/
a person who carries a message
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
denounUS /diː/
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
defiancenounUS /dɪˈfaɪəns/
intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude
From this reading Madame had risen hastily, fear and defiance blending in her face, and she had at once commanded mademoiselle’s withdrawal.
dinnernounUS /ˈdɪnər/
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading But her pride had suppressed the eager question that welled up to her lips.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Madame had risen hastily, fear and defiance blending in her face, and she had at once commanded mademoiselle’s withdrawal.
fearverbUS /fɪr/
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Madame had risen hastily, fear and defiance blending in her face, and she had at once commanded mademoiselle’s withdrawal.
Florimond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
Florimond's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would, too, have questioned the courier concerning Florimond’s health; she would have asked him how the Marquis looked, and where the messenger had left him.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Valerie had wondered might there not be letters--or, leastways, messages--for herself from her betrothed.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
hallnounUS /hɔːl/
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
hastilyadverbUS /ˈheɪstəli/
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading Madame had risen hastily, fear and defiance blending in her face, and she had at once commanded mademoiselle’s withdrawal.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She would, too, have questioned the courier concerning Florimond’s health; she would have asked him how the Marquis looked, and where the messenger had left him.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
healthnounUS /helθ/
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading She would, too, have questioned the courier concerning Florimond’s health; she would have asked him how the Marquis looked, and where the messenger had left him.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Valerie had wondered might there not be letters--or, leastways, messages--for herself from her betrothed.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She would, too, have questioned the courier concerning Florimond’s health; she would have asked him how the Marquis looked, and where the messenger had left him.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would, too, have questioned the courier concerning Florimond’s health; she would have asked him how the Marquis looked, and where the messenger had left him.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/
apprehended with certainty
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
LanounUS /lɑː/
a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
leastwaysadverb
if nothing else (“leastwise” is informal and “leastways” is colloquial)
From this reading Valerie had wondered might there not be letters--or, leastways, messages--for herself from her betrothed.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading She would, too, have questioned the courier concerning Florimond’s health; she would have asked him how the Marquis looked, and where the messenger had left him.
lettersnounUS /ˈletərz/
the literary culture
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
lipsnounUS /lɪps/
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading But her pride had suppressed the eager question that welled up to her lips.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She would, too, have questioned the courier concerning Florimond’s health; she would have asked him how the Marquis looked, and where the messenger had left him.
MadamenounUS /ˈmædəm/
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading Madame had risen hastily, fear and defiance blending in her face, and she had at once commanded mademoiselle’s withdrawal.
MademoisellenounUS /ˌmædəməˈzel/
small silvery drumfish often mistaken for white perch; found along coasts of United States from New York to Mexico
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
mademoiselle's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame had risen hastily, fear and defiance blending in her face, and she had at once commanded mademoiselle’s withdrawal.
MarquisnounUS /ˌmɑːrˈkiː/
humorist who wrote about the imaginary life of cockroaches (1878-1937)
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
Marquisenoun
a noblewoman ranking below a duchess and above a countess
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
messagesnounUS /ˈmesədʒəz/
plural of “message” — a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading Valerie had wondered might there not be letters--or, leastways, messages--for herself from her betrothed.
messengernounUS /ˈmesəndʒər/
a person who carries a message
From this reading She would, too, have questioned the courier concerning Florimond’s health; she would have asked him how the Marquis looked, and where the messenger had left him.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Valerie had wondered might there not be letters--or, leastways, messages--for herself from her betrothed.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Valerie had wondered might there not be letters--or, leastways, messages--for herself from her betrothed.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading Madame had risen hastily, fear and defiance blending in her face, and she had at once commanded mademoiselle’s withdrawal.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Valerie had wondered might there not be letters--or, leastways, messages--for herself from her betrothed.
pridenounUS /praɪd/
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading But her pride had suppressed the eager question that welled up to her lips.
questionverbUS /ˈkwestʃən/
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading But her pride had suppressed the eager question that welled up to her lips.
questionedverbUS /ˈkwestʃənd/
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading She would, too, have questioned the courier concerning Florimond’s health; she would have asked him how the Marquis looked, and where the messenger had left him.
risenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪzən/
(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon
From this reading Madame had risen hastily, fear and defiance blending in her face, and she had at once commanded mademoiselle’s withdrawal.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Madame had risen hastily, fear and defiance blending in her face, and she had at once commanded mademoiselle’s withdrawal.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
sonnounUS /sʌn/
a male human offspring
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
soonadverbUS /suːn/
in the near future
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
spreadverbUS /spred/
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
suddenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌdən/
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
suppressedadjectiveUS /səˈprest/
kept from public knowledge by various means
From this reading But her pride had suppressed the eager question that welled up to her lips.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Valerie had wondered might there not be letters--or, leastways, messages--for herself from her betrothed.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But her pride had suppressed the eager question that welled up to her lips.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading She would, too, have questioned the courier concerning Florimond’s health; she would have asked him how the Marquis looked, and where the messenger had left him.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But her pride had suppressed the eager question that welled up to her lips.
Valerie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valerie had wondered might there not be letters--or, leastways, messages--for herself from her betrothed.
Vauvraye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
welled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But her pride had suppressed the eager question that welled up to her lips.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading In the great hall of Condillac, where the Marquise, her son, and Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye had been at dinner, a sudden confusion had been spread by the arrival of that courier so soon as it was known that he bore letters from Florimond, Marquis de Condillac.
withdrawalnounUS /wɪðˈdrɔːəl/
a retraction of a previously held position
From this reading Madame had risen hastily, fear and defiance blending in her face, and she had at once commanded mademoiselle’s withdrawal.
wonderedverbUS /ˈwʌndərd/
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading Valerie had wondered might there not be letters--or, leastways, messages--for herself from her betrothed.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She would, too, have questioned the courier concerning Florimond’s health; she would have asked him how the Marquis looked, and where the messenger had left him.
