adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I was going to be married to a hideous old man, and be carried to France, and should never see any of them again.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading I was going to be married to a hideous old man, and be carried to France, and should never see any of them again.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading I was going to be married to a hideous old man, and be carried to France, and should never see any of them again.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
ballnounUS /bɔːl/
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I was going to be married to a hideous old man, and be carried to France, and should never see any of them again.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
betrothedadjective
pledged to be married
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
bitteradjectiveUS /ˈbɪtər/
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
breakfastverbUS /ˈbrekfəst/
eat an early morning meal
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By and by my mother carried me off to be dressed.
cakenounUS /keɪk/
a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
cakesnounUS /keɪks/
plural of “cake” — a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
carriedverbUS /ˈkærid/
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading I was going to be married to a hideous old man, and be carried to France, and should never see any of them again.
chid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
criedverbUS /kraɪd/
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
cryverbUS /kraɪ/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
dinnernounUS /ˈdɪnər/
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
dressedadjectiveUS /drest/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading By and by my mother carried me off to be dressed.
facesnounUS /ˈfeɪsəz/
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
FrancenounUS /fræns/
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading I was going to be married to a hideous old man, and be carried to France, and should never see any of them again.
frightnounUS /fraɪt/
an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
giveverbUS /ɡɪv/
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading I was going to be married to a hideous old man, and be carried to France, and should never see any of them again.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
hatedadjectiveUS /ˈheɪtəd/
treated with dislike or contempt
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
hearverbUS /hiːr/
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
hideousadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdiəs/
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading I was going to be married to a hideous old man, and be carried to France, and should never see any of them again.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
knewverbUS /nuː/
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading I was going to be married to a hideous old man, and be carried to France, and should never see any of them again.
marriedadjectiveUS /ˈmerid/
joined in matrimony
From this reading I was going to be married to a hideous old man, and be carried to France, and should never see any of them again.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
mournfuladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrnfəl/
expressing sorrow
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
NannounUS /næn/
your grandmother
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I was going to be married to a hideous old man, and be carried to France, and should never see any of them again.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading By and by my mother carried me off to be dressed.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading I was going to be married to a hideous old man, and be carried to France, and should never see any of them again.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
orangenounUS /ˈɔːrəndʒ/
round yellow to orange fruit of any of several citrus trees
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
ordersnounUS /ˈɔːrdərz/
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
sakenounUS /seɪk/
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I was going to be married to a hideous old man, and be carried to France, and should never see any of them again.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
sharplyadverbUS /ˈʃɑːrpli/
in an aggressive manner
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I was going to be married to a hideous old man, and be carried to France, and should never see any of them again.
still-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I was going to be married to a hideous old man, and be carried to France, and should never see any of them again.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
wantedadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːntɪd/
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was going to be married to a hideous old man, and be carried to France, and should never see any of them again.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
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 Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading I had cried half the night, and when in the morning little Nan wanted to hear about my ball, I only answered that I hated the thought of it.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I made Nan cry too, and we both came down to breakfast with such mournful faces that my mother chid me sharply for making myself such a fright.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Then she took me away to the still-room, and set me for an hour to make orange cakes, while she gave orders for the great dinner that we were to give that day, I knew only too well for whose sake; and if I had only known which orange cake was for my betrothed, would not it have been a bitter one!
