AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
affairsnounUS /əˈferz/
matters of personal concern
From this reading Among the best-known village residents was Miss Melinda Sprague, a maiden lady, who took a profound interest in the affairs of her neighbors.
AmongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Among the best-known village residents was Miss Melinda Sprague, a maiden lady, who took a profound interest in the affairs of her neighbors.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had learned the business of dressmaking, and often did work at home for her customers.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She had learned the business of dressmaking, and often did work at home for her customers.
becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
best-knownadjective
most familiar or renowned
From this reading Among the best-known village residents was Miss Melinda Sprague, a maiden lady, who took a profound interest in the affairs of her neighbors.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading She seldom went beyond the limits of Groveton, which was her world.
boxnounUS /bɑːks/
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading She had learned the business of dressmaking, and often did work at home for her customers.
contentsnounUS /ˈkɑːntents/
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
customersnounUS /ˈkʌstəmərz/
plural of “customer” — someone who pays for goods or services
From this reading She had learned the business of dressmaking, and often did work at home for her customers.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She had learned the business of dressmaking, and often did work at home for her customers.
DISCOVERSverbUS /dɪˈskʌvərz/
third-person singular of “discover” — discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
dressmakingnounUS /ˈdresmeɪkɪŋ/
the craft of making dresses
From this reading She had learned the business of dressmaking, and often did work at home for her customers.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had learned the business of dressmaking, and often did work at home for her customers.
Groveton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She seldom went beyond the limits of Groveton, which was her world.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
happenedverbUS /ˈhæpənd/
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading This is the way it happened:
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Among the best-known village residents was Miss Melinda Sprague, a maiden lady, who took a profound interest in the affairs of her neighbors.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading She had learned the business of dressmaking, and often did work at home for her customers.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Among the best-known village residents was Miss Melinda Sprague, a maiden lady, who took a profound interest in the affairs of her neighbors.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This is the way it happened:
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/
apprehended with certainty
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
ladynounUS /ˈleɪdi/
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Among the best-known village residents was Miss Melinda Sprague, a maiden lady, who took a profound interest in the affairs of her neighbors.
Larkins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
learnedadjectiveUS /lɜːrnd/
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading She had learned the business of dressmaking, and often did work at home for her customers.
limitsnounUS /ˈlɪməts/
plural of “limit” — the greatest possible degree of something
From this reading She seldom went beyond the limits of Groveton, which was her world.
maidennounUS /ˈmeɪdən/
an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
From this reading Among the best-known village residents was Miss Melinda Sprague, a maiden lady, who took a profound interest in the affairs of her neighbors.
Melinda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among the best-known village residents was Miss Melinda Sprague, a maiden lady, who took a profound interest in the affairs of her neighbors.
MISSverbUS /mɪs/
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
neighborsnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading Among the best-known village residents was Miss Melinda Sprague, a maiden lady, who took a profound interest in the affairs of her neighbors.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Among the best-known village residents was Miss Melinda Sprague, a maiden lady, who took a profound interest in the affairs of her neighbors.
oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/
many times at short intervals
From this reading She had learned the business of dressmaking, and often did work at home for her customers.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/
a human being
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
possessionnounUS /pəˈzeʃən/
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
profoundadjectiveUS /proʊˈfaʊnd/
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
From this reading Among the best-known village residents was Miss Melinda Sprague, a maiden lady, who took a profound interest in the affairs of her neighbors.
residentsnounUS /ˈrezɪdənts/
plural of “resident” — someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading Among the best-known village residents was Miss Melinda Sprague, a maiden lady, who took a profound interest in the affairs of her neighbors.
SECRETnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
seldomadverbUS /ˈseldəm/
not often
From this reading She seldom went beyond the limits of Groveton, which was her world.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She seldom went beyond the limits of Groveton, which was her world.
SPRAGUE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
tinnounUS /tɪn/
a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Among the best-known village residents was Miss Melinda Sprague, a maiden lady, who took a profound interest in the affairs of her neighbors.
unknownadjectiveUS /ənˈnoʊn/
not known
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
villagenounUS /ˈvɪlədʒ/
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading MISS SPRAGUE DISCOVERS A SECRET About this time it became known to one person in the village that the Larkins had in their possession a tin box, contents unknown.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Among the best-known village residents was Miss Melinda Sprague, a maiden lady, who took a profound interest in the affairs of her neighbors.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading This is the way it happened:
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She seldom went beyond the limits of Groveton, which was her world.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She seldom went beyond the limits of Groveton, which was her world.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Among the best-known village residents was Miss Melinda Sprague, a maiden lady, who took a profound interest in the affairs of her neighbors.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading She had learned the business of dressmaking, and often did work at home for her customers.
worldnounUS /wɜːrld/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading She seldom went beyond the limits of Groveton, which was her world.
