adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
afternoonsnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːnz/
plural of “afternoon” — the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
awokeverbUS /əˈwoʊk/
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
babynounUS /ˈbeɪbi/
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
carefuladjectiveUS /ˈkerfəl/
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
caughtverbUS /kɑːt/
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
chambernounUS /ˈtʃeɪmbər/
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
childnounUS /tʃaɪld/
a young person of either sex
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
creakverbUS /kriːk/
make a high-pitched, screeching noise
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
declensionnounUS /dəˈklenʃən/
the inflection of nouns and pronouns and adjectives in Indo-European languages
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
effortsnounUS /ˈefərts/
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
employedadjectiveUS /emˈplɔɪd/
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
enteringnounUS /ˈentərɪŋ/
a movement into or inward
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
EVILnounUS /ˈiːvəl/
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
feverishadjectiveUS /ˈfiːvərɪʃ/
marked by intense agitation or emotion
From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
happenedverbUS /ˈhæpənd/
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
hingesnounUS /ˈhɪndʒɪz/
plural of “hinge” — a joint that holds two parts together so that one can swing relative to the other
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
languidadjectiveUS /ˈlæŋɡwəd/
lacking spirit or liveliness
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
lookverbUS /lʊk/
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
nightsnounUS /naɪts/
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
noiselessnessnoun
the property of making no noise
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
nurseverbUS /nɜːrs/
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
OccasionallyadverbUS /əˈkeɪʒənəli/
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
OMENSnounUS /ˈoʊmənz/
plural of “omen” — a sign of something about to happen
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
perceivedadjectiveUS /pərˈsiːvd/
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
PhilipnounUS /ˈfɪləp/
Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
Philip'snounUS /ˈfɪləps/
possessive form of “philip” — Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
probablyadverbUS /ˈprɑːbəbliː/
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
progressnounUS /ˈprɑːɡres/
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
recoverynounUS /rɪˈkʌvri/
return to an original state
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
rouseverbUS /raʊs/
become active
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
sleepnounUS /sliːp/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
sleepingnounUS /ˈsliːpɪŋ/
the state of being asleep
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
slumbernounUS /ˈslʌmbər/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
soundnounUS /saʊnd/
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
startledadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtəld/
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
stationaryadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪʃəneri/
standing still
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
stepnounUS /step/
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
stolenverbUS /ˈstoʊlən/
inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
succeedingadjectiveUS /səkˈsiːdɪŋ/
coming after or following
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
Sylvia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
upstairsadverbUS /əpˈsterz/
on a floor above
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
usuallyadverbUS /ˈjuːʒəwəli/
under normal conditions
From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
wakefuladjective
carefully observant or attentive; on the lookout for possible danger
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
warnedverbUS /wɔːrnd/
past form of “warn” — notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
weaknessnounUS /ˈwiːknəs/
a flaw or weak point
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
wifenounUS /waɪf/
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
