adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sometimes he went to walk and did not return till the following day, leaving Madame Claes a prey to mortal anxiety during the night.
absent-mindedness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
affrontedverbUS /əˈfrʌntɪd/
past form of “affront” — treat, mention, or speak to rudely
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Two years after the winter when Monsieur Claes returned to chemistry, the aspect of his house was changed.
agreeableadjectiveUS /əˈɡriːəbəl/
conforming to your own liking or feelings or nature
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading After the second year he no longer passed the summer at his country-house, and his wife was unwilling to live there alone.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
anxietiesnounUS /æŋˈzaɪətiz/
plural of “anxiety” — (psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
anxietynounUS /æŋˈzaɪəti/
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading Sometimes he went to walk and did not return till the following day, leaving Madame Claes a prey to mortal anxiety during the night.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
aspectnounUS /ˈæspekt/
a distinct feature or element in a problem
From this reading Two years after the winter when Monsieur Claes returned to chemistry, the aspect of his house was changed.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
BalthazarnounUS /ˈbælθəzər/
(New Testament) one of the three sages from the east who came bearing gifts for the infant Jesus
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
bosomnounUS /ˈbʊzəm/
the chest considered as the place where secret thoughts are kept
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
changedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪndʒd/
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading Two years after the winter when Monsieur Claes returned to chemistry, the aspect of his house was changed.
chemistrynounUS /ˈkeməstri/
the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions
From this reading Two years after the winter when Monsieur Claes returned to chemistry, the aspect of his house was changed.
choseverbUS /tʃoʊz/
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
Claes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two years after the winter when Monsieur Claes returned to chemistry, the aspect of his house was changed.
Claes's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
country-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After the second year he no longer passed the summer at his country-house, and his wife was unwilling to live there alone.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Sometimes he went to walk and did not return till the following day, leaving Madame Claes a prey to mortal anxiety during the night.
dinner-time
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Sometimes he went to walk and did not return till the following day, leaving Madame Claes a prey to mortal anxiety during the night.
familynounUS /ˈfæməli/
a social unit living together
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Sometimes he went to walk and did not return till the following day, leaving Madame Claes a prey to mortal anxiety during the night.
friendsnounUS /frendz/
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After the second year he no longer passed the summer at his country-house, and his wife was unwilling to live there alone.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Two years after the winter when Monsieur Claes returned to chemistry, the aspect of his house was changed.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Two years after the winter when Monsieur Claes returned to chemistry, the aspect of his house was changed.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
intimateadjectiveUS /ˈɪntəmət/
marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
laboratorynounUS /ˈlæbrətɔːri/
a workplace for the conduct of scientific research
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
leavingnounUS /ˈliːvɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading Sometimes he went to walk and did not return till the following day, leaving Madame Claes a prey to mortal anxiety during the night.
lessadverbUS /les/
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
liveverbUS /laɪv/
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading After the second year he no longer passed the summer at his country-house, and his wife was unwilling to live there alone.
longeradverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡər/
for more time
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
MadamenounUS /ˈmædəm/
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
MonsieurnounUS /məˈsjɜːr/
used as a French courtesy title; equivalent to English “Mr”
From this reading Two years after the winter when Monsieur Claes returned to chemistry, the aspect of his house was changed.
mortaladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrtəl/
subject to death
From this reading Sometimes he went to walk and did not return till the following day, leaving Madame Claes a prey to mortal anxiety during the night.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Sometimes he went to walk and did not return till the following day, leaving Madame Claes a prey to mortal anxiety during the night.
nowherenounUS /ˈnoʊwer/
an insignificant place
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Two years after the winter when Monsieur Claes returned to chemistry, the aspect of his house was changed.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading After the second year he no longer passed the summer at his country-house, and his wife was unwilling to live there alone.
perpetualadjectiveUS /pərˈpetʃuːəl/
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading Sometimes he went to walk and did not return till the following day, leaving Madame Claes a prey to mortal anxiety during the night.
returnverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrn/
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Sometimes he went to walk and did not return till the following day, leaving Madame Claes a prey to mortal anxiety during the night.
returnedverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrnd/
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Two years after the winter when Monsieur Claes returned to chemistry, the aspect of his house was changed.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading After the second year he no longer passed the summer at his country-house, and his wife was unwilling to live there alone.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
shutverbUS /ʃʌt/
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
societynounUS /səˈsaɪəti/
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
sometimesadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
stayedverbUS /steɪd/
past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
summernounUS /ˈsʌmər/
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading After the second year he no longer passed the summer at his country-house, and his wife was unwilling to live there alone.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Two years after the winter when Monsieur Claes returned to chemistry, the aspect of his house was changed.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Sometimes he went to walk and did not return till the following day, leaving Madame Claes a prey to mortal anxiety during the night.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Two years after the winter when Monsieur Claes returned to chemistry, the aspect of his house was changed.
TwonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two years after the winter when Monsieur Claes returned to chemistry, the aspect of his house was changed.
unwillingadjectiveUS /ənˈwɪlɪŋ/
not disposed or inclined toward
From this reading After the second year he no longer passed the summer at his country-house, and his wife was unwilling to live there alone.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
walknounUS /wɔːk/
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading Sometimes he went to walk and did not return till the following day, leaving Madame Claes a prey to mortal anxiety during the night.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Two years after the winter when Monsieur Claes returned to chemistry, the aspect of his house was changed.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Balthazar went nowhere, shut himself up in his laboratory all day, sometimes stayed there all night, and only appeared in the bosom of his family at dinner-time.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Two years after the winter when Monsieur Claes returned to chemistry, the aspect of his house was changed.
WhetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Whether it were that society was affronted by his perpetual absent-mindedness and chose to think itself in the way, or that Madame Claes’s secret anxieties made her less agreeable than before, certain it is that she no longer saw any but her intimate friends.
wifenounUS /waɪf/
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading After the second year he no longer passed the summer at his country-house, and his wife was unwilling to live there alone.
winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Two years after the winter when Monsieur Claes returned to chemistry, the aspect of his house was changed.
yearnounUS /jɪr/
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading After the second year he no longer passed the summer at his country-house, and his wife was unwilling to live there alone.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading Two years after the winter when Monsieur Claes returned to chemistry, the aspect of his house was changed.
