adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
abstractedlyadverb
in an absentminded or preoccupied manner
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
aloudadverbUS /əˈlaʊd/
using the voice; not silently
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
attemptedadjectiveUS /əˈtemptɪd/
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
attendingnounUS /əˈtendɪŋ/
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
BalthazarnounUS /ˈbælθəzər/
(New Testament) one of the three sages from the east who came bearing gifts for the infant Jesus
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
bringverbUS /brɪŋ/
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
causenounUS /kɑːz/
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
chairnounUS /tʃer/
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
Claes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
conditionnounUS /kənˈdɪʃən/
a state at a particular time
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
conductverbUS /ˈkɑːndəkt/
direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
daughtersnounUS /ˈdɔːtərz/
plural of “daughter” — a female human offspring
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
doubtnounUS /daʊt/
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
footbathnoun
a small bathtub for warming or washing or disinfecting the feet
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
gazedverbUS /ɡeɪzd/
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/
a young female
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
hushedadjectiveUS /hʌʃt/
in a softened tone
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
inquiringadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪərɪŋ/
given to inquiry
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
JeannounUS /dʒiːn/
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
Josephine's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
kneenounUS /niː/
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
lyingnounUS /ˈlaɪɪŋ/
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
MadamenounUS /ˈmædəm/
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
MargueritenounUS /ˌmɑːrɡərˈiːt/
tall leafy-stemmed Eurasian perennial with white flowers; widely naturalized; often placed in genus Chrysanthemum
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
meansnounUS /miːnz/
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
mechanicallyadverbUS /məˈkænɪkli/
in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
noticenounUS /ˈnoʊtəs/
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
placedadjectiveUS /pleɪst/
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
pointedadjectiveUS /ˈpɔɪntɪd/
having a point
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
ponderingadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːndərɪŋ/
deeply or seriously thoughtful
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
problemnounUS /ˈprɑːbləm/
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
riseverbUS /raɪz/
move upward
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
scenenounUS /siːn/
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
sensibleadjectiveUS /ˈsensəbəl/
showing reason or sound judgment
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
solicitudenounUS /səˈlɪsɪtuːd/
a feeling of excessive concern
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
solvingnounUS /ˈsɑːlvɪŋ/
finding a solution to a problem
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
speakverbUS /spiːk/
express in speech
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
SuchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
tenderadjectiveUS /ˈtendər/
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
trottedverbUS /ˈtrɑːtɪd/
inflected form of “trot” — run at a moderately swift pace
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He took Jean upon his knee and trotted him mechanically, pondering, no doubt, the problem he now had the means of solving.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Balthazar was again so absorbed that he did not notice Josephine’s condition.
weakadjectiveUS /wiːk/
wanting in physical strength
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
weighverbUS /weɪ/
have a certain weight
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Marguerite or Jean attempted to speak aloud, Madame Claes hushed them and pointed to Balthazar.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
wifenounUS /waɪf/
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He saw them bring the footbath to his wife, who was still in the parlor, too weak to rise from the low chair in which she was lying; he gazed abstractedly at his daughters now attending on their mother, without inquiring the cause of their tender solicitude.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Such a scene was of a nature to make a young girl think; and Marguerite, placed as she was between her father and mother, was old enough and sensible enough to weigh their conduct.
