AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "IT IS A LONG WAY."
affectionateadjectiveUS /əˈfekʃənət/
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
answerverbUS /ˈænsər/
react verbally
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The letter was very long as well as very serious and need not be given here at length.
askverbUS /æsk/
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The letter was very long as well as very serious and need not be given here at length.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The letter was very long as well as very serious and need not be given here at length.
becomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
besidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/
in addition to; as well as
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
chapternounUS /ˈtʃæptər/
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
communicationnounUS /kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃən/
the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
correspondencenounUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndəns/
communication by the exchange of letters
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
declineverbUS /dɪˈklaɪn/
grow worse
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
departurenounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/
the act of departing
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
engagedadjectiveUS /enˈɡeɪdʒd/
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
epistlenounUS /ɪˈpɪsəl/
a specially long, formal letter
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
furtheradverbUS /ˈfɜːrðər/
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
gistnounUS /dʒɪst/
the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
hereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading The letter was very long as well as very serious and need not be given here at length.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
intentionnounUS /ˌɪnˈtentʃən/
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "IT IS A LONG WAY."
ITpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "IT IS A LONG WAY."
JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
lawyersnounUS /ˈlɔːjərz/
plural of “lawyer” — a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
lengthnounUS /leŋkθ/
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading The letter was very long as well as very serious and need not be given here at length.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
letternounUS /ˈletər/
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading The letter was very long as well as very serious and need not be given here at length.
lettersnounUS /ˈletərz/
the literary culture
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
liberaladjectiveUS /ˈlɪbɜːrəl/
showing or characterized by broad-mindedness
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
LONGadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading "IT IS A LONG WAY."
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
MissverbUS /mɪs/
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
moneynounUS /ˈmʌni/
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
MortonnounUS /ˈmɔːrtən/
United States jazz musician who moved from ragtime to New Orleans jazz (1885-1941)
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
narratedverbUS /ˈnereɪtɪd/
past form of “narrate” — provide commentary for a film, for example
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
neednounUS /niːd/
a condition requiring relief
From this reading The letter was very long as well as very serious and need not be given here at length.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
powernounUS /ˈpaʊər/
possession of controlling influence
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
propositionnounUS /ˌprɑːpəˈzɪʃən/
(logic) a statement that affirms or denies something and is either true or false
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
receivedadjectiveUS /rəˈsiːvd/
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
regardnounUS /rɪˈɡɑːrd/
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
Rufford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
seriousadjectiveUS /ˈsɪriəs/
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
SoonadverbUS /suːn/
in the near future
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
Trefoilnoun
any of several Old World herbs of the genus Medicago having small flowers and trifoliate compound leaves
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
troublesnounUS /ˈtrʌbəlz/
plural of “trouble” — a source of difficulty
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
WAYnounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "IT IS A LONG WAY."
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 The letter was very long as well as very serious and need not be given here at length.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and other letters to answer.
wifenounUS /waɪf/
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Soon after her departure from Rufford she received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his wife or not.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But that was the gist of it; and he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not regard herself as engaged to him.
