adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
abominationnounUS /əˌbɑːməˈneɪʃən/
a person who is loathsome or disgusting
From this reading Nor did I,--I saw nothing but what appeared to be an unoccupied ramshackle brick abomination.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Nor did I,--I saw nothing but what appeared to be an unoccupied ramshackle brick abomination.
Atherton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Atherton leaped out on to the grass-grown rubble which was meant for a footpath.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Nor did I,--I saw nothing but what appeared to be an unoccupied ramshackle brick abomination.
bricknounUS /brɪk/
rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading Nor did I,--I saw nothing but what appeared to be an unoccupied ramshackle brick abomination.
buildernounUS /ˈbɪldər/
a substance added to soaps or detergents to increase their cleansing action
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Nor did I,--I saw nothing but what appeared to be an unoccupied ramshackle brick abomination.
cabnounUS /kæb/
a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
cheapadjectiveUS /tʃiːp/
relatively low in price or charging low prices
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
defeatnounUS /dɪˈfiːt/
an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Nor did I,--I saw nothing but what appeared to be an unoccupied ramshackle brick abomination.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I don’t see Marjorie looking for me on the doorstep.’
doorstepnounUS /ˈdɔːrstep/
the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway
From this reading ‘I don’t see Marjorie looking for me on the doorstep.’
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading Suddenly Sydney gave an exclamation.
FLOORnounUS /flɔːr/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
footpathnounUS /ˈfʊtpæθ/
a trodden path
From this reading Atherton leaped out on to the grass-grown rubble which was meant for a footpath.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Atherton leaped out on to the grass-grown rubble which was meant for a footpath.
frontnounUS /frʌnt/
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Suddenly Sydney gave an exclamation.
grass-grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Atherton leaped out on to the grass-grown rubble which was meant for a footpath.
HIDDENadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdən/
not accessible to view
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘I don’t see Marjorie looking for me on the doorstep.’
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
leapedverbUS /lept/
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Atherton leaped out on to the grass-grown rubble which was meant for a footpath.
livingnounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋ/
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading ‘I don’t see Marjorie looking for me on the doorstep.’
Marjorie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I don’t see Marjorie looking for me on the doorstep.’
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ‘I don’t see Marjorie looking for me on the doorstep.’
meantverbUS /ment/
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Atherton leaped out on to the grass-grown rubble which was meant for a footpath.
monumentnounUS /ˈmɑːnjuːmənt/
a structure erected to commemorate persons or events
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
neighbourhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
NorconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Nor did I,--I saw nothing but what appeared to be an unoccupied ramshackle brick abomination.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nor did I,--I saw nothing but what appeared to be an unoccupied ramshackle brick abomination.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Atherton leaped out on to the grass-grown rubble which was meant for a footpath.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Atherton leaped out on to the grass-grown rubble which was meant for a footpath.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
pulledverbUS /pʊld/
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
ramshackleadjectiveUS /ˈræmʃækəl/
in deplorable condition
From this reading Nor did I,--I saw nothing but what appeared to be an unoccupied ramshackle brick abomination.
rubblenounUS /ˈrʌbəl/
the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up
From this reading Atherton leaped out on to the grass-grown rubble which was meant for a footpath.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading Nor did I,--I saw nothing but what appeared to be an unoccupied ramshackle brick abomination.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading ‘I don’t see Marjorie looking for me on the doorstep.’
speculativeadjectiveUS /ˈspekjələtɪv/
not financially safe or secure
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
SuddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly Sydney gave an exclamation.
SydneynounUS /ˈsɪdni/
the largest Australian city located in southeastern Australia on the Tasman Sea; state capital of New South Wales; Australia's chief port
From this reading Suddenly Sydney gave an exclamation.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Atherton leaped out on to the grass-grown rubble which was meant for a footpath.
tumbledown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
unfinishedadjectiveUS /ənˈfɪnɪʃt/
not brought to the desired final state
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
unoccupiedadjectiveUS /əˈnɑːkjəpaɪd/
not held or filled or in use
From this reading Nor did I,--I saw nothing but what appeared to be an unoccupied ramshackle brick abomination.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
villanounUS /ˈvɪlə/
Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
WHATpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Atherton leaped out on to the grass-grown rubble which was meant for a footpath.
wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading WHAT WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOOR The cab pulled up in front of a tumbledown cheap ‘villa’ in an unfinished cheap neighbourhood,--the whole place a living monument of the defeat of the speculative builder.
