adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
ACQUAINTANCEnounUS /əˈkweɪntəns/
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading RIPENING ACQUAINTANCE I went to see her in the morning.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading On Madame Pierson's table were some papers and new books; they appeared as if they had not been more than touched.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading On Madame Pierson's table were some papers and new books; they appeared as if they had not been more than touched.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
auntnounUS /ænt/
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading On Madame Pierson's table were some papers and new books; they appeared as if they had not been more than touched.
bird-cage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
blindsnounUS /blaɪndz/
plural of “blind” — people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading On Madame Pierson's table were some papers and new books; they appeared as if they had not been more than touched.
certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
circlenounUS /ˈsɜːrkəl/
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
confessverbUS /kənˈfes/
confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
deathnounUS /deθ/
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
effectnounUS /ɪˈfekt/
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
escapenounUS /ɪˈskeɪp/
the act of escaping physically
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
expectedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspektəd/
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
filledadjectiveUS /fɪld/
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
findverbUS /faɪnd/
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
flowersnounUS /ˈflaʊərz/
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
happensverbUS /ˈhæpənz/
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading RIPENING ACQUAINTANCE I went to see her in the morning.
hereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading RIPENING ACQUAINTANCE I went to see her in the morning.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading On Madame Pierson's table were some papers and new books; they appeared as if they had not been more than touched.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading RIPENING ACQUAINTANCE I went to see her in the morning.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
isolatedadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsəleɪtəd/
not close together in time
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
leaguesnounUS /liːɡz/
plural of “league” — an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
leastadjectiveUS /liːst/
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
liveverbUS /laɪv/
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
MadamenounUS /ˈmædəm/
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading On Madame Pierson's table were some papers and new books; they appeared as if they had not been more than touched.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading On Madame Pierson's table were some papers and new books; they appeared as if they had not been more than touched.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading RIPENING ACQUAINTANCE I went to see her in the morning.
narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading On Madame Pierson's table were some papers and new books; they appeared as if they had not been more than touched.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
papersnounUS /ˈpeɪpərz/
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading On Madame Pierson's table were some papers and new books; they appeared as if they had not been more than touched.
pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/
a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
Pierson's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On Madame Pierson's table were some papers and new books; they appeared as if they had not been more than touched.
poolsnounUS /puːlz/
plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
provincesnounUS /ˈprɑːvənsəz/
plural of “province” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
religieuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
respirable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
RIPENINGnounUS /ˈraɪpənɪŋ/
coming to full development; becoming mature
From this reading RIPENING ACQUAINTANCE I went to see her in the morning.
roofsnounUS /ruːfs/
plural of “roof” — a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading RIPENING ACQUAINTANCE I went to see her in the morning.
seemverbUS /siːm/
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
sewingnounUS /ˈsoʊɪŋ/
joining or attaching by stitches
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading On Madame Pierson's table were some papers and new books; they appeared as if they had not been more than touched.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
stagnantadjectiveUS /ˈstæɡnənt/
not circulating or flowing
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
streamingadjectiveUS /ˈstriːmɪŋ/
exuding a bodily fluid in profuse amounts
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
sunlightnounUS /ˈsʌnlaɪt/
the rays of the sun
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
tablenounUS /ˈteɪbəl/
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading On Madame Pierson's table were some papers and new books; they appeared as if they had not been more than touched.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading On Madame Pierson's table were some papers and new books; they appeared as if they had not been more than touched.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RIPENING ACQUAINTANCE I went to see her in the morning.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
thousandnounUS /ˈθaʊzənd/
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading RIPENING ACQUAINTANCE I went to see her in the morning.
touchedadjectiveUS /tʌtʃt/
having come into contact
From this reading On Madame Pierson's table were some papers and new books; they appeared as if they had not been more than touched.
townsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
unknownadjectiveUS /ənˈnoʊn/
not known
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs, had always had on me the effect of stagnant pools of water; the air does not seem respirable: in everything on earth that is forgotten, there is something of death.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading RIPENING ACQUAINTANCE I went to see her in the morning.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On Madame Pierson's table were some papers and new books; they appeared as if they had not been more than touched.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I found her at the piano, her old aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the sunlight streaming through the blinds, a large bird-cage at her side.
womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading I expected to find her something of a religieuse, at least one of those women of the provinces who know nothing of what happens two leagues away, and who live in a certain narrow circle from which they never escape.
