adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Her hair was soft and glossy, always free from powder, and cunningly arranged so as to slightly overshadow the upper part of her face.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
arrangedadjectiveUS /ərˈeɪndʒd/
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading Her hair was soft and glossy, always free from powder, and cunningly arranged so as to slightly overshadow the upper part of her face.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
betrayverbUS /bɪˈtreɪ/
reveal unintentionally
From this reading Her humble origin certainly did not betray itself in her hands and feet, which were exquisite in shape and lilliputian in size.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
certainlyadverbUS /ˈsɜːrtənli/
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Her humble origin certainly did not betray itself in her hands and feet, which were exquisite in shape and lilliputian in size.
chinnounUS /tʃɪn/
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading The chin was small and round, the mouth extraordinarily red, the neck slender and long.
cunninglyadverb
in an attractive manner
From this reading Her hair was soft and glossy, always free from powder, and cunningly arranged so as to slightly overshadow the upper part of her face.
daintyadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪnti/
delicately beautiful
From this reading She was small and dark, dainty in her manner and ways, and with a graceful little figure, peculiarly supple and sinuous.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading She was small and dark, dainty in her manner and ways, and with a graceful little figure, peculiarly supple and sinuous.
denounUS /diː/
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
Desiree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Her humble origin certainly did not betray itself in her hands and feet, which were exquisite in shape and lilliputian in size.
dressernounUS /ˈdresər/
furniture with drawers for keeping clothes
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
Duc
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
educationnounUS /ˌedʒəˈkeɪʃən/
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
exquisiteadjectiveUS /ˈekskwəzət/
intense or sharp
From this reading Her humble origin certainly did not betray itself in her hands and feet, which were exquisite in shape and lilliputian in size.
extraordinarilyadverbUS /ekˌstrɔːrdəˈnerəli/
extremely
From this reading The chin was small and round, the mouth extraordinarily red, the neck slender and long.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Her hair was soft and glossy, always free from powder, and cunningly arranged so as to slightly overshadow the upper part of her face.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Her humble origin certainly did not betray itself in her hands and feet, which were exquisite in shape and lilliputian in size.
figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading She was small and dark, dainty in her manner and ways, and with a graceful little figure, peculiarly supple and sinuous.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
freeverbUS /friː/
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading Her hair was soft and glossy, always free from powder, and cunningly arranged so as to slightly overshadow the upper part of her face.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Her hair was soft and glossy, always free from powder, and cunningly arranged so as to slightly overshadow the upper part of her face.
glossyadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɔːsi/
based on pretense; deceptively pleasing
From this reading Her hair was soft and glossy, always free from powder, and cunningly arranged so as to slightly overshadow the upper part of her face.
gracefuladjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪsfəl/
characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution
From this reading She was small and dark, dainty in her manner and ways, and with a graceful little figure, peculiarly supple and sinuous.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
hairnounUS /her/
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Her hair was soft and glossy, always free from powder, and cunningly arranged so as to slightly overshadow the upper part of her face.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Her humble origin certainly did not betray itself in her hands and feet, which were exquisite in shape and lilliputian in size.
HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
householdnounUS /ˈhaʊshoʊld/
a social unit living together
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
humbleadjectiveUS /ˈhʌmbəl/
low or inferior in station or quality
From this reading Her humble origin certainly did not betray itself in her hands and feet, which were exquisite in shape and lilliputian in size.
humblestadjectiveUS /ˈhʌmbələst/
superlative of “humble” — low or inferior in station or quality
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Her humble origin certainly did not betray itself in her hands and feet, which were exquisite in shape and lilliputian in size.
kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
kitchen-maid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
lilliputianadjectiveUS /ˌlɪləˈpjuːʃən/
tiny; relating to or characteristic of the imaginary country of Lilliput
From this reading Her humble origin certainly did not betray itself in her hands and feet, which were exquisite in shape and lilliputian in size.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She was small and dark, dainty in her manner and ways, and with a graceful little figure, peculiarly supple and sinuous.
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 The chin was small and round, the mouth extraordinarily red, the neck slender and long.
mannernounUS /ˈmænər/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She was small and dark, dainty in her manner and ways, and with a graceful little figure, peculiarly supple and sinuous.
Marny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
minoradjectiveUS /ˈmaɪnər/
of lesser importance or stature or rank
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
mouthnounUS /maʊθ/
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading The chin was small and round, the mouth extraordinarily red, the neck slender and long.
necknounUS /nek/
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading The chin was small and round, the mouth extraordinarily red, the neck slender and long.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Her humble origin certainly did not betray itself in her hands and feet, which were exquisite in shape and lilliputian in size.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
originnounUS /ˈɔːrədʒən/
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
overshadowverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈʃædoʊ/
be greater in significance than
From this reading Her hair was soft and glossy, always free from powder, and cunningly arranged so as to slightly overshadow the upper part of her face.
ParisnounUS /ˈperɪs/
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
partnounUS /pɑːrt/
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Her hair was soft and glossy, always free from powder, and cunningly arranged so as to slightly overshadow the upper part of her face.
peculiarlyadverbUS /pɪˈkjuːljərli/
uniquely or characteristically
From this reading She was small and dark, dainty in her manner and ways, and with a graceful little figure, peculiarly supple and sinuous.
popularadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːpjələr/
regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
powdernounUS /ˈpaʊdər/
a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized
From this reading Her hair was soft and glossy, always free from powder, and cunningly arranged so as to slightly overshadow the upper part of her face.
receivedadjectiveUS /rəˈsiːvd/
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
rednounUS /red/
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The chin was small and round, the mouth extraordinarily red, the neck slender and long.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The chin was small and round, the mouth extraordinarily red, the neck slender and long.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
shapenounUS /ʃeɪp/
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading Her humble origin certainly did not betray itself in her hands and feet, which were exquisite in shape and lilliputian in size.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
sinuousadjectiveUS /ˈsɪnwəs/
curved or curving in and out
From this reading She was small and dark, dainty in her manner and ways, and with a graceful little figure, peculiarly supple and sinuous.
sizenounUS /saɪz/
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading Her humble origin certainly did not betray itself in her hands and feet, which were exquisite in shape and lilliputian in size.
slenderadjectiveUS /ˈslendər/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading The chin was small and round, the mouth extraordinarily red, the neck slender and long.
slightlyadverbUS /ˈslaɪtli/
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Her hair was soft and glossy, always free from powder, and cunningly arranged so as to slightly overshadow the upper part of her face.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She was small and dark, dainty in her manner and ways, and with a graceful little figure, peculiarly supple and sinuous.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading Her hair was soft and glossy, always free from powder, and cunningly arranged so as to slightly overshadow the upper part of her face.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
starsnounUS /stɑːrz/
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
suppleadjectiveUS /ˈsʌpəl/
gracefully thin and bending and moving with ease
From this reading She was small and dark, dainty in her manner and ways, and with a graceful little figure, peculiarly supple and sinuous.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
theatresnounUS /ˈθiːətərz/
plural of “theatre” — a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Her hair was soft and glossy, always free from powder, and cunningly arranged so as to slightly overshadow the upper part of her face.
ultimatelyadverbUS /ˈʌltəmətli/
as the end result of a succession or process
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
upperadjectiveUS /ˈʌpər/
the topmost one of two
From this reading Her hair was soft and glossy, always free from powder, and cunningly arranged so as to slightly overshadow the upper part of her face.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her origin was of the humblest, for her mother--so it was said--had been kitchen-maid in the household of the Duc de Marny, but Desiree had received some kind of education, and though she began life as a dresser in one of the minor theatres of Paris, she became ultimately one of its most popular stars.
waysnounUS /weɪz/
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading She was small and dark, dainty in her manner and ways, and with a graceful little figure, peculiarly supple and sinuous.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her humble origin certainly did not betray itself in her hands and feet, which were exquisite in shape and lilliputian in size.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Her humble origin certainly did not betray itself in her hands and feet, which were exquisite in shape and lilliputian in size.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She was small and dark, dainty in her manner and ways, and with a graceful little figure, peculiarly supple and sinuous.
