adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
bellnounUS /bel/
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
Belsize
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PROPRIETIES DEFENDED The house was in Belsize Park.
blindnounUS /blaɪnd/
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
Cecily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
Cecily's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
DEFENDEDverbUS /dɪˈfendəd/
past form of “defend” — argue or speak in defense of
From this reading THE PROPRIETIES DEFENDED The house was in Belsize Park.
distinctlyadverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋktli/
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
ElgarnounUS /ˈelɡər/
British composer of choral and orchestral works including two symphonies as well as songs and chamber music and music for brass band (1857-1934)
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
endingnounUS /ˈendɪŋ/
the end of a word (a suffix or inflectional ending or final morpheme)
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
frontnounUS /frʌnt/
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
hallnounUS /hɔːl/
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE PROPRIETIES DEFENDED The house was in Belsize Park.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE PROPRIETIES DEFENDED The house was in Belsize Park.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
librarynounUS /ˈlaɪbreriː/
a room where books are kept
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
lifelessadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪfləs/
deprived of life; no longer living
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
LightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
maid-servant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
ParknounUS /pɑːrk/
a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property
From this reading THE PROPRIETIES DEFENDED The house was in Belsize Park.
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
PROPRIETIES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PROPRIETIES DEFENDED The house was in Belsize Park.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
reading-lamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
restverbUS /rest/
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
ringverbUS /rɪŋ/
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
shoneverbUS /ʃoʊn/
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
soundedverbUS /ˈsaʊndɪd/
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
spherenounUS /sfɪr/
a particular environment or walk of life
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
spokenadjectiveUS /ˈspoʊkən/
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
tablenounUS /ˈteɪbəl/
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PROPRIETIES DEFENDED The house was in Belsize Park.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
upperadjectiveUS /ˈʌpər/
the topmost one of two
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE PROPRIETIES DEFENDED The house was in Belsize Park.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
windowsnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊz/
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/
the words that are spoken
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
