adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
absencenounUS /ˈæbsəns/
the state of being absent
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
booknounUS /bʊk/
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
Cecily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
claspedverbUS /klæspt/
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
confidantnounUS /ˈkɑːnfədɑːnt/
someone to whom private matters are confided
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
CornwallnounUS /ˈkɔːrnwɔːl/
a hilly county in southwestern England
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
coursenounUS /kɔːrs/
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading A passage or two of the unrhymed thoughts, with long periods of interval, will suggest the course of her mental history.
delightverbUS /dɪˈlaɪt/
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
doubtsnounUS /daʊts/
plural of “doubt” — the state of being unsure of something
From this reading "I have no more doubts, and take shame to myself for those I ever entertained.
DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
easilyadverbUS /ˈiːzəli/
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
entertainedadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnd/
pleasantly occupied
From this reading "I have no more doubts, and take shame to myself for those I ever entertained.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading "I have no more doubts, and take shame to myself for those I ever entertained.
fairadjectiveUS /fer/
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
fishersnounUS /ˈfɪʃərz/
plural of “fisher” — someone whose occupation is catching fish
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
GRADATIONnounUS /ɡreɪˈdeɪʃən/
relative position in a graded series
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
handsomely-bound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
historynounUS /ˈhɪstəri/
the aggregate of past events
From this reading A passage or two of the unrhymed thoughts, with long periods of interval, will suggest the course of her mental history.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I have no more doubts, and take shame to myself for those I ever entertained.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
inlandadjectiveUS /ˈɪnlænd/
situated away from an area's coast or border
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
intervalnounUS /ˈɪntərvəl/
a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading A passage or two of the unrhymed thoughts, with long periods of interval, will suggest the course of her mental history.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
livingnounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋ/
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
lockverbUS /lɑːk/
fasten with a lock
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
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 She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
mentaladjectiveUS /ˈmentəl/
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading A passage or two of the unrhymed thoughts, with long periods of interval, will suggest the course of her mental history.
monthsnounUS /mʌnθs/
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
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 some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading "I have no more doubts, and take shame to myself for those I ever entertained.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading "I have no more doubts, and take shame to myself for those I ever entertained.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
occasionallyadverbUS /əˈkeɪʒənəli/
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
occasionedverbUS /əˈkeɪʒənd/
past form of “occasion” — give occasion to
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
pagesnounUS /ˈpeɪdʒəz/
plural of “page” — one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
passagenounUS /ˈpæsədʒ/
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading A passage or two of the unrhymed thoughts, with long periods of interval, will suggest the course of her mental history.
periodsnounUS /ˈpɪriədz/
plural of “period” — an amount of time
From this reading A passage or two of the unrhymed thoughts, with long periods of interval, will suggest the course of her mental history.
prosenounUS /proʊz/
ordinary writing as distinguished from verse
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
readverbUS /red/
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
returningadjectiveUS /rɪˈtɜːrnɪŋ/
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
ReubennounUS /ˈruːbən/
(Old Testment) a son of Jacob and forefather of one of the tribes of Israel
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
rideverbUS /raɪd/
sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
seasidenounUS /ˈsiːsaɪd/
the shore of a sea or ocean regarded as a resort
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
semblancenounUS /ˈsembləns/
an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
separationnounUS /ˌsepərˈeɪʃən/
the state of lacking unity
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
shamenounUS /ʃeɪm/
a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt
From this reading "I have no more doubts, and take shame to myself for those I ever entertained.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
silvernounUS /ˈsɪlvər/
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
sixnounUS /sɪks/
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
solitaryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləteri/
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
suggestverbUS /səˈdʒest/
make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading A passage or two of the unrhymed thoughts, with long periods of interval, will suggest the course of her mental history.
takeverbUS /teɪk/
carry out
From this reading "I have no more doubts, and take shame to myself for those I ever entertained.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading "I have no more doubts, and take shame to myself for those I ever entertained.
thoughtsnounUS /θɔːts/
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading A passage or two of the unrhymed thoughts, with long periods of interval, will suggest the course of her mental history.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading A passage or two of the unrhymed thoughts, with long periods of interval, will suggest the course of her mental history.
unrhymedadjective
not having rhyme
From this reading A passage or two of the unrhymed thoughts, with long periods of interval, will suggest the course of her mental history.
versenounUS /vɜːrs/
literature in metrical form
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
versesnounUS /ˈvɜːrsəz/
plural of “verse” — literature in metrical form
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
volumenounUS /ˈvɑːljuːm/
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
weddedadjectiveUS /ˈwedɪd/
having been taken in marriage
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading A passage or two of the unrhymed thoughts, with long periods of interval, will suggest the course of her mental history.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She was then living at the seaside in Cornwall, and Reuben occasionally went out for some hours with the fishers, or took a long solitary ride inland, just to have the delight of returning to his home after a semblance of separation; in his absence, Cecily made a confidant of the clasped volume.
writtenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪtən/
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading On some of its fair pages were verses, written when verse came to her more easily than prose, but read not even to him who occasioned them.
wroteverbUS /roʊt/
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading GRADATION During the first six months of her wedded life, Cecily wrote from time to time in a handsomely-bound book which had a little silver lock to it.
