adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The house was four stories tall and stood twenty-five feet on the street front, without a yard.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
banknounUS /bæŋk/
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
businessesnounUS /ˈbɪznəsəz/
plural of “business” — a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
cashiernounUS /kæˈʃɪr/
an employee of a bank who receives and pays out money
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The children had come to have intimacies of their own.
climbverbUS /klaɪm/
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The children had come to have intimacies of their own.
companynounUS /ˈkʌmpəniː/
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
Cowperwood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
dealersnounUS /ˈdiːlərz/
plural of “dealer” — someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
distinguishedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
dry-goods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
encounteredverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntərd/
past form of “encounter” — come together
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
entertainverbUS /ˌentərˈteɪn/
provide entertainment for
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
establishedadjectiveUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃt/
brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
familynounUS /ˈfæməli/
a social unit living together
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The house was four stories tall and stood twenty-five feet on the street front, without a yard.
fournounUS /fɔːr/
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The house was four stories tall and stood twenty-five feet on the street front, without a yard.
FrontnounUS /frʌnt/
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
furnishedadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrnɪʃt/
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
grainnounUS /ɡreɪn/
a relatively small granular particle of a substance
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
groceriesnounUS /ˈɡroʊsəriz/
plural of “grocery” — a marketplace where groceries are sold
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The children had come to have intimacies of their own.
headsnounUS /hedz/
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
HenrynounUS /ˈhenri/
a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
HereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
includedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkluːdəd/
enclosed in the same envelope or package
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
interestsnounUS /ˈɪntrəsts/
plural of “interest” — a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
intimacies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children had come to have intimacies of their own.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
largeradjectiveUS /ˈlɑːrdʒər/
large or big relative to something else
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
leathernounUS /ˈleðər/
an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
NorthnounUS /nɔːrθ/
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
numbernounUS /ˈnʌmbər/
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The children had come to have intimacies of their own.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
positionnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
representativesnounUS /ˌreprəˈzentətɪvz/
plural of “representative” — a person who represents others
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The house was four stories tall and stood twenty-five feet on the street front, without a yard.
storiesnounUS /ˈstɔːriz/
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading The house was four stories tall and stood twenty-five feet on the street front, without a yard.
StreetnounUS /striːt/
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
successfuladjectiveUS /səkˈsesfəl/
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
talladjectiveUS /tɔːl/
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading The house was four stories tall and stood twenty-five feet on the street front, without a yard.
tastefullyadverbUS /ˈteɪstfəli/
with taste; in a tasteful manner
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The children had come to have intimacies of their own.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
tradedverbUS /ˈtreɪdɪd/
past form of “trade” — engage in the trade of
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
twenty-fiveadjectiveUS /ˈtwentifaɪv/
being five more than twenty
From this reading The house was four stories tall and stood twenty-five feet on the street front, without a yard.
upwardadjectiveUS /ˈʌpwərd/
directed up
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
variousadjectiveUS /ˈveriəs/
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Cowperwood family was by this time established in its new and larger and more tastefully furnished house on North Front Street, facing the river.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Here the family began to entertain in a small way, and there came to see them, now and then, representatives of the various interests that Henry Cowperwood had encountered in his upward climb to the position of cashier.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
wholesaleadverbUS /ˈhoʊlseɪl/
at a wholesale price
From this reading It was not a very distinguished company, but it included a number of people who were about as successful as himself—heads of small businesses who traded at his bank, dealers in dry-goods, leather, groceries (wholesale), and grain.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The house was four stories tall and stood twenty-five feet on the street front, without a yard.
yardnounUS /jɑːrd/
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The house was four stories tall and stood twenty-five feet on the street front, without a yard.
