adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The winter had been an open one.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
AprilnounUS /ˈeɪprəl/
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading The shell of the house at Robin Hill was thus completed by the end of April.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The shell of the house at Robin Hill was thus completed by the end of April.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The winter had been an open one.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
brickworknoun
masonry done with bricks and mortar
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
buildingnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋ/
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The shell of the house at Robin Hill was thus completed by the end of April.
carefuladjectiveUS /ˈkerfəl/
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
centraladjectiveUS /ˈsentrəl/
serving as an essential component
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
circlingverbUS /ˈsɜːrkəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “circle” — travel around something
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
clothesnounUS /kloʊðz/
clothing in general
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
columnsnounUS /ˈkɑːləmz/
plural of “column” — a line of units following one after another
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
completedadjectiveUS /kəmˈpliːtəd/
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading The shell of the house at Robin Hill was thus completed by the end of April.
courtnounUS /kɔːrt/
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
debrisnounUS /dəˈbriː/
the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
doorwaysnounUS /ˈdɔːrweɪz/
plural of “doorway” — the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
endnounUS /end/
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The shell of the house at Robin Hill was thus completed by the end of April.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The winter had been an open one.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
HillnounUS /hɪl/
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The shell of the house at Robin Hill was thus completed by the end of April.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The shell of the house at Robin Hill was thus completed by the end of April.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading And he would stand before them for minutes together, as though peering into the real quality of their substance.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading And he would stand before them for minutes together, as though peering into the real quality of their substance.
moneynounUS /ˈmʌni/
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
mousenounUS /maʊs/
any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
movingadjectiveUS /ˈmuːvɪŋ/
in motion
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
NowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The shell of the house at Robin Hill was thus completed by the end of April.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The winter had been an open one.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The winter had been an open one.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading And he would stand before them for minutes together, as though peering into the real quality of their substance.
qualitynounUS /ˈkwɑːləti/
an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading And he would stand before them for minutes together, as though peering into the real quality of their substance.
realadjectiveUS /riːl/
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading And he would stand before them for minutes together, as though peering into the real quality of their substance.
reflectedadjectiveUS /rɪˈflektɪd/
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
RobinnounUS /ˈrɑːbən/
small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading The shell of the house at Robin Hill was thus completed by the end of April.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
seenverbUS /siːn/
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
shellnounUS /ʃel/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading The shell of the house at Robin Hill was thus completed by the end of April.
silentlyadverbUS /ˈsaɪləntli/
without speaking
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
slackadjectiveUS /slæk/
not tense or taut
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
Soames
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
soilnounUS /sɔɪl/
the state of being covered with unclean things
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
standverbUS /stænd/
be standing; be upright
From this reading And he would stand before them for minutes together, as though peering into the real quality of their substance.
substancenounUS /ˈsʌbstəns/
the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists
From this reading And he would stand before them for minutes together, as though peering into the real quality of their substance.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The winter had been an open one.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading And he would stand before them for minutes together, as though peering into the real quality of their substance.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading And he would stand before them for minutes together, as though peering into the real quality of their substance.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
ThingsnounUS /θɪŋz/
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading And he would stand before them for minutes together, as though peering into the real quality of their substance.
threenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
thusadverbUS /ðʌs/
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading The shell of the house at Robin Hill was thus completed by the end of April.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
timesnounUS /taɪmz/
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading And he would stand before them for minutes together, as though peering into the real quality of their substance.
tradenounUS /treɪd/
the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
twiceadverbUS /twaɪs/
two times
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
unfinishedadjectiveUS /ənˈfɪnɪʃt/
not brought to the desired final state
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The shell of the house at Robin Hill was thus completed by the end of April.
weeknounUS /wiːk/
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building.
winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The winter had been an open one.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court.
