adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had come straight out from a stormy midnight talk with Sheila.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was foolish, it was weak; and with a sweet, soft sort of girl who could be no use.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
bornadjectiveUS /bɔːrn/
brought into existence
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
burdennounUS /ˈbɜːrdən/
an onerous or difficult concern
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He had come straight out from a stormy midnight talk with Sheila.
companionsnounUS /kəmˈpænjənz/
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was foolish, it was weak; and with a sweet, soft sort of girl who could be no use.
cryverbUS /kraɪ/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
Derek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
doingverbUS /ˈduːɪŋ/
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
ecstasies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
expressesnounUS /ɪkˈspresəz/
plural of “express” — mail that is distributed by a rapid and efficient system
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
fallingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlɪŋ/
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
fervidadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrvəd/
characterized by intense emotion
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
foolishadjectiveUS /ˈfuːlɪʃ/
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading It was foolish, it was weak; and with a sweet, soft sort of girl who could be no use.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had come straight out from a stormy midnight talk with Sheila.
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/
a young female
From this reading It was foolish, it was weak; and with a sweet, soft sort of girl who could be no use.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had come straight out from a stormy midnight talk with Sheila.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
heartnounUS /hɑːrt/
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
hillsnounUS /hɪlz/
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
hurryingadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was foolish, it was weak; and with a sweet, soft sort of girl who could be no use.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
lilac-curtained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
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 While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
lovenounUS /lʌv/
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
Mallorings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
Malvern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
midnightnounUS /ˈmɪdnaɪt/
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
Nedda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
pastnounUS /pæst/
the time that has elapsed
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
physicaladjectiveUS /ˈfɪzɪkəl/
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
poetnounUS /ˈpoʊət/
a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/
on the contrary
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
RoadnounUS /roʊd/
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
Sheila
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had come straight out from a stormy midnight talk with Sheila.
softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading It was foolish, it was weak; and with a sweet, soft sort of girl who could be no use.
sortnounUS /sɔːrt/
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading It was foolish, it was weak; and with a sweet, soft sort of girl who could be no use.
Spaniard's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
starsnounUS /stɑːrz/
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
stormyadjectiveUS /ˈstɔːrmi/
(especially of weather) affected or characterized by storms or commotion
From this reading He had come straight out from a stormy midnight talk with Sheila.
straightadjectiveUS /streɪt/
successive (without a break)
From this reading He had come straight out from a stormy midnight talk with Sheila.
strengthnounUS /streŋkθ/
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
struggleverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəl/
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
sweetadjectiveUS /swiːt/
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading It was foolish, it was weak; and with a sweet, soft sort of girl who could be no use.
swordsmannoun
someone skilled at fencing
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
talkverbUS /tɔːk/
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading He had come straight out from a stormy midnight talk with Sheila.
tempernounUS /ˈtempər/
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
upwardadjectiveUS /ˈʌpwərd/
directed up
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
usenounUS /juːs/
the act of using
From this reading It was foolish, it was weak; and with a sweet, soft sort of girl who could be no use.
walkingadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːkɪŋ/
close enough to be walked to
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
wantedadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːntɪd/
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
weakadjectiveUS /wiːk/
wanting in physical strength
From this reading It was foolish, it was weak; and with a sweet, soft sort of girl who could be no use.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The stars were his companions; though he was no poet, having rather the fervid temper of the born swordsman, that expresses itself in physical ecstasies.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading It was foolish, it was weak; and with a sweet, soft sort of girl who could be no use.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had come straight out from a stormy midnight talk with Sheila.
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading What was he doing—had been the burden of her cry—falling in love just at this moment when they wanted all their wits and all their time and strength for this struggle with the Mallorings?
writingnounUS /ˈraɪtɪŋ/
the act of creating written works
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
wroteverbUS /roʊt/
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading While Nedda sat, long past midnight, writing her heart out in her little, white, lilac-curtained room of the old house above the Spaniard's Road, Derek, of whom she wrote, was walking along the Malvern hills, hurrying upward in the darkness.
