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 been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
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 The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading One evening in the late autumn Merle was sitting at home waiting for her husband.
autumnnounUS /ˈɔːtəm/
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading One evening in the late autumn Merle was sitting at home waiting for her husband.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
blueadjectiveUS /bluː/
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
busyadjectiveUS /ˈbɪzi/
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
chatteringnounUS /ˈtʃætərɪŋ/
the rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine
From this reading She was sitting on the floor, nursing two dolls, and chattering to them.
cookverbUS /kʊk/
prepare a hot meal
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
cracklingnounUS /ˈkræklɪŋ/
the residue that remains after animal fat has been rendered
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
dollsnounUS /dɑːlz/
plural of “doll” — a small replica of a person; used as a toy
From this reading She was sitting on the floor, nursing two dolls, and chattering to them.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading One evening in the late autumn Merle was sitting at home waiting for her husband.
favouritenounUS /ˈfeɪvərɪt/
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
festivitynounUS /feˈstɪvəti/
any joyous diversion
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
firesnounUS /ˈfaɪərz/
plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
fivenounUS /faɪv/
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
floornounUS /flɔːr/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading She was sitting on the floor, nursing two dolls, and chattering to them.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading One evening in the late autumn Merle was sitting at home waiting for her husband.
frocknounUS /frɑːk/
a long, loose outer garment
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/
a young female
From this reading “Mind you’re a good girl now, Josephine.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “Mind you’re a good girl now, Josephine.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading One evening in the late autumn Merle was sitting at home waiting for her husband.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading One evening in the late autumn Merle was sitting at home waiting for her husband.
husbandnounUS /ˈhʌzbənd/
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading One evening in the late autumn Merle was sitting at home waiting for her husband.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One evening in the late autumn Merle was sitting at home waiting for her husband.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
Josephine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Mind you’re a good girl now, Josephine.
lampsnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading One evening in the late autumn Merle was sitting at home waiting for her husband.
litadjectiveUS /lɪt/
provided with artificial light
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
Louise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
MerlenounUS /mɜːrl/
common black European thrush
From this reading One evening in the late autumn Merle was sitting at home waiting for her husband.
MindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading “Mind you’re a good girl now, Josephine.
naturaladjectiveUS /ˈnætʃərəl/
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
nursingnounUS /ˈnɜːrsɪŋ/
the work of caring for the sick or injured or infirm
From this reading She was sitting on the floor, nursing two dolls, and chattering to them.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One evening in the late autumn Merle was sitting at home waiting for her husband.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
returnverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrn/
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
roomsnounUS /ruːmz/
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading One evening in the late autumn Merle was sitting at home waiting for her husband.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
stovesnounUS /stoʊvz/
plural of “stove” — a kitchen appliance used for cooking food
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One evening in the late autumn Merle was sitting at home waiting for her husband.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She was sitting on the floor, nursing two dolls, and chattering to them.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was sitting on the floor, nursing two dolls, and chattering to them.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading She was sitting on the floor, nursing two dolls, and chattering to them.
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading One evening in the late autumn Merle was sitting at home waiting for her husband.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One evening in the late autumn Merle was sitting at home waiting for her husband.
weeksnounUS /wiːks/
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that she should make a little festivity of his return.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
woodnounUS /wʊd/
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading The lamps were lit in all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old, had on her blue velvet frock.
you're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Mind you’re a good girl now, Josephine.
