adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
ablyadverbUS /ˈeɪbli/
with competence; in a competent capable manner
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
absencenounUS /ˈæbsəns/
the state of being absent
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
actionnounUS /ˈækʃən/
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
addedverbUS /ˈædəd/
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
affairsnounUS /əˈferz/
matters of personal concern
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He merely came in and closed the door behind him.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
aptnessnoun
a disposition to behave in a certain way
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He merely came in and closed the door behind him.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He merely came in and closed the door behind him.
changedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪndʒd/
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading He merely came in and closed the door behind him.
confrontingverbUS /kənˈfrʌntɪŋ/
-ing form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
CuriousadjectiveUS /ˈkjʊriəs/
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
customnounUS /ˈkʌstəm/
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
difficultiesnounUS /ˈdɪfəkəltiz/
plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He merely came in and closed the door behind him.
experiencesnounUS /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/
plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
finishverbUS /ˈfɪnɪʃ/
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
footmannounUS /ˈfʊtmən/
a man employed as a servant in a large establishment (as a palace) to run errands and do chores
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
frontnounUS /frʌnt/
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He merely came in and closed the door behind him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
hysterianounUS /hɪˈsteriə/
state of violent mental agitation
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He merely came in and closed the door behind him.
innateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈneɪt/
not established by conditioning or learning
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
meantverbUS /ment/
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
merelyadverbUS /ˈmɪrli/
and nothing more
From this reading He merely came in and closed the door behind him.
metverbUS /met/
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
modernadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdərn/
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
necessitynounUS /nəˈsesəti/
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
normaladjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrməl/
conforming with or constituting a norm or standard or level or type or social norm; not abnormal
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
observationnounUS /ˌɑːbzərˈveɪʃən/
the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
openingnounUS /ˈoʊpənɪŋ/
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
perfectionnounUS /pərˈfekʃən/
the state of being without a flaw or defect
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
plainlyadverbUS /ˈpleɪnli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
planenounUS /pleɪn/
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
prettyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪti/
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
promptnessnoun
the characteristic of doing things without delay
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
providedverbUS /prəˈvaɪdɪd/
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
readinessnounUS /ˈredinəs/
the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
savedadjectiveUS /seɪvd/
rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
scenenounUS /siːn/
the place where some action occurs
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
sightnounUS /saɪt/
an instance of visual perception
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
situationnounUS /ˌsɪtʃuːˈeɪʃən/
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
smartnessnounUS /ˈsmɑːrtnɪs/
a kind of pain such as that caused by a wound or a burn or a sore
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
speakverbUS /spiːk/
express in speech
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
steeredverbUS /stɪrd/
past form of “steer” — direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/
happening unexpectedly
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
suggestsverbUS /səˈdʒests/
third-person singular of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He merely came in and closed the door behind him.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If he had meant to speak he changed his mind after his first sight of her.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
typenounUS /taɪp/
a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
unexplainedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspleɪnd/
not explained
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
vergenounUS /vɜːrdʒ/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
visitornounUS /ˈvɪzɪtər/
someone who visits
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Curious experiences with which life had provided him had added finish to an innate aptness of observation, and a fine readiness in action.
womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading A very pretty woman with whose affairs one has nothing whatever to do, and whose pretty home has been the perfection of modern smartness of custom, suddenly opening her front door in the unexplained absence of a footman and confronting a visitor, plainly upon the verge of hysteria, suggests the necessity of promptness.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If she had been of another type he would have saved both her and himself a scene and steered ably through the difficulties of the situation towards a point where they could have met upon a normal plane.
