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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
Andrews
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
bedroom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
begin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, I suppose it’s only natural that she should begin sometime,” remarked Feather.
breakfast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I should say she isn’t well now.”
child's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
convenient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
correctness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “They always do, of course.
decorative
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “They always do, of course.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
Feather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But I should say she isn’t well now.”
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s been a thing I’ve prided myself on.
image
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I should say she isn’t well now.”
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s been a thing I’ve prided myself on.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
ma'am
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
mistress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “It’s been a thing I’ve prided myself on.
natural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, I suppose it’s only natural that she should begin sometime,” remarked Feather.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I should say she isn’t well now.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, I suppose it’s only natural that she should begin sometime,” remarked Feather.
prided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s been a thing I’ve prided myself on.
remarked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, I suppose it’s only natural that she should begin sometime,” remarked Feather.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I should say she isn’t well now.”
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But I should say she isn’t well now.”
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading But I should say she isn’t well now.”
sometime
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, I suppose it’s only natural that she should begin sometime,” remarked Feather.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
supposenounUS /ˈsuppose/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Well, I suppose it’s only natural that she should begin sometime,” remarked Feather.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Well, I suppose it’s only natural that she should begin sometime,” remarked Feather.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “They always do, of course.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It’s been a thing I’ve prided myself on.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “The child’s always been well, ma’am,” Andrews was standing, the image of exact correctness, in her mistress’ bedroom, while Feather lay in bed with her breakfast on a convenient and decorative little table.