adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
affectionatelyadverbUS /əˈfekʃənətli/
with affection
From this reading “Yours ever affectionately, “ELISABETH.”
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
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 DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
baynounUS /beɪ/
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
bestnounUS /best/
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
broughtverbUS /brɔːt/
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
changeverbUS /tʃeɪndʒ/
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
CliffnounUS /klɪf/
a steep high face of rock
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
disappointverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnt/
fail to meet the hopes or expectations of
From this reading Don't disappoint us, Sara!
DISILLUSIONnounUS /ˌdɪsɪˈluːʒən/
freeing from false belief or illusions
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Don't disappoint us, Sara!
ELISABETH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yours ever affectionately, “ELISABETH.”
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading “Yours ever affectionately, “ELISABETH.”
exoticadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzɑːtɪk/
being or from or characteristic of another place or part of the world
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
fallverbUS /fɔːl/
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
letternounUS /ˈletər/
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
LettersnounUS /ˈletərz/
the literary culture
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
LondonnounUS /ˈlʌndən/
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
luxuriousadjectiveUS /ləɡˈʒɜːriəs/
displaying luxury and furnishing gratification to the senses
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
menacingadjectiveUS /ˈmenəsɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
Monk'snounUS /mʌŋks/
possessive form of “monk” — a male religious living in a cloister and devoting himself to contemplation and prayer and work
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
morning'snounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋz/
possessive form of “morning” — the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
paragraphnounUS /ˈpærəɡræf/
one of several distinct subdivisions of a text intended to separate ideas; the beginning is usually marked by a new indented line
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
postverbUS /poʊst/
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
re-read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
rearedverbUS /rɪrd/
past form of “rear” — stand up on the hind legs, of quadrupeds
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
Sara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Don't disappoint us, Sara!
seatedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːtɪd/
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
simpleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpəl/
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
skynounUS /skaɪ/
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
sombreadjective
lacking brightness or color; dull
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
staredverbUS /sterd/
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
starkadjectiveUS /stɑːrk/
devoid of any qualifications or disguise or adornment
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
surfeitverbUS /ˈsɜːrfət/
supply or feed to surfeit
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I am sure you must have had a surfeit of the simple life by this time, so come to us and be luxurious and exotic in London for a change.
timesnounUS /taɪmz/
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
unsatisfactoryadjectiveUS /ˌʌnsətɪˈsfæktəri/
not giving satisfaction
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
wantverbUS /wɑːnt/
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
whilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Sara, seated at the open window of her room, re-read the last paragraph of the letter which the morning's post had brought her, and then let it fall again on to her lap, whilst she stared with sombre eyes across the bay to where the Monk's Cliff reared itself, stark and menacing, against the sky.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading DISILLUSION “Letters are unsatisfactory things at the best of times, and what we all want is to have you with us again for a little while.
YourspronounUS /jʊrz/
the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to
From this reading “Yours ever affectionately, “ELISABETH.”
