adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And on that he turned to depart, whilst Bertrand sped to Giovanna.
attitudenounUS /ˈætətuːd/
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading She was standing in a stricken attitude, looking up into the face of her lover, who was delivering himself of his news.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading On the threshold of the garden Charles paused and looked back.
Bertrand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And on that he turned to depart, whilst Bertrand sped to Giovanna.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
CharlesnounUS /tʃɑːrlz/
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading On the threshold of the garden Charles paused and looked back.
close-fittingadjective
fitting closely but comfortably
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
copper-coloured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
crownedadjectiveUS /kraʊnd/
having an (artificial) crown on a tooth
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
deliveringverbUS /dɪˈlɪvərɪŋ/
-ing form of “deliver” — deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)
From this reading She was standing in a stricken attitude, looking up into the face of her lover, who was delivering himself of his news.
departverbUS /dɪˈpɑːrt/
move away from a place into another direction
From this reading And on that he turned to depart, whilst Bertrand sped to Giovanna.
departedadjectiveUS /dɪˈpɑːrtɪd/
well in the past; former
From this reading Charles departed satisfied.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
gardennounUS /ˈɡɑːrdən/
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading On the threshold of the garden Charles paused and looked back.
Giovanna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And on that he turned to depart, whilst Bertrand sped to Giovanna.
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/
a young female
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
gorgetnoun
armor plate that protects the neck
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
gownnounUS /ɡaʊn/
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
hairnounUS /her/
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And on that he turned to depart, whilst Bertrand sped to Giovanna.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was standing in a stricken attitude, looking up into the face of her lover, who was delivering himself of his news.
highadjectiveUS /haɪ/
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading She was standing in a stricken attitude, looking up into the face of her lover, who was delivering himself of his news.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She was standing in a stricken attitude, looking up into the face of her lover, who was delivering himself of his news.
lissomeadjective
gracefully thin and bending and moving with ease
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading On the threshold of the garden Charles paused and looked back.
lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading She was standing in a stricken attitude, looking up into the face of her lover, who was delivering himself of his news.
lovelinessnoun
the quality of being good looking and attractive
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
lovernounUS /ˈlʌvər/
a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading She was standing in a stricken attitude, looking up into the face of her lover, who was delivering himself of his news.
newsnounUS /nuːz/
information about recent and important events
From this reading She was standing in a stricken attitude, looking up into the face of her lover, who was delivering himself of his news.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the threshold of the garden Charles paused and looked back.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And on that he turned to depart, whilst Bertrand sped to Giovanna.
outliningverbUS /ˈaʊtlaɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “outline” — describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
ovalnounUS /ˈoʊvəl/
a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
pausedverbUS /pɔːzd/
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading On the threshold of the garden Charles paused and looked back.
purplenounUS /ˈpɜːrpəl/
a purple color or pigment
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
QueennounUS /kwiːn/
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
revealingadjectiveUS /rɪˈviːlɪŋ/
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
satisfiedadjectiveUS /ˈsætəsfaɪd/
filled with satisfaction
From this reading Charles departed satisfied.
seventeenadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːn/
being one more than sixteen
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was standing in a stricken attitude, looking up into the face of her lover, who was delivering himself of his news.
silknounUS /sɪlk/
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
soughtadjectiveUS /sɔːt/
that is looked for
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
spedverbUS /sped/
inflected form of “speed” — move hurridly
From this reading And on that he turned to depart, whilst Bertrand sped to Giovanna.
standingadjectiveUS /ˈstændɪŋ/
having a supporting base
From this reading She was standing in a stricken attitude, looking up into the face of her lover, who was delivering himself of his news.
strickenadjectiveUS /ˈstrɪkən/
grievously affected especially by disease
From this reading She was standing in a stricken attitude, looking up into the face of her lover, who was delivering himself of his news.
surpassingadjectiveUS /sərˈpæsɪŋ/
exceeding or surpassing usual limits especially in excellence
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
talladjectiveUS /tɔːl/
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And on that he turned to depart, whilst Bertrand sped to Giovanna.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the threshold of the garden Charles paused and looked back.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading On the threshold of the garden Charles paused and looked back.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And on that he turned to depart, whilst Bertrand sped to Giovanna.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading And on that he turned to depart, whilst Bertrand sped to Giovanna.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She was standing in a stricken attitude, looking up into the face of her lover, who was delivering himself of his news.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was standing in a stricken attitude, looking up into the face of her lover, who was delivering himself of his news.
wealthnounUS /welθ/
the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
whilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading And on that he turned to depart, whilst Bertrand sped to Giovanna.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading His eyes sought and found the Queen, a tall, lissome girl of seventeen, in a close-fitting, revealing gown of purple silk, the high, white gorget outlining an oval face of a surpassing loveliness, crowned by a wealth of copper-coloured hair.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading She was standing in a stricken attitude, looking up into the face of her lover, who was delivering himself of his news.
