adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Murchisons, as a family, would have been the last to make such an admission.
absurdadjectiveUS /əbˈsɜːrd/
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
accountingnounUS /əˈkaʊntɪŋ/
a convincing explanation that reveals basic causes
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
admissionnounUS /ædˈmɪʃən/
the act of admitting someone to enter
From this reading The Murchisons, as a family, would have been the last to make such an admission.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The Murchisons, as a family, would have been the last to make such an admission.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
attendancenounUS /əˈtendəns/
the act of being present (at a meeting or event etc.)
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
ChurchnounUS /tʃɜːrtʃ/
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
consideredadjectiveUS /kənˈsɪdərd/
carefully weighed
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
coursenounUS /kɔːrs/
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
deferencenounUS /ˈdefərəns/
a courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
DoctornounUS /ˈdɑːktər/
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
effectnounUS /ɪˈfekt/
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
emptyverbUS /ˈempti/
make void or empty of contents
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
exchangedadjectiveUS /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒd/
changed for (replaced by) something different
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
failedverbUS /feɪld/
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
familynounUS /ˈfæməli/
a social unit living together
From this reading The Murchisons, as a family, would have been the last to make such an admission.
Finlay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
Forsyth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
hopedverbUS /hoʊpt/
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
Hugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
invariablyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈveriəbli/
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
Jamieson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
justlyadverbUS /ˈdʒʌstli/
with honesty
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
KnoxnounUS /nɑːks/
Scottish theologian who founded Presbyterianism in Scotland and wrote a history of the Reformation in Scotland (1514-1572)
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading The Murchisons, as a family, would have been the last to make such an admission.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading The Murchisons, as a family, would have been the last to make such an admission.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
Murchisons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Murchisons, as a family, would have been the last to make such an admission.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
observedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvd/
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
occasionallyadverbUS /əˈkeɪʒənəli/
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
occasionsnounUS /əˈkeɪʒənz/
something you have to do
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
occupantnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənt/
someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
occupyingverbUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “occupy” — keep busy with
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
permanentadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrmənənt/
continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
pewsnounUS /pjuːz/
plural of “pew” — long bench with backs; used in church by the congregation
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
preachverbUS /priːtʃ/
deliver a sermon
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
preachedverbUS /priːtʃt/
past form of “preach” — deliver a sermon
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
pronouncedadjectiveUS /prəˈnaʊnst/
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
pulpitnounUS /ˈpʊlpɪt/
a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
reachverbUS /riːtʃ/
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
regularadjectiveUS /ˈreɡjələr/
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
ReverendnounUS /ˈrevərənd/
a member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of the Christian Church
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
sermonnounUS /ˈsɜːrmən/
an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
sermonsnounUS /ˈsɜːrmənz/
plural of “sermon” — an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
sternlyadverbUS /ˈstɜːrnli/
with sternness; in a severe manner
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
strangernounUS /ˈstreɪndʒər/
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The Murchisons, as a family, would have been the last to make such an admission.
suggestionnounUS /səˈdʒestʃən/
an idea that is suggested
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
thinkingnounUS /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Murchisons, as a family, would have been the last to make such an admission.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
waysnounUS /weɪz/
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The church was full, as Mrs Forsyth observed, on these occasions; but there were many other ways of accounting for that.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
wishesnounUS /ˈwɪʃɪz/
plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire
From this reading The regular attendance might have been, as much as anything, out of deference to the wishes of the Doctor himself, who invariably and sternly hoped, in his last sermon, that no stranger occupying his place would have to preach to empty pews.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was thinking, of course, of old Mr Jamieson with whom he occasionally exchanged and whose effect on the attendance had not failed to reach him.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The suggestion that the Reverend Hugh Finlay preached from the pulpit of Knox Church “better sermons” than its permanent occupant, would have been justly considered absurd, and nobody pronounced it.
