adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
alpacanounUS /ælˈpækə/
wool of the alpaca
From this reading John was no longer in his shirt-sleeves; the growing authority of his family had long prescribed a black alpaca coat.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They sat talking on the verandah in the close of the May evening, Mr and Mrs Murchison.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
authoritynounUS /əˈθɔːrəti/
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading John was no longer in his shirt-sleeves; the growing authority of his family had long prescribed a black alpaca coat.
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading John was no longer in his shirt-sleeves; the growing authority of his family had long prescribed a black alpaca coat.
bowlnounUS /boʊl/
a round vessel that is open at the top; used chiefly for holding food or liquids
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
chestnutadjectiveUS /ˈtʃesnʌt/
(of hair or feathers) of a golden brown to reddish brown color
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading They sat talking on the verandah in the close of the May evening, Mr and Mrs Murchison.
coatnounUS /koʊt/
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading John was no longer in his shirt-sleeves; the growing authority of his family had long prescribed a black alpaca coat.
consideratelyadverb
in a considerate manner
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
deliberationnounUS /dɪˌlɪbərˈeɪʃən/
(usually plural) discussion of all sides of a question
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading They sat talking on the verandah in the close of the May evening, Mr and Mrs Murchison.
fairadjectiveUS /fer/
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading The Plummer Place was the Murchison Place in the town’s mouth now, and that was only fair; the Murchisons had overstamped the Plummers.
faithfullyadverbUS /ˈfeɪθfəli/
in a faithful manner
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
familynounUS /ˈfæməli/
a social unit living together
From this reading John was no longer in his shirt-sleeves; the growing authority of his family had long prescribed a black alpaca coat.
fifteennounUS /fɪfˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
flowernounUS /ˈflaʊər/
a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
growingnounUS /ˈɡroʊɪŋ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading John was no longer in his shirt-sleeves; the growing authority of his family had long prescribed a black alpaca coat.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Plummer Place was the Murchison Place in the town’s mouth now, and that was only fair; the Murchisons had overstamped the Plummers.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
heldadjectiveUS /held/
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading John was no longer in his shirt-sleeves; the growing authority of his family had long prescribed a black alpaca coat.
holdingnounUS /ˈhoʊldɪŋ/
the act of retaining something
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
horsenounUS /hɔːrs/
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They sat talking on the verandah in the close of the May evening, Mr and Mrs Murchison.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading John was no longer in his shirt-sleeves; the growing authority of his family had long prescribed a black alpaca coat.
lastedverbUS /ˈlæstəd/
past form of “last” — persist for a specified period of time
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
lightenverbUS /ˈlaɪtən/
make more cheerful
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
livesnounUS /lɪvz/
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading John was no longer in his shirt-sleeves; the growing authority of his family had long prescribed a black alpaca coat.
longeradverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡər/
for more time
From this reading John was no longer in his shirt-sleeves; the growing authority of his family had long prescribed a black alpaca coat.
mapverbUS /mæp/
make a map of; show or establish the features of details of
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading They sat talking on the verandah in the close of the May evening, Mr and Mrs Murchison.
meerschaumnoun
a white clayey mineral
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
mouthnounUS /maʊθ/
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading The Plummer Place was the Murchison Place in the town’s mouth now, and that was only fair; the Murchisons had overstamped the Plummers.
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading They sat talking on the verandah in the close of the May evening, Mr and Mrs Murchison.
MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading They sat talking on the verandah in the close of the May evening, Mr and Mrs Murchison.
Murchison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sat talking on the verandah in the close of the May evening, Mr and Mrs Murchison.
Murchisons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Plummer Place was the Murchison Place in the town’s mouth now, and that was only fair; the Murchisons had overstamped the Plummers.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading John was no longer in his shirt-sleeves; the growing authority of his family had long prescribed a black alpaca coat.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The Plummer Place was the Murchison Place in the town’s mouth now, and that was only fair; the Murchisons had overstamped the Plummers.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They sat talking on the verandah in the close of the May evening, Mr and Mrs Murchison.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They sat talking on the verandah in the close of the May evening, Mr and Mrs Murchison.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading The Plummer Place was the Murchison Place in the town’s mouth now, and that was only fair; the Murchisons had overstamped the Plummers.
originaladjectiveUS /ərˈɪdʒənəl/
preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
overstamped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Plummer Place was the Murchison Place in the town’s mouth now, and that was only fair; the Murchisons had overstamped the Plummers.
PlacenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The Plummer Place was the Murchison Place in the town’s mouth now, and that was only fair; the Murchisons had overstamped the Plummers.
Plummer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Plummer Place was the Murchison Place in the town’s mouth now, and that was only fair; the Murchisons had overstamped the Plummers.
Plummers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Plummer Place was the Murchison Place in the town’s mouth now, and that was only fair; the Murchisons had overstamped the Plummers.
prescribedadjectiveUS /priˈskraɪbd/
set down as a rule or guide
From this reading John was no longer in his shirt-sleeves; the growing authority of his family had long prescribed a black alpaca coat.
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/
Identical; not different.
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading They sat talking on the verandah in the close of the May evening, Mr and Mrs Murchison.
shirt-sleeves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John was no longer in his shirt-sleeves; the growing authority of his family had long prescribed a black alpaca coat.
smokedadjectiveUS /smoʊkt/
(used especially of meats and fish) dried and cured by hanging in wood smoke
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
springnounUS /sprɪŋ/
the season of growth
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
talkingnounUS /ˈtɔːkɪŋ/
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading They sat talking on the verandah in the close of the May evening, Mr and Mrs Murchison.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Plummer Place was the Murchison Place in the town’s mouth now, and that was only fair; the Murchisons had overstamped the Plummers.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They sat talking on the verandah in the close of the May evening, Mr and Mrs Murchison.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They sat talking on the verandah in the close of the May evening, Mr and Mrs Murchison.
thirtynounUS /ˈθɜːrdiː/
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
town'snounUS /taʊnz/
possessive form of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The Plummer Place was the Murchison Place in the town’s mouth now, and that was only fair; the Murchisons had overstamped the Plummers.
verandahnoun
a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)
From this reading They sat talking on the verandah in the close of the May evening, Mr and Mrs Murchison.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Plummer Place was the Murchison Place in the town’s mouth now, and that was only fair; the Murchisons had overstamped the Plummers.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He smoked his meerschaum with the same old deliberation, however, holding it by the bowl as considerately as he held its original, which lasted him fifteen years.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading It lay about them like a map of their lives: the big horse chestnut stood again in flower to lighten the spring dusk for them, as it had done faithfully for thirty years.
