Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Would it be to-day?" wondered Betty for about the thousandth time in the last eight days.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then he closed his eyes again.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
ankles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
appetitenounUS /ˈæpətaɪt/
a desire for food
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Would it be to-day?" wondered Betty for about the thousandth time in the last eight days.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
blinked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
blue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
bordering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
break
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
breakfast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
broad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
brogues
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
brown-stockinged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
carpet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
casement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
cat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he closed his eyes again.
confused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
contemplatively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
curled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
dawdled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
dusty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
eight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Would it be to-day?" wondered Betty for about the thousandth time in the last eight days.
ended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he closed his eyes again.
figure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
finally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
finished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
Firth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Would it be to-day?" wondered Betty for about the thousandth time in the last eight days.
fringe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then he closed his eyes again.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then he closed his eyes again.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Would it be to-day?" wondered Betty for about the thousandth time in the last eight days.
lengthnounUS /leŋθ/
a period of time or extent
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
meals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
meditatively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
monotony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
neat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
pasture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
rug
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
shirt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
silk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
skirt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
slim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
stared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
stretch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
SWEETHEARTS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
tapping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he closed his eyes again.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
thousandth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Would it be to-day?" wondered Betty for about the thousandth time in the last eight days.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Would it be to-day?" wondered Betty for about the thousandth time in the last eight days.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Would it be to-day?" wondered Betty for about the thousandth time in the last eight days.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
tweed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
waters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stared out across the little garden, the broad stretch of pasture beyond the dusty road that ended in a confused fringe of trees bordering the blue waters of the Firth.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
WIVES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
wonderednounUS /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Would it be to-day?" wondered Betty for about the thousandth time in the last eight days.
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose from the table at length and walked to the open casement window; a cat, curled up on the rug in front of the small wood fire, opened one eye and blinked contemplatively at the slim figure in the silk shirt, the short brown tweed skirt above the brown-stockinged ankles, and finally at the neat brogues, one of which was tapping meditatively on the carpet.
Wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Would it be to-day?" wondered Betty for about the thousandth time in the last eight days.
wrong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "SWEETHEARTS AND WIVES" Betty finished her breakfast very slowly; she had dawdled over it, not because there was anything wrong with her appetite, but because the days were long and meals made a sort of break in the monotony.
