alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
amazingadjectiveUS /əˈmeɪzɪŋ/
surprising greatly
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
blindsnounUS /blaɪndz/
plural of “blind” — people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading Suddenly she withdrew her face from the blinds; young Meredith had entered the gate and was coming up the pavement.
boredadjectiveUS /bɔːrd/
tired of the world
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading No one passed but gay strolling negroes.
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Suddenly she withdrew her face from the blinds; young Meredith had entered the gate and was coming up the pavement.
criticiseverb
find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
derivedadjectiveUS /dərˈaɪvd/
formed or developed from something else; not original
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
descendverbUS /dɪˈsend/
move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
dressverbUS /dres/
put on clothes
From this reading Her undimmed eyes swept everything--walk, imitative manners, imitative dress.
enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Suddenly she withdrew her face from the blinds; young Meredith had entered the gate and was coming up the pavement.
entertainmentnounUS /ˌentərˈteɪnmənt/
an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Her undimmed eyes swept everything--walk, imitative manners, imitative dress.
exercisingnounUS /ˈeksərsaɪzɪŋ/
the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading Her undimmed eyes swept everything--walk, imitative manners, imitative dress.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Suddenly she withdrew her face from the blinds; young Meredith had entered the gate and was coming up the pavement.
faradverbUS /fɑːr/
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
fellverbUS /fel/
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
figuresnounUS /ˈfɪɡjərz/
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
gatenounUS /ɡeɪt/
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading Suddenly she withdrew her face from the blinds; young Meredith had entered the gate and was coming up the pavement.
gayadjectiveUS /ɡeɪ/
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading No one passed but gay strolling negroes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Suddenly she withdrew her face from the blinds; young Meredith had entered the gate and was coming up the pavement.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
humorouslyadverbUS /ˈhjuːmərəsli/
in a humorous manner
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
imitativeadjectiveUS /ˈɪməteɪtɪv/
marked by or given to imitation
From this reading Her undimmed eyes swept everything--walk, imitative manners, imitative dress.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
insatiableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈseɪʃəbəl/
impossible to satisfy
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
instantnounUS /ˈɪnstənt/
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
lacknounUS /læk/
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
laughnounUS /læf/
the sound of laughing
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
levelnounUS /ˈlevəl/
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
mannersnounUS /ˈmænərz/
social deportment
From this reading Her undimmed eyes swept everything--walk, imitative manners, imitative dress.
MeredithnounUS /ˈmerɪdɪθ/
United States civil rights leader whose college registration caused riots in traditionally segregated Mississippi (born in 1933)
From this reading Suddenly she withdrew her face from the blinds; young Meredith had entered the gate and was coming up the pavement.
nearestadverbUS /ˈnɪrəst/
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
negroesnounUS /ˈniːɡroʊz/
plural of “negro” — a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading No one passed but gay strolling negroes.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No one passed but gay strolling negroes.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one passed but gay strolling negroes.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
partnounUS /pɑːrt/
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading No one passed but gay strolling negroes.
pavementnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənt/
the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading Suddenly she withdrew her face from the blinds; young Meredith had entered the gate and was coming up the pavement.
perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
pleasurenounUS /ˈpleʒər/
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
powersnounUS /ˈpaʊərz/
plural of “power” — possession of controlling influence
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
reachverbUS /riːtʃ/
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
seventyadjectiveUS /ˈsevənti/
being ten more than sixty
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
spectaclenounUS /ˈspektəkəl/
something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
strollingverbUS /ˈstroʊlɪŋ/
-ing form of “stroll” — walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
From this reading No one passed but gay strolling negroes.
SuddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly she withdrew her face from the blinds; young Meredith had entered the gate and was coming up the pavement.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
sweptadjectiveUS /swept/
possessing sweep
From this reading Her undimmed eyes swept everything--walk, imitative manners, imitative dress.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
undimmedadjective
not made dim or less bright
From this reading Her undimmed eyes swept everything--walk, imitative manners, imitative dress.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Suddenly she withdrew her face from the blinds; young Meredith had entered the gate and was coming up the pavement.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
vitalitynounUS /vaɪˈtæləti/
an energetic style
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
vulnerableadjectiveUS /ˈvʌlnərəbəl/
susceptible to attack
From this reading For lack of other entertainment she now fell upon these vulnerable figures, and began to criticise and to laugh at them: she did not have to descend far to reach this level.
walknounUS /wɔːk/
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading Her undimmed eyes swept everything--walk, imitative manners, imitative dress.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
withdrewverbUS /wɪθˈdruː/
inflected form of “withdraw” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading Suddenly she withdrew her face from the blinds; young Meredith had entered the gate and was coming up the pavement.
worldnounUS /wɜːrld/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Suddenly she withdrew her face from the blinds; young Meredith had entered the gate and was coming up the pavement.
youthfulnessnoun
the freshness and vitality characteristic of a young person
From this reading She was seventy years old, but her interest in life was insatiable; and it was in part, perhaps, the secret of her amazing vitality and youthfulness that her surroundings never bored her; she derived instant pleasure from the nearest spectacle, always exercising her powers humorously upon the world, never upon herself.
