adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading I thought of the thousands and thousands of perishing human creatures who were all at that moment spiritually ill, without knowing it themselves.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
arrangedadjectiveUS /ərˈeɪndʒd/
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
auntnounUS /ænt/
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading “I have been seriously ill, Drusilla, for some time past,” my aunt began.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “I have been seriously ill, Drusilla, for some time past,” my aunt began.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “I have been seriously ill, Drusilla, for some time past,” my aunt began.
claimnounUS /kleɪm/
an assertion of a right (as to money or property)
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
ConsiderationnounUS /kənˌsɪdərˈeɪʃən/
the process of giving careful thought to something
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
convenientadjectiveUS /kənˈviːnjənt/
suited to your comfort or purpose or needs
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
creaturesnounUS /ˈkriːtʃərz/
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading I thought of the thousands and thousands of perishing human creatures who were all at that moment spiritually ill, without knowing it themselves.
Drusilla
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have been seriously ill, Drusilla, for some time past,” my aunt began.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
forbadeverbUS /fərˈbeɪd/
inflected form of “forbid” — command against
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
guessedverbUS /ɡest/
past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I have been seriously ill, Drusilla, for some time past,” my aunt began.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
hintnounUS /hɪnt/
an indirect suggestion
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading I thought of the thousands and thousands of perishing human creatures who were all at that moment spiritually ill, without knowing it themselves.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
illadjectiveUS /ɪl/
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading “I have been seriously ill, Drusilla, for some time past,” my aunt began.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
knowingadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊɪŋ/
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading “And, strange to say, without knowing it myself.”
LadynounUS /ˈleɪdi/
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
lipsnounUS /lɪps/
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
matternounUS /ˈmætər/
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
melancholynounUS /ˈmelənkɑːli/
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading I thought of the thousands and thousands of perishing human creatures who were all at that moment spiritually ill, without knowing it themselves.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “I have been seriously ill, Drusilla, for some time past,” my aunt began.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “And, strange to say, without knowing it myself.”
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I thought of the thousands and thousands of perishing human creatures who were all at that moment spiritually ill, without knowing it themselves.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
opportunitynounUS /ˌɑːpərˈtuːnəti/
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
painfuladjectiveUS /ˈpeɪnfəl/
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
pastnounUS /pæst/
the time that has elapsed
From this reading “I have been seriously ill, Drusilla, for some time past,” my aunt began.
perishingverbUS /ˈperɪʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “perish” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading I thought of the thousands and thousands of perishing human creatures who were all at that moment spiritually ill, without knowing it themselves.
pleasurenounUS /ˈpleʒər/
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
pooradjectiveUS /puːr/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
preparedadjectiveUS /priˈperd/
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
privatelyadverbUS /ˈpraɪvətli/
kept private or confined to those intimately concerned
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
seriouslyadverbUS /ˈsɪriəsli/
in a serious manner
From this reading “I have been seriously ill, Drusilla, for some time past,” my aunt began.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “I have been seriously ill, Drusilla, for some time past,” my aunt began.
spirituallyadverbUS /ˈspɪrɪtʃuːəliː/
in a spiritual manner
From this reading I thought of the thousands and thousands of perishing human creatures who were all at that moment spiritually ill, without knowing it themselves.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading “And, strange to say, without knowing it myself.”
sustainingverbUS /səˈsteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “sustain” — lengthen or extend in duration or space
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading I thought of the thousands and thousands of perishing human creatures who were all at that moment spiritually ill, without knowing it themselves.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I thought of the thousands and thousands of perishing human creatures who were all at that moment spiritually ill, without knowing it themselves.
thousandsnounUS /ˈθaʊzəndz/
plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading I thought of the thousands and thousands of perishing human creatures who were all at that moment spiritually ill, without knowing it themselves.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “I have been seriously ill, Drusilla, for some time past,” my aunt began.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
truthnounUS /truːθ/
a fact that has been verified
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
Verinder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.
waitedverbUS /ˈweɪtɪd/
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I thought of the thousands and thousands of perishing human creatures who were all at that moment spiritually ill, without knowing it themselves.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading I thought of the thousands and thousands of perishing human creatures who were all at that moment spiritually ill, without knowing it themselves.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading “And, strange to say, without knowing it myself.”
wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/
the words that are spoken
From this reading I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
