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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
accident
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From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
add
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
allow
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From this reading But first allow me to describe a little more fully my surroundings at the moment.
almost
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From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
armpits
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From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
burrow
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From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But first allow me to describe a little more fully my surroundings at the moment.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
charm
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From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
colloquially
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From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
cottage
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From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
cottages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
dainty
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From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
days
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From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
describe
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From this reading But first allow me to describe a little more fully my surroundings at the moment.
dispersed
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From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
down
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From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
embowered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
feminine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But first allow me to describe a little more fully my surroundings at the moment.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
fortunate
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From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
fully
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From this reading But first allow me to describe a little more fully my surroundings at the moment.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
hollows
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From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
incident
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From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
indeed
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From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
infrequently
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From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
lanes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
lengthnounUS /leŋθ/
a period of time or extent
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
literal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But first allow me to describe a little more fully my surroundings at the moment.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
meaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
metaphor
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From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
moment
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From this reading But first allow me to describe a little more fully my surroundings at the moment.
more
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From this reading But first allow me to describe a little more fully my surroundings at the moment.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
MYSTERIOUSadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
difficult to explain or understand
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
naturally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
nests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
only
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From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
owed
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From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
PETTICOAT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
pretty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
rainy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
sad
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From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
sense
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From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
set
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From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
sight
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From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
snugly
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From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
subterraneanadjectiveUS /ˌsʌb.təˈreɪ.ni.ən/
Existing, occurring, or done under the earth's surface.
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
Surrey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
surroundings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But first allow me to describe a little more fully my surroundings at the moment.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
thereby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
tucked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
undergarment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
wanderings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
warm-hearted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
washing-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed to the fortunate accident of its being washing-day at the pretty cottage near which in the course of my morning wanderings I had set me down to rest, that I owed the sight of the petticoat in question.
washing-days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
wearer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
winding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS PETTICOAT The sad thoughts with which this incident naturally left me were at length and suddenly dispersed, as sad thoughts not infrequently are, by a petticoat.
woodlands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I say petticoat, I use the word in its literal sense, not colloquially as a metaphor for its usual wearer, meaning thereby a dainty feminine undergarment seen only by men on rainy days, and one might add washing-days.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not indeed that I can hope to put into words the charm of those embowered cottages, like nests in the armpits of great trees, tucked snugly in the hollows of those narrow, winding, almost subterranean lanes which burrow their way beneath the warm-hearted Surrey woodlands.
