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Chapter XIV
THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her. During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly. It seemed to be the thing to do in the circumstances. But she could not think calmly. She could not even command herself sufficiently to go on with her undressing.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
later than; following
From this reading “THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “But she could not think calmly.”
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading “During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “She could not even command herself sufficiently to go on with her undressing.”
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading “During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.”
To move from a closed position.
From this reading “During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.”
above and across; more than
From this reading “During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It seemed to be the thing to do in the circumstances.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It seemed to be the thing to do in the circumstances.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “But she could not think calmly.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
later than; following
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It seemed to be the thing to do in the circumstances.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she could not think calmly.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to be the thing to do in the circumstances.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not even command herself sufficiently to go on with her undressing.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But she could not think calmly.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It seemed to be the thing to do in the circumstances.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She could not even command herself sufficiently to go on with her undressing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not even command herself sufficiently to go on with her undressing.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to be the thing to do in the circumstances.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But she could not think calmly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She could not even command herself sufficiently to go on with her undressing.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
above and across; more than
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed to be the thing to do in the circumstances.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not even command herself sufficiently to go on with her undressing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed to be the thing to do in the circumstances.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But she could not think calmly.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could not even command herself sufficiently to go on with her undressing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
at the time that
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
which person or people
From this reading THE PLUNGE When Cicely had allowed the maid who was waiting for her to unfasten her bodice, she sent her away and locked the door after her.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the evening she had sketched in her mind a portrait of herself sitting by the open window and thinking things over calmly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She could not even command herself sufficiently to go on with her undressing.
