adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
acceptedadjectiveUS /ækˈseptɪd/
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
AnnanounUS /ˈænə/
a former copper coin of Pakistan and India
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
armsnounUS /ɑːrmz/
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
arrivedverbUS /ərˈaɪvd/
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
aspectnounUS /ˈæspekt/
a distinct feature or element in a problem
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
AvenuenounUS /ˈævənuː/
a line of approach
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
beamingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Ellie beamingly directed her to the nursery, and here she found enough brightness to flood the house.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The room was bright with firelight and the soft light from the subdued nursery lamps, and warm russet curtains shut out the dull and dying afternoon.
brightnessnounUS /ˈbraɪtnəs/
the location of a visual perception along a continuum from black to white
From this reading But Ellie beamingly directed her to the nursery, and here she found enough brightness to flood the house.
buckledverbUS /ˈbʌkəld/
past form of “buckle” — fasten with a buckle or buckles
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Ellie beamingly directed her to the nursery, and here she found enough brightness to flood the house.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
CarolineadjectiveUS /ˈkerəlaɪn/
of or relating to the life and times of kings Charles I or Charles II of England
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
chairnounUS /tʃer/
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
childnounUS /tʃaɪld/
a young person of either sex
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The room was bright with firelight and the soft light from the subdued nursery lamps, and warm russet curtains shut out the dull and dying afternoon.
darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
directedadjectiveUS /dərˈektəd/
(often used in combination) having a specified direction
From this reading But Ellie beamingly directed her to the nursery, and here she found enough brightness to flood the house.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
dressverbUS /dres/
put on clothes
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
dulladjectiveUS /dʌl/
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading The room was bright with firelight and the soft light from the subdued nursery lamps, and warm russet curtains shut out the dull and dying afternoon.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading The room was bright with firelight and the soft light from the subdued nursery lamps, and warm russet curtains shut out the dull and dying afternoon.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
Ellie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Ellie beamingly directed her to the nursery, and here she found enough brightness to flood the house.
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading But Ellie beamingly directed her to the nursery, and here she found enough brightness to flood the house.
familynounUS /ˈfæməli/
a social unit living together
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
firelightnoun
the light of a fire (especially in a fireplace)
From this reading The room was bright with firelight and the soft light from the subdued nursery lamps, and warm russet curtains shut out the dull and dying afternoon.
floodnounUS /flʌd/
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading But Ellie beamingly directed her to the nursery, and here she found enough brightness to flood the house.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading But Ellie beamingly directed her to the nursery, and here she found enough brightness to flood the house.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The room was bright with firelight and the soft light from the subdued nursery lamps, and warm russet curtains shut out the dull and dying afternoon.
gloomyadjectiveUS /ˈɡluːmi/
depressingly dark
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/
destroyed or killed
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
guestnounUS /ɡest/
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But Ellie beamingly directed her to the nursery, and here she found enough brightness to flood the house.
hereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading But Ellie beamingly directed her to the nursery, and here she found enough brightness to flood the house.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
invitationnounUS /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
Julia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
Julia's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
lampsnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The room was bright with firelight and the soft light from the subdued nursery lamps, and warm russet curtains shut out the dull and dying afternoon.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The room was bright with firelight and the soft light from the subdued nursery lamps, and warm russet curtains shut out the dull and dying afternoon.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
magnificentadjectiveUS /mæɡˈnɪfəsənt/
characterized by grandeur
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
MissverbUS /mɪs/
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
nurserynounUS /ˈnɜːrsəri/
a child's room for a baby
From this reading But Ellie beamingly directed her to the nursery, and here she found enough brightness to flood the house.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The room was bright with firelight and the soft light from the subdued nursery lamps, and warm russet curtains shut out the dull and dying afternoon.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
PacificnounUS /pəˈsɪfɪk/
the largest ocean in the world
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
presentedverbUS /priˈzentɪd/
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
rainnounUS /reɪn/
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room was bright with firelight and the soft light from the subdued nursery lamps, and warm russet curtains shut out the dull and dying afternoon.
russetnounUS /ˈrʌsɪt/
a reddish brown homespun fabric
From this reading The room was bright with firelight and the soft light from the subdued nursery lamps, and warm russet curtains shut out the dull and dying afternoon.
settlingnounUS /ˈsetəlɪŋ/
a gradual sinking to a lower level
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
shutverbUS /ʃʌt/
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading The room was bright with firelight and the soft light from the subdued nursery lamps, and warm russet curtains shut out the dull and dying afternoon.
sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
slippersnounUS /ˈslɪpərz/
plural of “slipper” — low footwear that can be slipped on and off easily; usually worn indoors
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The room was bright with firelight and the soft light from the subdued nursery lamps, and warm russet curtains shut out the dull and dying afternoon.
spendverbUS /spend/
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
Studdifords
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading The room was bright with firelight and the soft light from the subdued nursery lamps, and warm russet curtains shut out the dull and dying afternoon.
ThanksgivingnounUS /ˌθæŋksˈɡɪvɪŋ/
fourth Thursday in November in the United States; second Monday in October in Canada; commemorates a feast held in 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
Toland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
unexpectedlyadverbUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪdli/
in a way that was not expected
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
warmadjectiveUS /wɔːrm/
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading The room was bright with firelight and the soft light from the subdued nursery lamps, and warm russet curtains shut out the dull and dying afternoon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
wetadjectiveUS /wet/
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading Caroline, it appeared, had gone to her own family for the afternoon, and Julia, looking like a child in her short white dress and buckled slippers, was sitting in a low chair with little Anna in her arms.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
wildadjectiveUS /waɪld/
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading It was a wild, wet day, settling down to heavy rain as the early darkness closed in, and the Pacific Avenue house presented a gloomy if magnificent aspect to the guest as she came in.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Miss Toland, who had accepted Julia's invitation for Thanksgiving, arrived unexpectedly on the afternoon before the holiday, to spend the night with the Studdifords.
