adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The discussion had not been altogether a pleasant one.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Elizabeth stood with her hands behind her back, leaning slightly against the writing-table.
altogetheradverbUS /ˌɔːltəˈɡeðər/
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The discussion had not been altogether a pleasant one.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The professor, with his broad-brimmed hat clinched in his fingers, walked restlessly up and down the little room.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “You are mad, Elizabeth!” he declared.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Elizabeth stood with her hands behind her back, leaning slightly against the writing-table.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The discussion had not been altogether a pleasant one.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Elizabeth stood with her hands behind her back, leaning slightly against the writing-table.
broad-brimmedadjective
(of hats) having a broad brim
From this reading The professor, with his broad-brimmed hat clinched in his fingers, walked restlessly up and down the little room.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Elizabeth was composed but serious, her father nervous and excited.
clinchedadjectiveUS /klɪntʃt/
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading The professor, with his broad-brimmed hat clinched in his fingers, walked restlessly up and down the little room.
composedadjectiveUS /kəmˈpoʊzd/
serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress
From this reading Elizabeth was composed but serious, her father nervous and excited.
declaredadjectiveUS /dɪˈklerd/
made known or openly avowed
From this reading “You are mad, Elizabeth!” he declared.
discussionnounUS /dɪˈskʌʃən/
an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic
From this reading The discussion had not been altogether a pleasant one.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The professor, with his broad-brimmed hat clinched in his fingers, walked restlessly up and down the little room.
ElizabethnounUS /ɪˈlɪzəbəθ/
daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)
From this reading Elizabeth stood with her hands behind her back, leaning slightly against the writing-table.
excitedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtəd/
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading Elizabeth was composed but serious, her father nervous and excited.
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Elizabeth was composed but serious, her father nervous and excited.
fingersnounUS /ˈfɪŋɡərz/
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading The professor, with his broad-brimmed hat clinched in his fingers, walked restlessly up and down the little room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The discussion had not been altogether a pleasant one.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Elizabeth stood with her hands behind her back, leaning slightly against the writing-table.
hatnounUS /hæt/
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading The professor, with his broad-brimmed hat clinched in his fingers, walked restlessly up and down the little room.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “You are mad, Elizabeth!” he declared.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Elizabeth stood with her hands behind her back, leaning slightly against the writing-table.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The professor, with his broad-brimmed hat clinched in his fingers, walked restlessly up and down the little room.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The professor, with his broad-brimmed hat clinched in his fingers, walked restlessly up and down the little room.
leaningadjectiveUS /ˈliːnɪŋ/
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading Elizabeth stood with her hands behind her back, leaning slightly against the writing-table.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The professor, with his broad-brimmed hat clinched in his fingers, walked restlessly up and down the little room.
madadjectiveUS /mæd/
roused to anger
From this reading “You are mad, Elizabeth!” he declared.
nervousadjectiveUS /ˈnɜːrvəs/
easily agitated
From this reading Elizabeth was composed but serious, her father nervous and excited.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The discussion had not been altogether a pleasant one.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The discussion had not been altogether a pleasant one.
pleasantadjectiveUS /ˈplezənt/
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading The discussion had not been altogether a pleasant one.
professornounUS /prəˈfesər/
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading The professor, with his broad-brimmed hat clinched in his fingers, walked restlessly up and down the little room.
restlesslyadverbUS /ˈrestləsli/
in a restless manner
From this reading The professor, with his broad-brimmed hat clinched in his fingers, walked restlessly up and down the little room.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The professor, with his broad-brimmed hat clinched in his fingers, walked restlessly up and down the little room.
seriousadjectiveUS /ˈsɪriəs/
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading Elizabeth was composed but serious, her father nervous and excited.
slightlyadverbUS /ˈslaɪtli/
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Elizabeth stood with her hands behind her back, leaning slightly against the writing-table.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Elizabeth stood with her hands behind her back, leaning slightly against the writing-table.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Elizabeth stood with her hands behind her back, leaning slightly against the writing-table.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The professor, with his broad-brimmed hat clinched in his fingers, walked restlessly up and down the little room.
walkedverbUS /wɔːkt/
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading The professor, with his broad-brimmed hat clinched in his fingers, walked restlessly up and down the little room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Elizabeth was composed but serious, her father nervous and excited.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Elizabeth stood with her hands behind her back, leaning slightly against the writing-table.
writing-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elizabeth stood with her hands behind her back, leaning slightly against the writing-table.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You are mad, Elizabeth!” he declared.
