adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It had been a great effort to let it go to the station without her.
admiredadjectiveUS /ədˈmaɪərd/
regarded with admiration
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
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 So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In fact she had ordered it to the front door, and put on her hat and coat in readiness.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But at the last minute it had seemed impossible to meet Ronnie on a railway platform.
awaitedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪtɪd/
expected hopefully
From this reading THE MIRAGE Helen awaited in her sitting-room the return of the carriage.
beatingnounUS /ˈbiːtɪŋ/
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been a great effort to let it go to the station without her.
broughamnounUS /ˈbruːɡəm/
light carriage; pulled by a single horse
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But at the last minute it had seemed impossible to meet Ronnie on a railway platform.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
carriagenounUS /ˈkærɪdʒ/
a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading THE MIRAGE Helen awaited in her sitting-room the return of the carriage.
coatnounUS /koʊt/
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading In fact she had ordered it to the front door, and put on her hat and coat in readiness.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading In fact she had ordered it to the front door, and put on her hat and coat in readiness.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
effortnounUS /ˈefərt/
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading It had been a great effort to let it go to the station without her.
factnounUS /fækt/
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact she had ordered it to the front door, and put on her hat and coat in readiness.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
frontnounUS /frʌnt/
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading In fact she had ordered it to the front door, and put on her hat and coat in readiness.
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It had been a great effort to let it go to the station without her.
gownnounUS /ɡaʊn/
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It had been a great effort to let it go to the station without her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been a great effort to let it go to the station without her.
hatnounUS /hæt/
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading In fact she had ordered it to the front door, and put on her hat and coat in readiness.
heartnounUS /hɑːrt/
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
HelennounUS /ˈhelən/
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading THE MIRAGE Helen awaited in her sitting-room the return of the carriage.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE MIRAGE Helen awaited in her sitting-room the return of the carriage.
impossibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading But at the last minute it had seemed impossible to meet Ronnie on a railway platform.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE MIRAGE Helen awaited in her sitting-room the return of the carriage.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been a great effort to let it go to the station without her.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading But at the last minute it had seemed impossible to meet Ronnie on a railway platform.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading It had been a great effort to let it go to the station without her.
listenverbUS /ˈlɪsən/
hear with intention
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
meetverbUS /miːt/
come together
From this reading But at the last minute it had seemed impossible to meet Ronnie on a railway platform.
minutenounUS /ˈmɪnət/
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading But at the last minute it had seemed impossible to meet Ronnie on a railway platform.
MIRAGEnounUS /mərˈɑːʒ/
an optical illusion in which atmospheric refraction by a layer of hot air distorts or inverts reflections of distant objects
From this reading THE MIRAGE Helen awaited in her sitting-room the return of the carriage.
nurserynounUS /ˈnɜːrsəri/
a child's room for a baby
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MIRAGE Helen awaited in her sitting-room the return of the carriage.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In fact she had ordered it to the front door, and put on her hat and coat in readiness.
orderedadjectiveUS /ˈɔːrdərd/
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading In fact she had ordered it to the front door, and put on her hat and coat in readiness.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
pausedverbUS /pɔːzd/
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
platformnounUS /ˈplætfɔːrm/
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading But at the last minute it had seemed impossible to meet Ronnie on a railway platform.
putverbUS /pʊt/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading In fact she had ordered it to the front door, and put on her hat and coat in readiness.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
railwaynounUS /ˈreɪlweɪ/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading But at the last minute it had seemed impossible to meet Ronnie on a railway platform.
readinessnounUS /ˈredinəs/
the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)
From this reading In fact she had ordered it to the front door, and put on her hat and coat in readiness.
readyadjectiveUS /ˈredi/
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
returnverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrn/
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading THE MIRAGE Helen awaited in her sitting-room the return of the carriage.
Ronnie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But at the last minute it had seemed impossible to meet Ronnie on a railway platform.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But at the last minute it had seemed impossible to meet Ronnie on a railway platform.
sentnounUS /sent/
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In fact she had ordered it to the front door, and put on her hat and coat in readiness.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MIRAGE Helen awaited in her sitting-room the return of the carriage.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
soundnounUS /saʊnd/
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
speciallyadverbUS /ˈspeʃəli/
in a special manner
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
stationnounUS /ˈsteɪʃən/
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading It had been a great effort to let it go to the station without her.
sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MIRAGE Helen awaited in her sitting-room the return of the carriage.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It had been a great effort to let it go to the station without her.
trailingnounUS /ˈtreɪlɪŋ/
the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
triedadjectiveUS /traɪd/
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
upstairsadverbUS /əpˈsterz/
on a floor above
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading So she sent the brougham off without her, went upstairs, put on a soft trailing gown specially admired by Ronnie, paused at the nursery to make sure all was quiet and ready, then came down to her sitting-room, and tried to listen for a sound other than the beating of her own heart.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It had been a great effort to let it go to the station without her.
