adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading In a few minutes, the two sisters had constructed, with the straw of their couch, the calkings necessary to intercept the air, and to render suffocation more expeditious and certain.
AlasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/
in addition
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Cephyse and her sister continued with calmness the preparations for their death.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
brutalitynounUS /bruːˈtæləti/
the trait of extreme cruelty
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
calkings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a few minutes, the two sisters had constructed, with the straw of their couch, the calkings necessary to intercept the air, and to render suffocation more expeditious and certain.
calmnessnounUS /ˈkɑːmnəs/
steadiness of mind under stress
From this reading Cephyse and her sister continued with calmness the preparations for their death.
causesnounUS /ˈkɑːzəz/
plural of “cause” — events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
Cephyse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cephyse and her sister continued with calmness the preparations for their death.
certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading In a few minutes, the two sisters had constructed, with the straw of their couch, the calkings necessary to intercept the air, and to render suffocation more expeditious and certain.
chooseverbUS /tʃuːz/
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
constructedverbUS /kənˈstrʌktəd/
past form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts
From this reading In a few minutes, the two sisters had constructed, with the straw of their couch, the calkings necessary to intercept the air, and to render suffocation more expeditious and certain.
contemptnounUS /kənˈtempt/
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
continuedadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːd/
without stop or interruption
From this reading Cephyse and her sister continued with calmness the preparations for their death.
couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading In a few minutes, the two sisters had constructed, with the straw of their couch, the calkings necessary to intercept the air, and to render suffocation more expeditious and certain.
creaturesnounUS /ˈkriːtʃərz/
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
deathnounUS /deθ/
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Cephyse and her sister continued with calmness the preparations for their death.
deathsnounUS /deθs/
plural of “death” — the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
despairnounUS /dɪˈsper/
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
drivenadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪvən/
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
enervatingadjective
causing debilitation
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
existencenounUS /eɡˈzɪstəns/
the state or fact of existing
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
expeditiousadjectiveUS /ˌekspəˈdɪʃəs/
marked by speed and efficiency
From this reading In a few minutes, the two sisters had constructed, with the straw of their couch, the calkings necessary to intercept the air, and to render suffocation more expeditious and certain.
fatallyadverbUS /ˈfeɪtəli/
with fatal consequences or implications
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading In a few minutes, the two sisters had constructed, with the straw of their couch, the calkings necessary to intercept the air, and to render suffocation more expeditious and certain.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Cephyse and her sister continued with calmness the preparations for their death.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
grantedadjectiveUS /ˈɡræntəd/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
gulfsnounUS /ɡʌlfs/
plural of “gulf” — an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In a few minutes, the two sisters had constructed, with the straw of their couch, the calkings necessary to intercept the air, and to render suffocation more expeditious and certain.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Cephyse and her sister continued with calmness the preparations for their death.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
infamynounUS /ˈɪnfəmi/
a state of extreme dishonor
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
interceptverbUS /ˌɪntərˈsept/
seize on its way
From this reading In a few minutes, the two sisters had constructed, with the straw of their couch, the calkings necessary to intercept the air, and to render suffocation more expeditious and certain.
killsnounUS /kɪlz/
plural of “kill” — the act of terminating a life
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
labornounUS /ˈleɪbər/
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
liveverbUS /laɪv/
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading In a few minutes, the two sisters had constructed, with the straw of their couch, the calkings necessary to intercept the air, and to render suffocation more expeditious and certain.
miserableadjectiveUS /ˈmɪzərəbəl/
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
mockerynounUS /ˈmɑːkəri/
showing your contempt by derision
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading In a few minutes, the two sisters had constructed, with the straw of their couch, the calkings necessary to intercept the air, and to render suffocation more expeditious and certain.
mortaladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrtəl/
subject to death
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
necessaryadjectiveUS /ˈnesəseri/
absolutely essential
From this reading In a few minutes, the two sisters had constructed, with the straw of their couch, the calkings necessary to intercept the air, and to render suffocation more expeditious and certain.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
pooradjectiveUS /puːr/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
prematureadjectiveUS /ˌpriːməˈtʃʊr/
born after a gestation period of less than the normal time
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading Cephyse and her sister continued with calmness the preparations for their death.
privationsnounUS /praɪˈveɪʃənz/
plural of “privation” — a state of extreme poverty
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
prostitutionnounUS /ˌprɑːstəˈtuːʃən/
offering sexual intercourse for pay
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
refugenounUS /ˈrefjuːdʒ/
a safe place
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
renderverbUS /ˈrendər/
cause to become
From this reading In a few minutes, the two sisters had constructed, with the straw of their couch, the calkings necessary to intercept the air, and to render suffocation more expeditious and certain.
responsibilitynounUS /riˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti/
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
restverbUS /rest/
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
sadadjectiveUS /sæd/
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
seekverbUS /siːk/
try to get or reach
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
shamenounUS /ʃeɪm/
a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
sisternounUS /ˈsɪstər/
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Cephyse and her sister continued with calmness the preparations for their death.
sistersnounUS /ˈsɪstərz/
plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
slowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
societynounUS /səˈsaɪəti/
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
strawnounUS /strɔː/
plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
From this reading In a few minutes, the two sisters had constructed, with the straw of their couch, the calkings necessary to intercept the air, and to render suffocation more expeditious and certain.
suffocationnounUS /ˌsʌfəˈkeɪʃən/
killing by depriving of oxygen
From this reading In a few minutes, the two sisters had constructed, with the straw of their couch, the calkings necessary to intercept the air, and to render suffocation more expeditious and certain.
SUICIDEnounUS /ˈsuːəsaɪd/
the act of killing yourself
From this reading SUICIDE.
terribleadjectiveUS /ˈterəbəl/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Cephyse and her sister continued with calmness the preparations for their death.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Cephyse and her sister continued with calmness the preparations for their death.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
thousandsnounUS /ˈθaʊzəndz/
plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
threenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
toilverbUS /tɔɪl/
work hard
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In a few minutes, the two sisters had constructed, with the straw of their couch, the calkings necessary to intercept the air, and to render suffocation more expeditious and certain.
unableadjectiveUS /əˈneɪbəl/
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
uncleannessnoun
the state of being unsanitary
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
wagesnounUS /ˈweɪdʒəz/
a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Cephyse and her sister continued with calmness the preparations for their death.
woenounUS /woʊ/
misery resulting from affliction
From this reading And upon society will rest the terrible responsibility of these sad deaths, so long as thousands of human creatures, unable to live upon the mockery of wages granted to their labor, have to choose between these three gulfs of shame and woe; a life of enervating toil and mortal privations, causes of premature death; prostitution, which kills also, but slowly--by contempt, brutality, and uncleanness; suicide--which kills at once.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Alas! how many poor young girls, like these sisters, have been, and still will be, fatally driven to seek in suicide a refuge from despair, from infamy, or from a too miserable existence!
