adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading So he went to bed betimes, and there lay long awake, deep wondering to himself how to act about Herminia.
actverbUS /ækt/
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading So he went to bed betimes, and there lay long awake, deep wondering to himself how to act about Herminia.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
Alan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That night Alan slept little.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
aspirationsnounUS /ˌæspərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “aspiration” — a will to succeed
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading So he went to bed betimes, and there lay long awake, deep wondering to himself how to act about Herminia.
becomingadjectiveUS /bɪˈkʌmɪŋ/
according with custom or propriety
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
bednounUS /bed/
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading So he went to bed betimes, and there lay long awake, deep wondering to himself how to act about Herminia.
bedroomnounUS /ˈbedruːm/
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
betimesadverb
in good time
From this reading So he went to bed betimes, and there lay long awake, deep wondering to himself how to act about Herminia.
blondenounUS /blɑːnd/
a person with fair skin and hair
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
boxnounUS /bɑːks/
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
chocolatenounUS /ˈtʃɔːklət/
a beverage made from cocoa powder and milk and sugar; usually drunk hot
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
coververbUS /ˈkʌvər/
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
deepadjectiveUS /diːp/
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading So he went to bed betimes, and there lay long awake, deep wondering to himself how to act about Herminia.
dinnernounUS /ˈdɪnər/
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
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 Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
Ethel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
EvenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
factnounUS /fækt/
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
gipsynoun
a laborer who moves from place to place as demanded by employment
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
grandadjectiveUS /ɡrænd/
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
headachenounUS /ˈhedeɪk/
something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
Herminia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
herspronounUS /hərz/
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading So he went to bed betimes, and there lay long awake, deep wondering to himself how to act about Herminia.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
hostessnounUS /ˈhoʊstəs/
a woman host
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
ideasnounUS /aɪˈdiːəz/
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
insipidadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsɪpəd/
lacking taste or flavor or tang
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading So he went to bed betimes, and there lay long awake, deep wondering to himself how to act about Herminia.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
listenverbUS /ˈlɪsən/
hear with intention
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading That night Alan slept little.
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 So he went to bed betimes, and there lay long awake, deep wondering to himself how to act about Herminia.
lovenounUS /lʌv/
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading He was really in love with her.
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading That night Alan slept little.
noticedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəst/
being perceived or observed
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
ohnounUS /oʊ/
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/
a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
preoccupationnounUS /priˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
an idea that preoccupies the mind and holds the attention
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
pretextnounUS /ˈpriːtekst/
something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading He was really in love with her.
retiredadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrd/
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
showverbUS /ʃoʊ/
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
sleptverbUS /slept/
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading That night Alan slept little.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So he went to bed betimes, and there lay long awake, deep wondering to himself how to act about Herminia.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That night Alan slept little.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading So he went to bed betimes, and there lay long awake, deep wondering to himself how to act about Herminia.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
Waterton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even at dinner his hostess, Mrs Waterton, noticed his preoccupation; and, on the pretext of a headache, he retired early to his own bedroom.
Waterton's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading So he went to bed betimes, and there lay long awake, deep wondering to himself how to act about Herminia.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading His mind was full of Herminia and these strange ideas of hers; how could he listen with a becoming show of interest to Ethel Waterton’s aspirations on the grand piano after a gipsy life—oh, a gipsy life for her!—when in point of fact she was a most insipid blonde from the cover of a chocolate box?
wonderingadjectiveUS /ˈwʌndərɪŋ/
showing curiosity
From this reading So he went to bed betimes, and there lay long awake, deep wondering to himself how to act about Herminia.
