adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
abnormallyadverbUS /æbˈnɔːrməli/
in an abnormal manner
From this reading The aunt, Miss Ramboat, was a large, abnormally shy person very like her brother, and I don’t recall anything she said on this occasion.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading The aunt, Miss Ramboat, was a large, abnormally shy person very like her brother, and I don’t recall anything she said on this occasion.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
auntnounUS /ænt/
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading The aunt, Miss Ramboat, was a large, abnormally shy person very like her brother, and I don’t recall anything she said on this occasion.
authoritativeadjectiveUS /əˈθɔːrəteɪtɪv/
having authority or ascendancy or influence
From this reading Her own manner changed, became more authoritative and watchful, her shyness disappeared.
becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Her own manner changed, became more authoritative and watchful, her shyness disappeared.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Her mother must once have been a pretty woman; she had regular features and Marion’s hair without its lustre, but she was thin and careworn.
BothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading She had taken a line of her own I gathered, draped the mirror, got the second-hand piano, and broken her parents in.
brothernounUS /ˈbrʌðər/
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading The aunt, Miss Ramboat, was a large, abnormally shy person very like her brother, and I don’t recall anything she said on this occasion.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Her mother must once have been a pretty woman; she had regular features and Marion’s hair without its lustre, but she was thin and careworn.
careworn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her mother must once have been a pretty woman; she had regular features and Marion’s hair without its lustre, but she was thin and careworn.
changedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪndʒd/
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading Her own manner changed, became more authoritative and watchful, her shyness disappeared.
deferencenounUS /ˈdefərəns/
a courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
disappearedverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrd/
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading Her own manner changed, became more authoritative and watchful, her shyness disappeared.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The aunt, Miss Ramboat, was a large, abnormally shy person very like her brother, and I don’t recall anything she said on this occasion.
drapedadjectiveUS /dreɪpt/
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading She had taken a line of her own I gathered, draped the mirror, got the second-hand piano, and broken her parents in.
featuresnounUS /ˈfiːtʃərz/
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading Her mother must once have been a pretty woman; she had regular features and Marion’s hair without its lustre, but she was thin and careworn.
gatheredadjectiveUS /ˈɡæðərd/
brought together in one place
From this reading She had taken a line of her own I gathered, draped the mirror, got the second-hand piano, and broken her parents in.
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading She had taken a line of her own I gathered, draped the mirror, got the second-hand piano, and broken her parents in.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had taken a line of her own I gathered, draped the mirror, got the second-hand piano, and broken her parents in.
hairnounUS /her/
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Her mother must once have been a pretty woman; she had regular features and Marion’s hair without its lustre, but she was thin and careworn.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Her mother must once have been a pretty woman; she had regular features and Marion’s hair without its lustre, but she was thin and careworn.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading She had taken a line of her own I gathered, draped the mirror, got the second-hand piano, and broken her parents in.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Her mother must once have been a pretty woman; she had regular features and Marion’s hair without its lustre, but she was thin and careworn.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The aunt, Miss Ramboat, was a large, abnormally shy person very like her brother, and I don’t recall anything she said on this occasion.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The aunt, Miss Ramboat, was a large, abnormally shy person very like her brother, and I don’t recall anything she said on this occasion.
linenounUS /laɪn/
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading She had taken a line of her own I gathered, draped the mirror, got the second-hand piano, and broken her parents in.
lustrenounUS /ˈlʌstər/
a surface coating for ceramics or porcelain
From this reading Her mother must once have been a pretty woman; she had regular features and Marion’s hair without its lustre, but she was thin and careworn.
mannernounUS /ˈmænər/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Her own manner changed, became more authoritative and watchful, her shyness disappeared.
Marion's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading She had taken a line of her own I gathered, draped the mirror, got the second-hand piano, and broken her parents in.
MissverbUS /mɪs/
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading The aunt, Miss Ramboat, was a large, abnormally shy person very like her brother, and I don’t recall anything she said on this occasion.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Her own manner changed, became more authoritative and watchful, her shyness disappeared.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Her mother must once have been a pretty woman; she had regular features and Marion’s hair without its lustre, but she was thin and careworn.
naturaladjectiveUS /ˈnætʃərəl/
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
occasionnounUS /əˈkeɪʒən/
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading The aunt, Miss Ramboat, was a large, abnormally shy person very like her brother, and I don’t recall anything she said on this occasion.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had taken a line of her own I gathered, draped the mirror, got the second-hand piano, and broken her parents in.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The aunt, Miss Ramboat, was a large, abnormally shy person very like her brother, and I don’t recall anything she said on this occasion.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading Her mother must once have been a pretty woman; she had regular features and Marion’s hair without its lustre, but she was thin and careworn.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Her own manner changed, became more authoritative and watchful, her shyness disappeared.
parentsnounUS /ˈperənts/
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading She had taken a line of her own I gathered, draped the mirror, got the second-hand piano, and broken her parents in.
personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/
a human being
From this reading The aunt, Miss Ramboat, was a large, abnormally shy person very like her brother, and I don’t recall anything she said on this occasion.
pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/
a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
From this reading She had taken a line of her own I gathered, draped the mirror, got the second-hand piano, and broken her parents in.
prettyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪti/
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Her mother must once have been a pretty woman; she had regular features and Marion’s hair without its lustre, but she was thin and careworn.
Ramboat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The aunt, Miss Ramboat, was a large, abnormally shy person very like her brother, and I don’t recall anything she said on this occasion.
recallverbUS /ˈriːkɔːl/
recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading The aunt, Miss Ramboat, was a large, abnormally shy person very like her brother, and I don’t recall anything she said on this occasion.
regularadjectiveUS /ˈreɡjələr/
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading Her mother must once have been a pretty woman; she had regular features and Marion’s hair without its lustre, but she was thin and careworn.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The aunt, Miss Ramboat, was a large, abnormally shy person very like her brother, and I don’t recall anything she said on this occasion.
second-hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had taken a line of her own I gathered, draped the mirror, got the second-hand piano, and broken her parents in.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had taken a line of her own I gathered, draped the mirror, got the second-hand piano, and broken her parents in.
shyverbUS /ʃaɪ/
start suddenly, as from fright
From this reading The aunt, Miss Ramboat, was a large, abnormally shy person very like her brother, and I don’t recall anything she said on this occasion.
shynessnounUS /ˈʃaɪnəs/
a feeling of fear of embarrassment
From this reading Her own manner changed, became more authoritative and watchful, her shyness disappeared.
struckadjectiveUS /strʌk/
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading She had taken a line of her own I gathered, draped the mirror, got the second-hand piano, and broken her parents in.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Her mother must once have been a pretty woman; she had regular features and Marion’s hair without its lustre, but she was thin and careworn.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The aunt, Miss Ramboat, was a large, abnormally shy person very like her brother, and I don’t recall anything she said on this occasion.
treatedadjectiveUS /ˈtriːtɪd/
subjected to a physical (or chemical) treatment or action or agent
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading The aunt, Miss Ramboat, was a large, abnormally shy person very like her brother, and I don’t recall anything she said on this occasion.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her mother must once have been a pretty woman; she had regular features and Marion’s hair without its lustre, but she was thin and careworn.
watchfuladjectiveUS /ˈwɑːtʃfəl/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading Her own manner changed, became more authoritative and watchful, her shyness disappeared.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Her mother must once have been a pretty woman; she had regular features and Marion’s hair without its lustre, but she was thin and careworn.
womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Her mother must once have been a pretty woman; she had regular features and Marion’s hair without its lustre, but she was thin and careworn.
worldnounUS /wɜːrld/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Both he and Marion’s mother treated her with a deference that struck me as the most natural thing in the world.
