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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Her ankle was better, yet, in spite of the caution with which she descended, it gave her a twinge at every tread.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
ankle
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From this reading Her ankle was better, yet, in spite of the caution with which she descended, it gave her a twinge at every tread.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
better
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From this reading Her ankle was better, yet, in spite of the caution with which she descended, it gave her a twinge at every tread.
came
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From this reading How comfortless, how even ghostly the great hall seemed, as the first glimmer of the day came shimmeringly through the painted windows!
caught
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From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
caution
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From this reading Her ankle was better, yet, in spite of the caution with which she descended, it gave her a twinge at every tread.
cold
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From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
comfortless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How comfortless, how even ghostly the great hall seemed, as the first glimmer of the day came shimmeringly through the painted windows!
Curiously
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From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How comfortless, how even ghostly the great hall seemed, as the first glimmer of the day came shimmeringly through the painted windows!
descendednounUS /ˈdescended/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Her ankle was better, yet, in spite of the caution with which she descended, it gave her a twinge at every tread.
draperies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading How comfortless, how even ghostly the great hall seemed, as the first glimmer of the day came shimmeringly through the painted windows!
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Her ankle was better, yet, in spite of the caution with which she descended, it gave her a twinge at every tread.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading How comfortless, how even ghostly the great hall seemed, as the first glimmer of the day came shimmeringly through the painted windows!
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At the foot of the stairs she stopped--to listen.
Forster
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From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
gave
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From this reading Her ankle was better, yet, in spite of the caution with which she descended, it gave her a twinge at every tread.
ghostly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How comfortless, how even ghostly the great hall seemed, as the first glimmer of the day came shimmeringly through the painted windows!
glimmer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How comfortless, how even ghostly the great hall seemed, as the first glimmer of the day came shimmeringly through the painted windows!
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
grey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How comfortless, how even ghostly the great hall seemed, as the first glimmer of the day came shimmeringly through the painted windows!
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
heel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How comfortless, how even ghostly the great hall seemed, as the first glimmer of the day came shimmeringly through the painted windows!
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
listen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the foot of the stairs she stopped--to listen.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
painted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How comfortless, how even ghostly the great hall seemed, as the first glimmer of the day came shimmeringly through the painted windows!
passagenounUS /ˈpassage/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
paused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
shimmeringly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How comfortless, how even ghostly the great hall seemed, as the first glimmer of the day came shimmeringly through the painted windows!
spite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her ankle was better, yet, in spite of the caution with which she descended, it gave her a twinge at every tread.
stair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
staircase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the foot of the stairs she stopped--to listen.
stoppednounUS /stopped/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At the foot of the stairs she stopped--to listen.
stumbled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading How comfortless, how even ghostly the great hall seemed, as the first glimmer of the day came shimmeringly through the painted windows!
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
tread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her ankle was better, yet, in spite of the caution with which she descended, it gave her a twinge at every tread.
twinge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her ankle was better, yet, in spite of the caution with which she descended, it gave her a twinge at every tread.
Two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
Violet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How comfortless, how even ghostly the great hall seemed, as the first glimmer of the day came shimmeringly through the painted windows!
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her ankle was better, yet, in spite of the caution with which she descended, it gave her a twinge at every tread.
Women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Two Women Curiously quiet the house seemed to be as, in the cold, grey light, Violet Forster made the best of her way along the passage.
wonderednounUS /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At the head of the great staircase she paused; now it was possible to see; she wondered which was the stair on which, in the darkness, she had caught her heel in her draperies and stumbled.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Her ankle was better, yet, in spite of the caution with which she descended, it gave her a twinge at every tread.