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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 Saith a very homely proverb (pardon its vulgarity), "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
according
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "She was not in our set, my dear," answered Lady Selina.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Mamma," asked Honoria Carr Vipont, "what sort of a person was Mrs. Darrell?"
bloodnounUS /blood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saith a very homely proverb (pardon its vulgarity), "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
Carr
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From this reading "Mamma," asked Honoria Carr Vipont, "what sort of a person was Mrs. Darrell?"
civil
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From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
conjure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
connections
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
creatures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
Crookes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
Darrell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mamma," asked Honoria Carr Vipont, "what sort of a person was Mrs. Darrell?"
dear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She was not in our set, my dear," answered Lady Selina.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
ear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saith a very homely proverb (pardon its vulgarity), "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
finer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
flesh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
grand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
homely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saith a very homely proverb (pardon its vulgarity), "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
Honoria
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mamma," asked Honoria Carr Vipont, "what sort of a person was Mrs. Darrell?"
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "She was not in our set, my dear," answered Lady Selina.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
intimate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Saith a very homely proverb (pardon its vulgarity), "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
Lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She was not in our set, my dear," answered Lady Selina.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Saith a very homely proverb (pardon its vulgarity), "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
Mamma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mamma," asked Honoria Carr Vipont, "what sort of a person was Mrs. Darrell?"
mechanician
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mamma," asked Honoria Carr Vipont, "what sort of a person was Mrs. Darrell?"
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "She was not in our set, my dear," answered Lady Selina.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "She was not in our set, my dear," answered Lady Selina.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Saith a very homely proverb (pardon its vulgarity), "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "She was not in our set, my dear," answered Lady Selina.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saith a very homely proverb (pardon its vulgarity), "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
pardon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saith a very homely proverb (pardon its vulgarity), "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mamma," asked Honoria Carr Vipont, "what sort of a person was Mrs. Darrell?"
proverb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saith a very homely proverb (pardon its vulgarity), "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
purse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saith a very homely proverb (pardon its vulgarity), "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
Saith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saith a very homely proverb (pardon its vulgarity), "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
sarcenet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
Selina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She was not in our set, my dear," answered Lady Selina.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She was not in our set, my dear," answered Lady Selina.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "She was not in our set, my dear," answered Lady Selina.
silk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saith a very homely proverb (pardon its vulgarity), "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mamma," asked Honoria Carr Vipont, "what sort of a person was Mrs. Darrell?"
sow's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saith a very homely proverb (pardon its vulgarity), "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
tulle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saith a very homely proverb (pardon its vulgarity), "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
Vipont
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mamma," asked Honoria Carr Vipont, "what sort of a person was Mrs. Darrell?"
Viponts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
vulgarity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saith a very homely proverb (pardon its vulgarity), "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Mamma," asked Honoria Carr Vipont, "what sort of a person was Mrs. Darrell?"
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Mamma," asked Honoria Carr Vipont, "what sort of a person was Mrs. Darrell?"
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "The Vipont Crookes are just one of those connections with which, though of course one is civil to all connections, one is more or less intimate according as they take after the Viponts or after the Crookes.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But a sow's ear is a much finer work of art than a silk purse; and grand, indeed, the mechanician who could make a sow's ear out of a silk purse, or conjure into creatures of flesh and blood the sarcenet and /tulle/ of a London drawing-room.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Saith a very homely proverb (pardon its vulgarity), "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
