adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
anxiousadjectiveUS /ˈæŋkʃəs/
eagerly desirous
From this reading How anxious their mother is during the ceremony of introduction!
approvedadjectiveUS /əˈpruːvd/
established by authority; given authoritative approval
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
awaitingverbUS /əˈweɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “await” — look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
breathnounUS /breθ/
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
callverbUS /kɔːl/
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
ceremonynounUS /ˈserəmoʊni/
a formal event performed on a special occasion
From this reading How anxious their mother is during the ceremony of introduction!
coryphe'es
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
dancingnounUS /ˈdænsɪŋ/
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
demureadjectiveUS /dɪˈmjʊr/
affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
desirenounUS /dɪˈzaɪər/
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
drillingnounUS /ˈdrɪlɪŋ/
the act of drilling
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
excitementnounUS /ɪkˈsaɪtmənt/
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
fancynounUS /ˈfænsi/
something many people believe that is false
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
gardennounUS /ˈɡɑːrdən/
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/
a young female
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
grown-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
honournounUS /ˈɑːnər/
the state of being honored
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How anxious their mother is during the ceremony of introduction!
hurriedadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːrid/
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
infantnounUS /ˈɪnfənt/
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
introductionnounUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/
the act of beginning something new
From this reading How anxious their mother is during the ceremony of introduction!
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
manounUS /mɑː/
informal terms for a mother
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
ma'amnounUS /mæm/
a woman of refinement
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
ModestadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdəst/
marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading How anxious their mother is during the ceremony of introduction!
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
overborne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
putverbUS /pʊt/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
quadrillenoun
music for dancing the quadrille
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
rehearsingverbUS /rɪˈhɜːrsɪŋ/
-ing form of “rehearse” — engage in a rehearsal
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
seenverbUS /siːn/
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
shylyadverbUS /ˈʃaɪli/
in a shy or timid or bashful manner
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
sisternounUS /ˈsɪstər/
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
sistersnounUS /ˈsɪstərz/
plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
smalleradjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːlər/
small or little relative to something else
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
stage-fright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
standverbUS /stænd/
be standing; be upright
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
suddenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌdən/
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
Sunday-best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
thankverbUS /θæŋk/
express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
tiptoeverbUS /ˈtɪptoʊ/
walk on one's toes
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
toiletnounUS /ˈtɔɪlət/
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
tripsnounUS /trɪps/
plural of “trip” — a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
turnverbUS /tɜːrn/
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
wingsnounUS /wɪŋz/
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
YesnounUS /jes/
an affirmative
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
