Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
abstain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
affects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
Andy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Of course every one knows this, but only through the microscope of narrow lives do you see the principle at work.
attending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
aunt's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
bronchitis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
carpenter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
chancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And her own self-respect—the self-respect of a girl in such matters is a queer and chancy thing—would not permit her to come in without a decent excuse.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And her own self-respect—the self-respect of a girl in such matters is a queer and chancy thing—would not permit her to come in without a decent excuse.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
community
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course every one knows this, but only through the microscope of narrow lives do you see the principle at work.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
decent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And her own self-respect—the self-respect of a girl in such matters is a queer and chancy thing—would not permit her to come in without a decent excuse.
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Of course every one knows this, but only through the microscope of narrow lives do you see the principle at work.
Elizabeth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
ends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
enemy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
excuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
extraordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
feel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And her own self-respect—the self-respect of a girl in such matters is a queer and chancy thing—would not permit her to come in without a decent excuse.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
HoweveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
knows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course every one knows this, but only through the microscope of narrow lives do you see the principle at work.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
lives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course every one knows this, but only through the microscope of narrow lives do you see the principle at work.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
Marshaven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
matters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And her own self-respect—the self-respect of a girl in such matters is a queer and chancy thing—would not permit her to come in without a decent excuse.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
microscope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course every one knows this, but only through the microscope of narrow lives do you see the principle at work.
miles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
Millsby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course every one knows this, but only through the microscope of narrow lives do you see the principle at work.
needed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
nobody's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
obliged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
OfprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course every one knows this, but only through the microscope of narrow lives do you see the principle at work.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Of course every one knows this, but only through the microscope of narrow lives do you see the principle at work.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And her own self-respect—the self-respect of a girl in such matters is a queer and chancy thing—would not permit her to come in without a decent excuse.
particular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
permit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And her own self-respect—the self-respect of a girl in such matters is a queer and chancy thing—would not permit her to come in without a decent excuse.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
possibly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
principle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course every one knows this, but only through the microscope of narrow lives do you see the principle at work.
private
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
queer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And her own self-respect—the self-respect of a girl in such matters is a queer and chancy thing—would not permit her to come in without a decent excuse.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
realise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
school-treat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course every one knows this, but only through the microscope of narrow lives do you see the principle at work.
self-respect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And her own self-respect—the self-respect of a girl in such matters is a queer and chancy thing—would not permit her to come in without a decent excuse.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading And her own self-respect—the self-respect of a girl in such matters is a queer and chancy thing—would not permit her to come in without a decent excuse.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And her own self-respect—the self-respect of a girl in such matters is a queer and chancy thing—would not permit her to come in without a decent excuse.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Of course every one knows this, but only through the microscope of narrow lives do you see the principle at work.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Of course every one knows this, but only through the microscope of narrow lives do you see the principle at work.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
unable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
universe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
urgently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
volunteered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
walk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
WHENconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
WhichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
widows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading However, a carpenter happened to be rather urgently needed, and, as the young man’s father was laid up with bronchitis, and the young man himself had a black eye, Elizabeth volunteered to walk over to Marshaven, a distance of about two miles from her aunt’s house, which lay between Millsby and the sea.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading And her own self-respect—the self-respect of a girl in such matters is a queer and chancy thing—would not permit her to come in without a decent excuse.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course every one knows this, but only through the microscope of narrow lives do you see the principle at work.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Which all means that Andy would not have met Elizabeth at Marshaven if the young man who was her aunt’s carpenter had not been obliged to abstain from attending upon particular widows; for Elizabeth would have been unable to find any excuse which would possibly hold water for coming into the little town on the day of the school-treat.
yourspronounUS /jʊrz/
the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to
From this reading WHEN you live in a large community you feel it possible to give an enemy a private black eye and that there the matter ends—nobody’s business but yours and his—and it is only when you live in a little place that you realise the extraordinary fact that there _are_ no private black eyes—every black eye affects the universe.
