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 The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
all
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From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
allusions
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From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
answer
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From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
anywhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
best
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From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
bitter
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From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
boy
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From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
Constance
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From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
crisis
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From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
drawing
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From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
eagerness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
Eaton
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From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
effect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
familiar
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From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
fancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
food
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From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
fortunenounUS /ˈfortune/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
Frances
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From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
full
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From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
Gaunt
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From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
gave
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From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
grace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
gracious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
graciousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
hansom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
hard
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From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
highway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
hovering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
insisting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
kindness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
ladies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
Lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
longing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
luncheon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
Markham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
Markham's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
now
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From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
obliged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
pain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
painful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
pleasure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
questions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
soothed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
soothing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
Square
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
stay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
surrounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
sweetness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
unwilling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The sweetness of the two ladies--the happy eagerness of Frances, and Lady Markham’s grace and graciousness--had a soothing effect upon the young man.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had been unwilling to come, as he was unwilling to go anywhere at this crisis of his life; but it soothed him, and filled him with a sort of painful and bitter pleasure to be thus surrounded by all that was most familiar to Constance,--by her mother and sister, and all their questions about her.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
wrung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To hear her name, and all those allusions to her, to be in the rooms where she had spent her life--all this gave food to his longing fancy, and wrung, yet soothed, his heart.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading These questions, indeed, it was hard upon him to be obliged to answer; but yet that pain was the best thing that now remained to him, he said to himself.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham received young Gaunt with the most gracious kindness: had his mother seen him seated in the drawing-room at Eaton Square, with Frances hovering about him full of pleasure and questions, and her mother insisting that he should stay to luncheon, and Markham’s hansom just drawing up at the door, she would have thought her boy on the highway to fortune.
