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 “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
able
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a thing it is to be able to draw a woman softly out of her troubles by the sight of a pretty child in a pretty new dress!
accustomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
admiration
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Bethune’s spirits were improved also by that little exhibition.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading What a thing it is to be able to draw a woman softly out of her troubles by the sight of a pretty child in a pretty new dress!
Bethune
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
Bethune's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Bethune’s spirits were improved also by that little exhibition.
bonnie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a thing it is to be able to draw a woman softly out of her troubles by the sight of a pretty child in a pretty new dress!
clothes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Contemptible the love of clothes, the love of finery, and so forth, let the philosophers say.
Contemptible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Contemptible the love of clothes, the love of finery, and so forth, let the philosophers say.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
creases
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
Dora
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
draw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a thing it is to be able to draw a woman softly out of her troubles by the sight of a pretty child in a pretty new dress!
drawer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
dress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
escorted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
excitedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/
very enthusiastic or eager
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
exhibition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Bethune’s spirits were improved also by that little exhibition.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
finery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Contemptible the love of clothes, the love of finery, and so forth, let the philosophers say.
forgetting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
forth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Contemptible the love of clothes, the love of finery, and so forth, let the philosophers say.
frock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
Gilchrist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
habitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
improved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Bethune’s spirits were improved also by that little exhibition.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
incident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Contemptible the love of clothes, the love of finery, and so forth, let the philosophers say.
lovingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
maid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
Mannerings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
mistress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
pats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
philosophers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Contemptible the love of clothes, the love of finery, and so forth, let the philosophers say.
praise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
pretty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
properly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
putting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
retiredverbUS /rɪˈtaɪərd/
went away to a private place
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
roomy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Contemptible the love of clothes, the love of finery, and so forth, let the philosophers say.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a thing it is to be able to draw a woman softly out of her troubles by the sight of a pretty child in a pretty new dress!
smoothing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Contemptible the love of clothes, the love of finery, and so forth, let the philosophers say.
soft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
softly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a thing it is to be able to draw a woman softly out of her troubles by the sight of a pretty child in a pretty new dress!
spirits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Bethune’s spirits were improved also by that little exhibition.
spoil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gilchrist laid the pretty dress lovingly in a roomy drawer, smoothing out all its creases by soft pats of her accustomed hands, and then returned to her mistress to talk over the little incident of the evening.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
troubles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
upstairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Miss Bethune’s spirits were improved also by that little exhibition.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What a thing it is to be able to draw a woman softly out of her troubles by the sight of a pretty child in a pretty new dress!
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a thing it is to be able to draw a woman softly out of her troubles by the sight of a pretty child in a pretty new dress!
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is a very strange business of these Mannerings, Gilchrist,” said Miss Bethune to her maid, when Dora, excited by praise and admiration, and forgetting all her troubles, had retired to her own habitation upstairs, escorted, she and her dress, by Gilchrist, who could not find it in her heart, as she said, to let a young thing like that spoil her bonnie new frock by not putting it properly away.
