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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly she had an air of being born to the purple, and her husband's pride in her was undoubted, if unexpressed.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Bettina loved this power and importance.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
beautiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
beauty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Certainly she had an air of being born to the purple, and her husband's pride in her was undoubted, if unexpressed.
Bettina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bettina loved this power and importance.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Certainly she had an air of being born to the purple, and her husband's pride in her was undoubted, if unexpressed.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
centre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
Certainly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly she had an air of being born to the purple, and her husband's pride in her was undoubted, if unexpressed.
conceived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
conditions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
contrast
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From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
costumes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
crowded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
differed
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From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
drama
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
enchanter's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
endless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
functions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
gain
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From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
gaze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
husband's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly she had an air of being born to the purple, and her husband's pride in her was undoubted, if unexpressed.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Certainly she had an air of being born to the purple, and her husband's pride in her was undoubted, if unexpressed.
imagination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
importance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bettina loved this power and importance.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
increased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
lesser
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
lights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
lose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
loved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bettina loved this power and importance.
manners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
owned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
palled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
pictures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
power
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bettina loved this power and importance.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
pride
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly she had an air of being born to the purple, and her husband's pride in her was undoubted, if unexpressed.
purple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly she had an air of being born to the purple, and her husband's pride in her was undoubted, if unexpressed.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
radiance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
reality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
revolved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
season
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
series
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
shine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
system
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Bettina loved this power and importance.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
undoubted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly she had an air of being born to the purple, and her husband's pride in her was undoubted, if unexpressed.
unexpressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly she had an air of being born to the purple, and her husband's pride in her was undoubted, if unexpressed.
unfolding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
variety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The crowded functions of the London season had somewhat palled upon her, though she had not quite owned it to herself; but here she was the centre of the system, the light around which these lesser lights revolved, and she seemed, under these conditions, to shine with an increased radiance.
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her manners, where they differed from those of the women about her, seemed to gain rather than lose by the contrast, and her costumes seemed to be endless in their variety as well as in their beauty.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drama of her present life was like the unfolding, before her gaze, of a beautiful series of pictures which she had conceived in her imagination, and which some enchanter's word had turned into reality.
