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A Poor Gentleman
A Poor Gentleman

Chapter XXXVI

Cover illustration for A Poor Gentleman
Context Illustration Reading 1/39 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE FINAL BLOW.
What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.
How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.
Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.
No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Poor Gentleman

Chapter XXXVI

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE FINAL BLOW.
Line 2
What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.
Line 3
How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.
Line 4
Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.
Line 5
No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?”

Creature noun US /ˈcreature/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.”

Dreadful adjective US /ˈdrɛdfəl/

extremely frightening or unpleasant

From this reading “How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.”

Fair noun US /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?”

Scent noun US /sɛnt/

A distinctive smell or aroma.

From this reading “How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.”

All words in this reading · 114

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 What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

admirer

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

altogether

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

always

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

beauty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

BLOW

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE FINAL BLOW.

brilliant

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

cloud

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

comprehend

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

creaturenounUS /ˈcreature/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

Crockford

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

daughter

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

delightful

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdrɛdfəl/

extremely frightening or unpleasant

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

Emmy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

especially

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

existence

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

fairnounUS /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

false

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

falser

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

FINAL

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE FINAL BLOW.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

greasy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

hair

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.

heart

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.

How

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

interpret

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.

less

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

like

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

masses

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

matter

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

more

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

mother

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

Mrs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

much

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

nausea

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

offense

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

offensive

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

overwhelmed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.

pause

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

perfection

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

pomaded

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From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

possible

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

powder

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

powdered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

recoiled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

said

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.

Sam

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

says

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

scentnounUS /sɛnt/

A distinctive smell or aroma.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

sense

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

sight

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.

smile

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

sort

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

strange

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

superficial

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

sweet

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE FINAL BLOW.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

throw

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

unable

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

unwholesome

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

Walter

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.

white

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading How strange that anything so sweet and delightful as Emmy should come from such a woman--one from whom the heart recoiled, who was offensive to every sense, with those white, unwholesome, greasy hands, the powder, the scent, the masses of false hair, the still falser and more dreadful smile.

woman

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What does it matter what a mother says? especially when she is a powdered and pomaded woman like Mrs. Sam Crockford, altogether unable to comprehend, much less interpret, the fair and brilliant creature who is her daughter.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Walter said to himself as he left her with that nausea which always overwhelmed him at the sight of her, that he would not take what she said as having anything to do with Emmy.

young

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading No; her existence was a sort of an offense to Emmy; it might, if that were possible, throw a cloud over her perfection, it might make a superficial admirer pause to think, could she ever in her young beauty come to be like that?